The ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) is a main component of the ACCA Qualification and it is tailored to develop the ethical judgment & professional skills needed in today’s accounting workplace. EPSM is focused on practical areas such as communication, teamwork, commercial awareness, professional behavior and decision-making, as opposed to technical exams.
This guide provides all the information you need to know about the ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module including fees, length, units, assessment process and completion requirements.
You will also learn when to complete EPSM, how to access EPSM through MyACCA and common mistakes to avoid. Currently, ACCA says that the module should take about 20 hours to complete and recommends that students complete it toward the end of the Applied Skills stage and before attempting Strategic Professional exams.
The ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) is a key component of the ACCA Qualification. It aims to improve students’ technical accounting knowledge by developing the professional and workplace skills needed in a modern accounting career.
EPSM is an online, self-paced module so students can work through the learning activities at their own pace. The emphasis is on applying professional skills to actual business situations rather than merely learning technical concepts.
Regions Covered –
This module develops skills in a number of important areas these are:
- Ethics and professionalism – understanding ethical principles and professional conduct.
- Communication – the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues and clients.
- Business awareness – knowledge of business, markets and organizational decisions.
- Leadership and teamwork – the ability to work well with others and develop leadership skills
- Professional skepticism – asking questions, identifying risks and challenging assumptions.
- Data analysis – understanding and using data to inform professional decisions
Why EPSM Matters –
EPSM seeks to foster the development of students’ professional judgment and to transfer their knowledge to real workplace situations. It also develops wider skills of critical thinking, communication, team work, leadership and ethical decision making.
These skills complement ACCA’s technical knowledge and support the preparation of ACCA students and affiliates for the expectations of employers and the wider accountancy profession. (Source – University of South Wales – ACCA Qualification)
Is EPSM Compulsory For ACCA Membership?
Yes, the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) is a mandatory part of the route to ACCA membership. Completing the module is not equivalent to passing your ACCA exams and completing the Practical Experience Requirement (PER).
- ACCA exams with EPSM – Students have to clear the ACCA examinations. However, clearing the examinations successfully does not mean that you have met all the requirements for membership. EPSM is focused on developing practical professional skills that complement the technical knowledge you acquire by passing the exams.
- Practical Experience and EPSM Requirements – Students also need to complete the Practical Experience Requirement (PER) to become an ACCA member. This includes obtaining relevant work experience and demonstrating that the required performance objectives have been met. Exams, EPSM and practical experience are therefore separate parts of the whole membership journey
Importance of EPSM
An ACCA qualified accountant is not just a technical accountant. ACCA includes ethics and professional skills in its syllabus. They should also be capable of:
- Applying ethical principles to professional situations.
- Making decisions based on professional judgment.
- Effectively communicating with colleagues and clients.
- Understanding business situations and risks.
- Demonstrating leadership and work effectively in teams.
- Applying professional skepticism to the information.
On completion of EPSM alongside the other requirements of ACCA, students will have the technical knowledge and professional skills expected of qualified accountants.
How Much Does The ACCA Ethics And Professional Skills Module Cost?
The fees of ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) for students in India is £83 as per the current fee structure of ACCA. However, ACCA fees are subject to change and students are advised to check the latest official fee information before making payment.
- Payment of EPSM – EPSM is available through their MyACCA account. You can buy the module online from ACCA. ACCA now accepts EPSM payments by credit and debit card.
- EPSM Fee – Is this a one off payment? – Yeah. The EPSM fee is a one-off fee to gain access to the module and EPSM assessment. There is no additional charge to re-take the assessment.
Are You Billed Again for Assessment Attempts?
No. ACCA says students and affiliates are permitted to make multiple attempts at an assessment with no additional resit fees. The one-off payment also gives unlimited access to the content in the module.
Note: EPSM fee is over and above the ACCA registration, annual subscription, examination and membership fees.
How Long Does The ACCA Ethics Module Take?
ACCA’s current guidance indicates that time taken by ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) takes about 20 hours to complete. It has 10 units including communication, commercial awareness, innovation, analysis and evaluation.
How long will it take in reality?
The actual time scale varies from student to student. It might take more time if you devote more attention to reading, reflection exercises, practical activities and preparation for the final assessment. Students should view 20 hours as a guide rather than an absolute time to complete.
Can you finish EPSM in one sitting?
No. The EPSM is self-paced and there is no overall time limit for completion of the module. You can go through the content at your own pace and return to the module content later if you wish to refresh your memory.
Division of the Module –
A possible practical method might be:
- 2 hours of study x 10 sessions – about 10 study sessions.
