ACCA awards certificates on the completion of certain exams within the ACCA Qualification and Foundation-level qualifications.

The certificates are official documents and can be downloaded at anytime from myACCA.

ACCA Qualification

Certificate of Achievement

Students are awarded a Certificate of Achievement if they achieve a pass mark of 85% or above for individual passes in the Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), or Financial Accounting (FA) for paper based or computer based exams.  The certificate of achievement is also available for Corporate and Business Law (LW) since June 2015 for 85% or above.

ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4)

Students are awarded the ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) when they have successfully completed the Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA) and Financial Accounting (FA) exams (at least one of which must have been sat and passed), plus completion of Foundations in Professionalism. Students who obtain full exemptions will not be awarded the Certificate.

Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business

Students are awarded the Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business when they have successfully completed (either passed or exempt) the Applied Skills exams. At least two of these papers must have been sat and passed; one of these passes must have been achieved on or after 1st June 2011 exam session. The Ethics and Professional Skills module (or if previously completed the Professional Ethics module) must also have been completed. Students who obtain full exemptions will not be awarded the Certificate.

A positive result is required for all of the Applied Knowledge and Skills exams in order for the Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business certificate to be awarded.

Strategic Professional Certificate

Students are awarded a Strategic Professional Certificate when they have successfully completed all the Strategic Professional exams of the ACCA Qualification.  These are the two Strategic Professional Essentials exams and any two of the Strategic Professional Options exams.

Foundations in Accountancy

ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2)

Students are awarded an ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) when they have successfully completed Papers FA1 and MA1 (at least one of which must have been sat and passed), plus completion of Foundations in Professionalism. Students who obtain full exemptions will not be awarded the Certificate.

ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3)

Students are awarded an ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) when they have successfully completed Papers FA2 and MA2 (at least one of which must have been sat and passed), plus completion of Foundations in Professionalism. Students who obtain full exemptions will not be awarded the Certificate.

ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4)

Students are awarded the ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) when they have successfully completed exams FBT, FMA and FFA (one of which must have been sat and passed) plus completion of Foundations in Professionalism. Students who obtain full exemptions will not be awarded the Certificate. 

ACCA Certificate in Taxation (RQF Level 4)

Students are awarded the ACCA Certificate in Taxation (RQF Level 4) certificate when they have successfully completed Paper FTX which must have been sat and passed plus completion of Foundations in Professionalism. Students who obtain an exemption will not be awarded the Certificate. 

ACCA Certificate in Audit (RQF Level 4)

Students are awarded the ACCA Certificate in Audit (RQF Level 4)certificate when they have successfully completed Paper FAU which must have been sat and passed plus completion of Foundations in Professionalism. Students who obtain an exemption will not be awarded the Certificate. 

ACCA Certificate in Financial Management (RQF Level 4)

Students are awarded the ACCA Certificate in Financial Management (RQF Level 4) certificate when they have successfully completed Paper FFM which must have been sat and passed plus completion of Foundations in Professionalism. Students who obtain an exemption will not be awarded the Certificate.

Entry requirements for ACCA

Entry requirements for ACCA Qualification

ACCA QUALIFICATION GRADUATE-ENTRY ROUTE

• Relevant degree holders from ACCA-accredited institutions may be exempted from all nine exams within the Fundamentals level and register directly at the Professional level. Degrees with some relevance may also qualify for exemptions
• For B.sc in Accounting and Banking and Finance and HND in Accounting, you are qualified for exemption in four Papers after submitting your transcript. The four Papers are:
  
  F1 Accountant in Business AB
  F2 Management Accounting MA
  F3 Financial Accounting FA
  F4 Corporate and Business Law CL
• For ICAN ACA students, you will be exempted from all nine exams within the Fundamentals level and register directly at the Professional level after submitting your transcript.
  
