Entry requirements

ACCA offers you various entry points on to the ACCA Qualification, depending on your age and previous academic qualifications.

Minimum entry requirements

two A Levels and three GCSEs or equivalent in five separate subjects, including English and Mathematics.
Full information on the minimum entrance criteria for each country is available in the ‘related documents’ section.

Mature Student Entry Route (MSER)

Normally over age 21
no academic qualifications required
must pass the equivalent of Papers F2, Management Accounting and F3, Financial Accounting within two years before further progression to the ACCA exams is permitted.

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. Non-relevant degrees may also qualify for some exemptions

Access to ACCA via CAT qualification

no academic qualifications required
sit Certified Accounting Technician
(CAT) qualification first and then transfer to the Skills module of the ACCA Qualification by claiming exemption from the first three papers in the Knowledge module.

Claiming exemptions

The number of exemptions you can claim will depend on how closely your previous qualifications match the content of the ACCA syllabus. For example, if you have completed a relevant degree from an ACCA-accredited university, you may be eligible to claim exemption from up to all nine exams within the Fundamentals level. No exemptions are available from the Professional level.

Find out online if you could be entitled to claim any exemptions

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The exemption enquiry database details all exemptions that may be available on the basis of qualifications held by students. There may not be as many exemptions available to qualifications that have not been accredited by ACCA, as the awarding body has not provided ACCA with the opportunity to fully assess the qualification. ACCA do not consider individual applications for further exemptions.
ACCA can only award exemption on the basis of qualifications awarded by recognised institutions (i.e. those which are recognised by the local Ministry of Education as public sector institutions, or the equivalent status under their regulations). If your institution is not listed on the exemption enquiry database, please send your documentation to ACCA Connect, for further review.
Students will be required to pay an exemption fee for each paper awarded. Exemption fees are the same as examination fees.
You must send official proof of any relevant qualifications which are held, or are currently being studied for, with your registration form, in order for ACCA to assess your eligibility and confirm your entitlement for exemptions.
Award certificates must be submitted for all completed qualifications. Academic transcripts should also be submitted for any qualification upon which you wish to claim exemption.
Any documentation which is not in English must be officially translated before submission.

Exemption Database

Exam centres

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