You are scrolling through finance courses, trying to figure out what’s worth your time and money. Someone mentions ACCA. You Google it. Now you are confused—is ACCA a professional course or just another certificate?
To answer you, yes it’s a certification, not an academic qualification. However, it has value throughout 180+ countries, with entry levels into Big 4 firms, multinational organizations, and global companies. Unlike other traditional academic programs, ACCA very much focuses on practical applications- audit, taxation, financial reporting, and ethics.
So, whether you are a finance graduate or a working professional looking to up his skills, ACCA is a great choice to consider. This guide breaks down what it is, how it’s recognized, and where it can take you.
Let’s clear this up first. ACCA stands for Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. It’s a globally recognized professional qualification. Now, is ACCA is a professional course? Yes, it is.
So what makes a course “professional”?
A professional course prepares you for a specific profession and concentrates on practice skills for the workplace. It is distinct from academic courses, which focus more on theory and research. ACCA provides insight into what matters in the world of accounting and finance.
And ACCA fits the professional model. It trains you in:
- Financial accounting and reporting
- Audit and assurance
- Taxation
- Corporate finance
- Etics and governance
Hence, ACCA is a professional course because it’s recognized by employers worldwide, requires work experience, and focuses on industry-relevant competencies.
Is ACCA A Professional Degree Or An Academic Qualification?
ACCA is a professional certification, not an academic degree. And no, they both do not mean the same.
Here’s the difference:
Academic degrees (like B.Com or MBA) are theory-heavy. You study concepts, write essays, and take exams. That’s it and you get awarded by universities.
Professional qualifications (like ACCA) are practice-oriented. You learn skills you’ll use on the job. They’re awarded by professional bodies.
ACCA’s structure is built around:
- Exams that test practical knowledge
- Work experience (36 months of relevant employment)
- Ethics training through modules and assessments
That said, you can earn an academic degree alongside ACCA.
Through Oxford Brookes University, ACCA students can get a BSc in Applied Accounting after passing certain papers. Similarly, the University of London offers an MSc in Professional Accountancy for ACCA members.
But on its own? ACCA is a professional qualification, not a degree.
What Does It Mean That ACCA Is A Globally Recognized Professional Qualification? (H2)
“Globally recognized” sounds impressive on paper, but what does it actually mean for your career?
- It is respected in 180 countries. That’s a global network of 252,500 members and 526,000 students worldwide.
- The curriculum is the same everywhere. Whether you study ACCA in Mumbai, London, or Dubai, the syllabus is identical.
- ACCA is backed by serious partnerships. ACCA is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), which represents 3 million accountants globally. Even Big 4 firms like Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC are ACCA Approved Employers.
You get signing rights in some countries. ACCA members can sign off on statutory audits. This depends on local laws, but countries like the UK, Ireland, Singapore, parts of the Middle East, and some African nations grant these rights.
How Does ACCA Compare To Other Professional Qualifications Like CA Or MBA?
Here’s how ACCA compares to CA and MBA:
Characteristics | ACCA | CA (India) | MBA |
Area of Specialization | Global accounting, finance and audit | Indian accounting, taxation, and law | General management with focus on finance |
Recognition | Recognized in 180+ countries | Mostly accepted in India | Depends on B-school reputation like IIMs |
Length of Course | 2.5 to 3 years | 4 to 5 years | 1 to 2 years |
Exam Structure | 13 exam papers, which are divided into three levels | 3 levels (Foundation, Intermediate, Final) | Varies by university |
Study Flexibility | Online studies, option of part-time or full-time | More rigid exams and articleship schedule | Full-time campus program (mostly) |
Career Paths | Accountant, Auditor, Financial Analyst, CFO | Chartered Accountant, Tax Consultant, Auditor | Manager, Consultant, Business Strategist |
Job Mobility | Very high globally | Mostly in India | Mobility will depend on the degree status |
Average Salary (India) | ₹6 to 10 LPA | ₹8 to 12 LPA | ₹7 – 20 LPA (varies widely) |
Global salary potential | £30,000–£50,000 (UK), AED 120,000+ (UAE) | Limited unless international designation | Varies widely by company and location |
What Are ACCA’s Professional Experience And Ethics Requirements?
Passing exams isn’t enough to become ACCA-qualified. You also need work experience and ethics training.
Practical Experience Requirement (PER)
You are required to have 36 months of supervised work experience in a relevant position. This may be achieved in one of the following ways:
- employment on a full-time basis,
- part-time employment (must be pro-rated), or
- an internship (if under the supervision of a qualified accountant).