  Exemption Granted
  F1 Accountant in Business AB
  F2 Management Accounting MA
  F3 Financial Accounting FA
  F4 Corporate and Business Law CL
  F5 Performance Management PM
  F6 Taxation TX
  F7 Financial Reporting FR
  F8 Audit and Assurance AA
  F9 Financial Management FM
• B.sc Economics/Bus Administration
  For B.sc Economics/Bus Administration, you are qualified for exemption
  
  F1 Accountant in Business AB

Access to ACCA via Foundations in Accountancy

• If you do not meet the minimum entry requirements to start the ACCA Qualification which are OND, ND, HND, B.SC, B.TECH or any equivalent qualification, then you will need to start your exams by going through the Foundations in Accountancy courses before you can continue with the ACCA qualification. You must finish the Diploma in Accounting and Business that is three exams: Accountant in Business (FAB), Management Accounting (FMA) and Financial Accounting (FFA) and afterwards apply for transfer over to the ACCA Qualification. You will be exempted from F1, F2 and F3 and then you can writing writing your exams F4 Corporate and Business Law..

It’s essential for today’s businesses to use data to make informed decisions, improve efficiencies, reduce costs and lower risk. Data analytics create great value and assist in solving complex business issues, playing a vital role in business success.

ACCA’s Certificate in Data Analytics demystifies analytics and empowers you with the knowledge to make data-driven decisions.

The certificate is aimed at professionals who wish to enhance their careers by developing an understanding of data capabilities and the techniques available for data analytics.

This cost-effective online certificate aims to improve commercial decisions and uses real business examples to allow practical application of the content. Learners will also understand the need to be both sceptical and ethical while working on data analysis, encouraging them to be critical thinkers.

Learning outcomes

The CertDA will help you or your team: 

• explain how to use commercial awareness to articulate business questions
• identify and manipulate relevant data and deeply analyse it by applying appropriate techniques
• explain how findings from analysis can and should be visualised and communicated, enabling relevant stakeholders to make sound business decisions
• learn and understand ethical security issues around data analytics
• be introduced to popular statistical and programming tools such as SQL, R and Python, as well as an introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Topics covered by the certificate

The certificate is divided into 10 units, covering the following:

Course unit	Learning topics
1: The CRISP framework for data analytics	a) Business understanding b) Data understanding c) Data preparation d) Data modelling e) Data evaluation f) Deployment
2: Big data and data analytics	a) What is big data? b) The 3 Vs of big data c) The value and lessons to be learned from big data
3: Sources of data	a) Interal b) External
4: Types of analytics	a) Descriptive analytics b) Predictive analytics c) Prescriptive analytics
5: Data analytics methodologies	a) Robotics b) Artificial intelligence c) Machine learning
6: Mainstream tools and key applications of data analytics	a) Tool and applications for descriptive analytics b) Tools and applications for predictive analytics c) Tools and applications for prescriptive analytics
7: Data visualisation and communication	a) What is data visualisation? b) The purpose of data visualisation c) The benefits of data visualisation d) The history of data visualisation e) Types of visualisation – comparison f) Types of visualisation – composition g) Types of visualisation – relationship h) What makes good visualisation?
8: Scepticism in data analytics
9: Ethical considerations in the use of data
10: End of units data analysis activity

Duration

The certificate takes approximately 4 hours to complete.

Additional features

Learners can explore specialist areas or repeat exercises to gain confidence

Certificate award

The certificate is assessed by a one hour exam with 12 questions, worth a total of 20 marks. You are required to achieve 10 marks to pass the assessment (50% pass mark). Once you pass the assessment, you will be awarded with a certificate. 

Over 113 countries require or permit the use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for publicly-traded companies. Many other countries around the world are moving towards applying IFRS.

ACCA’s Certificate in International Financial Reporting Standards (CertIFR) offers a broad introduction to the field, and aims to help you understand how they are used globally. The course and assessment are separate so if you are already applying IFRS at work and want formal recognition of your skills, you can apply to take the online assessment only. But if you just want extra knowledge in the field you can choose to take the course only, or you can complete both.