- 3–4 hours per week – complete over ~5–7 weeks.
- 5 hours/week – done in ±4 weeks.
The best schedule depends on your ACCA exam preparation and work commitments and preferred pace of study.
How Many Units Are In The ACCA Ethics Module?
The ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) today has 10 units for students and affiliates. ACCA describes them as 7 learning units and 3 assessment/support units. The module takes around 20 hours to complete.
EPSM Unit Map
- Unit 1 – Professionalism and ethics Introduces ethical principles, professional values and ethical decision making.
- Unit 2 – Personal Effectiveness Covers organization, time management, technology and professional competence maintenance.
- Unit 3 – Communication and Interpersonal Skills Develops effective communication, influencing, advising and inter-personal skills.
- Unit 4 – Business Recognition Focus on understanding business, risks, opportunities and commercial decisions.
- Unit 5 – Leadership and Teamwork Examines leadership styles, teamwork, motivation and helping others.
- Unit 6 – Innovation and Doubt Develops critical thinking, professional skepticism and challenging assumptions.
- Unit 7 Data Analytics and Presents data analysis for issue identification, conclusion drawing and recommendations.
- Unit 8 – Integrated Case Study, this unit integrates the professional skills developed in the earlier units in a realistic business scenario.
- Unit 9 – Strategic Professional Support explains the link between EPSM skills and the Strategic Professional exams with particular reference to SBL.
- End of Unit Assessment Unit 10 Tests knowledge and skills gained during the module. ACCA says the current assessment comprises 14 objective-test questions, and there is a 50% pass mark.
How Does EPSM Work?
EPSM includes interactive activities, quizzes, case studies and real workplace scenarios. For example, the integrated case study involves students in a business scenario to analyze information and to integrate a number of professional skills.
The EPSM content is regularly updated by ACCA to reflect the latest ethical, professional and digital skills. So students should always refer to their most up to date structure in their MyACCA account and not solely rely on older guides.
How Does The ACCA EPSM Assessment Work?
ACCA’s Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) features quizzes throughout the learning units, with a final assessment in Unit 10 for students and affiliates. The final evaluation measures the skills and knowledge acquired during the module.
Final Evaluation –
- The final assessment will consist of 14 objective-test questions.
- For each of the first seven learning units, there are two questions.
- Final Assessment Time: 2 hours for students.
- Current pass mark is 50%
Attempts & Retakes
If you don’t pass the assessment the first time, you get another chance. ACCA allows you to sit the exam several times without the need to pay extra for a resit so you don’t usually have to pay again to retake the assessment.
What Happens After Death?
Upon successful completion of all the required elements students and affiliates will receive an EPSM Certificate of Achievement and a transcript of the skills completed during the module. The completion of this is also counted as one of the requirements toward ACCA membership.
ACCA recommends that students sit EPSM shortly before they complete their Applied Skills exams and before starting their Strategic Professional exams.
How Difficult Is The ACCA Ethics Module?
Usually the ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) is not like a regular ACCA technical exam. It is not about calculations, accounting standards or technical exam questions. Instead, it focuses on professional skills, ethical decision making, and the use of judgment in realistic work situations.
These skills are also key at the Strategic Professional level and are a particular focus in scenario based papers such as SBL. ACCA SBL technical articles can also be a great source of guidance for students preparing for this stage on how to apply professional skills to business scenarios.
Challenges of EPSM –
Some parts are hard for students because they ask students to:
- Use professional judgment, not just recall facts.
- Assess scenario cases and select the best response.
- Examine ethical considerations and the implications of various decisions.
- Develop skills such as communication, skepticism, leadership and commercial awareness.
- Complete the final assessment based on learning covered throughout the module.
- Professional Judgment versus Technical Difficulty
Therefore EPSM difficulty is at a different level of difficulty to the technical ACCA exams. Technical exams usually test accounting, finance and other subject specific knowledge but EPSM is more about judgment, application and workplace situations.
Students can manage the module and understand the reasons for particular responses by working through each unit carefully and completing the interactive activities. Again, taking the time to engage with the scenarios, rather than trying to rush through the units, can help with the final assessment.
How Do You Access EPSM Through MyACCA?
Students and affiliates can access the ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) via their MyACCA account. First you will have to login with your ACCA ID and password using the module
After you have logged in:
- Click on Qualifications.
- Choose Qualification Progress
- Scroll down to “Your Ethics Progress”
- Then you can go to EPSM and check how you’re doing.