The experience must cover a minimum of 9 performance objectives from the list put forth by ACCA. This includes:
- Financial accounting and reporting
- Audit and assurance
- Tax compliance
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Risk management
You log your experience online through ACCA’s PER tool. A workplace mentor (usually an ACCA member or equivalent) reviews and approves your entries.
Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM)
Before you qualify, you complete the EPSM, which covers:
- Professional ethics
- Leadership and team management
- Communication and stakeholder management
It’s a 20-hour interactive online module. You analyze real-world scenarios, make decisions, and reflect on ethical dilemmas.
Why Should You Pursue The ACCA Qualification?
Now that you know ACCA is a professional course, here are the reasons why it is emerging as a growing profession compared to CA and CFA. Below are the tops benefits on why to choose ACCA:
- Work anywhere without borders
ACCA is recognized in 180+ countries. That means you can qualify in India and work in London, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney, or New York without starting from scratch.
CA limits you to India. But ACCA gives you global mobility across accounting, audit, tax, and finance roles. You’re not tied to one country or one niche.
- Flexible study that fits your life
Whether you are a college student or a dropout, you can pursue ACCA. It allows you to study when you want, how you want. This is also because of its flexible exam structure.
ACCA holds exam sessions four times a year (March, June, September, December). Some papers are even available on-demand, meaning you can take them whenever you’re ready. You are not locked up like CA students.
You can study full-time, part-time, online, or through coaching centers. If you’re working, you can do ACCA alongside your job. If you’re a student, you can finish faster by taking multiple papers per session.
- Internships and work experience start early
To qualify for ACCA membership, you must clear the Practical Experience Requirement (PER). It is a 36-months requirements give you hands-on skills when you qualify. Now, this means you start logging work experience from Day 1. You don’t wait until you finish all exams to get real-world exposure.
So, for instance, a student in Mumbai interned at Grant Thornton while completing ACCA papers. By the time they qualified, they had 2 years of work experience logged and converted their internship into a full-time analyst role at ₹5.5 lakhs.
- ACCA Affiliates can start working before full membership
Here’s a massive advantage: once you pass all 13 exams, you become an ACCA Affiliate. You’re not a full member yet (you still need to complete PER and EPSM), but you can already work in finance and audit roles.
Many firms hire ACCA Affiliates as Junior Analysts, Audit Associates, or Tax Consultants. You start earning while completing your work experience. Compare that to CA, where you can’t practice independently until you finish articleship and get full membership.
- ACCA vs MBA salary: Better ROI for finance careers
Let’s talk money. An MBA from a top B-school in India costs ₹15–25 lakhs. ACCA costs ₹3–5 lakhs (including exams, study materials, and coaching).
And if we talk about the ROI, MBA salaries are tied to where you studied and which company hires you. ACCA is a global professional qualification. In the UK, ACCA-qualified professionals earn £30,000–£50,000 (₹30–50 lakhs). In the UAE, it’s AED 120,000–180,000 (₹27–40 lakhs). So, the ROI of ACCA is better than MBA.
How Is ACCA Recognized In The Public And Private Sectors?
You may wonder where ACCA is recognised. Well, ACCA holds recognition in 179 countries with over 219,000 members and 517,000 students globally. It is a part of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), which gives it credibility across public and private sectors worldwide.
But numbers don’t tell you what that actually means for your career. Today, Government bodies and accounting firms in countries like the UK, Ireland, Singapore, and UAE accept ACCA for statutory audit work. In fact, there are many career opportunities in MNCs, Big 4 firms, and consulting companies in India.
EY, Grant Thornton, KPMG, Deloitte – they all have ACCA-specific job postings in India. One of our students last year joined EY as a finance analyst in Bangalore at ₹4.2 lakhs as a fresher with ACCA.
And while ACCA is not a government job qualification, but you can get into finance and accounting roles in the public sector undertakings (PSUs), and government-backed financial institutions, like banks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Is ACCA A Professional Course
Is ACCA A Professional Course Or Not?
Yes, ACCA is a professional course that is recognised globally in 180+ countries.
Can I Call Myself A Chartered Accountant After ACCA?
No, you cannot call yourself a CA after doing ACCA. CA is a designation specific to ICAI in India or similar bodies in other countries. ACCA members use the designation “ACCA” or “Chartered Certified Accountant.”