Our Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DipIFR) is for finance professionals who need to acquire more a detailed understanding of IFRS. DipIFR is a fast and efficient solution that will develop your current knowledge in this field. As well as how to apply the standards, you will learn the concepts and principles which underpin them.

Choosing the right starting point

We have a range of entry points so if you’re an employer or a student, you or your trainees can progress their journey towards ACCA membership regardless of existing qualifications or work experience.  

Whether you’re looking to take your first steps towards a career in finance, or you’re a finance professional looking to develop the strategic leadership capabilities to take your earning potential to the next level – ACCA has a right starting point for you.

The ACCA Qualification

If you have two A Levels and three GCSEs in five separate subjects including English and maths (or equivalent qualifications), you can start your studies at the ACCA Qualification, which is ranked at Masters level and on completion you’ll become an ACCA member.  

The ACCA Qualification is the world leading accountancy qualification for aspiring financial professionals – providing students with the skills, knowledge and values to have successful careers and lead the organisations they work with into the future.

In order to achieve the ACCA Qualification, students have to:

• complete a maximum of 13 exams, depending on prior experience and qualifications
• complete an Ethics and Professional Skills module
• evidence three years of practical work experience within a relevant role.

This means that students can complete the ACCA Qualification in a minimum of three years.

Foundations in Accountancy Qualifications

If you don’t have these qualifications, you can start at our Foundations in Accountancy qualifications and then progress onto the ACCA Qualification if you wish. These awards are broadly equivalent to GCSE level and a degree or HND programme.

Explore our qualification options

Employers trust ACCA professionals

When students complete the ACCA Qualification they’ll become an ACCA member.  Joining our network of over 200,000 members and unlocking their potential to work in any sector, anywhere in the world. 

Based on international accounting standards and independently benchmarked for quality, employers know that the ACCA Qualification produces forward-thinking finance professionals. With over 110 years of experience, we work with a network of over 7,400 Approved Employers and over 80 accountancy partnerships around the world.

Our competency framework explains the skills students develop through the ACCA Qualification and the job roles and sectors they can work in.

Helping students and organisations unlock their potential

For students to maximise their chances of success we strongly recommend they study through an Approved Learning Partner (ALP).

Our tuition providers are continually assessed by ACCA for the quality of their course delivery and there are a variety of flexible online and face-to-face tuition options to suit any individual or organisation.  

For students studying our Foundations in Accountancy Qualifications or starting the ACCA Qualification at its earliest level, we have an award-winning online tuition platform ACCA-X to support you with your studies.

Explore tuition options now

Flexible exams to fit around your schedule

We run a flexible exam schedule so that students can progress towards their goals at whatever pace they wish. Many of our exams are available on-demand, or during our four exam sessions every March, June, September and December.  

Practising certificate experience forms (PCEFs)

The PCEF outlines the training requirements for ACCA’s practising certificates and provides forms in which details of relevant training can be recorded and verified.

To obtain an ACCA practising certificate or a combined practising certificate and audit qualification for the first time, members must obtain a period of relevant experience and complete a PCEF.

The new PCEF form requires the latest version of Adobe Reader DC.

To ensure the PCEF is completed in the correct format, please save a copy to your desktop before you start recording your experience.

The PCEF itself has three parts:

• Part 1 contains the mandatory areas (Area A – E, together with guidance on completion of PCEF, the principal reviews and the time summary).
• Part 2 contains the optional areas (Area F – J).
• Part 3 relates to the audit area (Area K).

A member training towards a practising certificate must complete part 1 and part 2; a member training towards a practising certificate and audit qualification would complete all three parts.

In addition to the above documents, there are the following further resources below:

• Guidance notes for each of the above PCEF areas which include comprehensive examples of completed statements of achievement.
• A training principal guidance pack which outlines the responsibilities of a training principal when reviewing and signing the PCEF.