Activation & Payment
If you have not started EPSM then you need to purchase the module before you can access it. ACCA charges a one-off fee that gives unlimited access to the module and assessment attempts. Payment can be made via the relevant payment section of MyACCA.
Once you have completed the purchase, you will be able to access it through your MyACCA account.
If You Don’t See EPSM
If you can’t access the module:
- Make sure you’ve completed your purchase.
- Please ensure you are using the correct ACCA ID and password.
- Try updating your browser, clearing your cache and cookies or try another supported browser.
- Make sure pop-ups are enabled.
- If you are still having a problem, please contact ACCA Connect with the module name, URL and screenshots of the issue.
The best way to get help for login, payment or technical problems is through ACCA official support channels and not 3rd party websites.
How Can You Complete EPSM Efficiently?
It is easier to complete the ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) efficiently if you take a structured approach, rather than trying to do it all in one sitting.
- Plan Regular Study Sessions – Divide the module up into regular study sessions (e.g. 2-3 hours). Picking particular days of the week to reserve can help you keep your progress without too much interference with your ACCA exam preparation or work commitments.
- Translate Your Work Experience – As you work through the professional scenarios, consider situations you have experienced in your work. It is easier to understand subjects such as communication, teamwork, ethics and commercial awareness if you link the concepts in the module to real situations in the workplace.
- Make Summary Points – Short notes on important ethical principles, professional behaviors and key concepts. These notes may help you review the material and prepare for the final exam.
- Don’t Miss the Interactive Activities – Don’t rush through reflection exercises, questions and interactive activities to get the module finished faster. These activities will enable you to use professional skills in real-world situations. If you take the time to understand the reasoning behind each activity, it can make the assessment later easier.
In general a steady study regime and active engagement with the module is more useful than just trying to get EPSM done as soon as possible.
When Should You Complete EPSM During ACCA?
The best time to complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) is toward the end of your Applied Skills exams and before you start your Strategic Professional exams. This is the stage ACCA currently recommends.
Why Finish EPSM Now?
EPSM is intended to assist students at the Strategic Professional level where professional, ethical and practical skills are particularly important. ACCA recommends students complete it prior to sitting Strategic Professional exams so students can apply skills developed through EPSM in their subsequent studies.
Why not wait until the end?
If you leave EPSM until after you have completed most of the qualification, you may lose the chance to apply its skills to good use while studying for your Strategic Professional exams. This early opportunity to develop professional judgment, communication, commercial awareness, skepticism and other professional skills while preparing for these exams is an advantage.
One possible sequence is:
Applied Skills exams → EPSM → Strategic Professional exams
You don’t have to finish EPSM in one sitting. It can be easier to complete it between your Applied Skills and Strategic Professional studies, rather than adding unnecessary pressure to the final stage of your ACCA journey.
What Common EPSM Mistakes Should You Avoid?
EPSM is designed to be flexible and practical, but students can undermine its value by trying to just get it over with. By avoiding a few common mistakes, you can get more from the module and prepare more effectively for later ACCA studies.
- Rushing Through The Material – A major mistake is clicking through interactive activities just to increase the completion percentage. EPSM is based on professional situations, ethical decision making and workplace skills, so understanding the reason for each activity is more important than just moving on to the next unit.
ACCA has interspersed the module with quizzes, activities and real world tasks so students should not treat these as optional extras and should take part in them. - Ignoring Reflections and Weak Spots – Do not skip reflection exercises, case scenarios or topics that seem less familiar to you.
These activities are meant to develop judgment and professional skills. Putting more time in on the weaker areas can also make the final assessment more manageable. - Leaving EPSM Too Late – EPSM can be another last-minute task if not planned well. ACCA suggests that you do this toward the end of the Applied Skills stage and before you sit any Strategic Professional exams.
This timing also allows students to apply the professional skills developed in EPSM in their later studies.
- Relying on old information – Fees, module content, unit structures and assessment arrangements are subject to change. Always check the latest information via ACCA and don’t rely on old articles, videos or forum posts.
- Assessment Integrity Neglected – EPSM should be done separately and according to ACCA rules. Students are required to be honest and follow the rules and guidelines of the Ethics Module. Using the module as a form of independent professional development will also help to ensure that the skills demonstrated are your own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethics And Professional Skills Module ACCA
What Is The ACCA Ethics Module (EPSM)?
EPSM is an online ACCA module designed to develop ethical judgment and professional abilities through realistic workplace scenarios and activities.
Is EPSM Compulsory For ACCA Membership?
Yes, but you are required to undertake EPSM before you can become an ACCA member (unless you have previously completed the Professional Ethics Module (PEM).