How to pursue ACCA after the 12th?

ACCA is a global qualification that establishes the graduate as a certified accountant who is well-versed in finance and accounting. ACCA is a global accounting body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification (ACCA). Compared to all professional bodies ACCA has the lowest eligibility criteria. The course covers various domains such as Business Accounting, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting and Management, Corporate and Business Law, Performance Management and Analysis, Taxation, Financial Reporting, Audit and Assurance on an advanced level.

In this blog, we will be guiding students who have completed or are completing their 12 exams. We will discuss job opportunities, global work opportunities, course structure  and much more. 

 

What is ACCA?

As mentioned earlier ACCA is a global professional course. Just like Chartered Accountancy, Cost Management Accountant or Company Secretary, the ACCA is a professional course, but unlike the others, ACCA opens doors to global job opportunities. 

The global accounting body was formed in 1904 and to date, it is the fastest-growing accounting organisation with 2,19,000 members and 5,27,000 students in over 180 countries including India. This means students have the opportunity to work in over 180 countries as well. 

 

Why should someone consider ACCA after the 12th?

Now that we discussed what an ACCA does, the next question is to know why to pursue ACCA. With so many courses available it is natural to feel overwhelmed with the number of courses that are available. ACCA stands heads and shoulders above other professional courses due to the following 4 reasons.

• Globally recognized course
• Flexibility in the course structure
• Wide career opportunities
• High demand for ACCA professionals

One of the key drivers for the ACCA course is that its a globally recognized course. ACCAs will be given the opportunity to work across the globe and not be restricted to working only in India. They can work for MNCs and move across countries if their roles demand the same. 

The course is so flexible that you can study and attempt papers at your convenience. Students can also consider taking other degrees such as a Diploma in Accounting and Business, Advances Diploma in Accounting and Business, B.SC Honours in Applied Accounting, Master’s in Professional Accountancy, Global MBA and more. 

ACCA has 13 papers, the course allows you to attempt 9 out of these 13 papers at the convenience of your home. The curriculum is so meticulously set that students not only focus on the theoretical aspects but also gain practical learnings which will come to play when they pursue their careers in a corporate capacity.  

The subjects under the ACCA course keep getting updated and thus the exams keep a check on the professional development of the candidates. This validates that members keep learning and, are updated with the knowledge and skills needed to survive in highly volatile and rapidly changing situations.

ACCA has complete transparency when it comes to exams. These are computer-based objective type papers, students will get their scores right after they have attempted the papers. 

 

What are the eligibility criteria for ACCA?

Any student who has completed their 12 exams can attempt the ACCA exams. Even students who have taken science can also attempt the exam. Graduates can also attempt the exam, they will also be able to get direct entry and skip the fundamental level examinations. 

 

How many levels and papers are there in ACCA?

On the whole, there are 13 papers that a student must attempt and clear before they become a qualified professional. There are 3 levels they must clear called - Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills and Strategic Professional.

There are three exams in Applied Knowledge Level, six exams in Applied Skills Level, and four exams in Strategic Professional Level.

Applied Knowledge

The first level in ACCA is called the Applied Knowledge level. There are three exams at this level - Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), and Financial Accounting (FA). These are all objective type papers and the answers are analysed by the computer. 

The biggest advantage of this level is that the exams are on-demand. This means that if you are ready to write one paper then you can register for the exam; you are not required to attempt all the exams together. 

Applied Skills Level

Applied Skills Level is the second stage of the exams. The level consists of 6 exams, namely, Corporate and Business Law (LW), Performance Management (PM), Taxation (TX), Financial Reporting (FR), Audit and Assurance (AA), and Financial Management (FM).

The first exam LW is an objective type paper, students can attempt this exam on-demand just like with the applied knowledge level papers. The remaining papers in this level are a combination of objective and descriptive type questions. 

Strategic Professional Level

The final level of the ACCA exam is called the Strategic Professional Level. This level also consists of 6 papers. The six papers are - Strategic Business Leader (SBL), Strategic Business Reporting (SBR), Advanced Financial Management (AFM), Advanced Performance Management (APM), Advanced Taxation (ATX), and Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA). 

Of these 6 papers, the first two papers, Strategic Business Leader (SBL), and Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) are mandatory. Out of the remaining 4 papers, students have the option of attempting any 2. So, in the total students have to attempt 4 out of the 6 papers.

 

When are the ACCA exams held?

The ACCA exams are generally held in 4 cycles each year. Students have the option of attempting the exams either in a Computer-based format known as CBE or attempting the paper-based exam format.

ACCA Course Exam Cycle	Exam Dates
March	1st Jan - 31st March
June	1st April - 30th June
September	1st July - 30th September
December	1st Oct - 31st Dec

 

What is the duration of the course?

How long it takes to complete the course completely depends upon you. ACCA gives you the flexibility to complete the course in just 18 months or 1 and half years if you wish. As mentioned earlier there are 4 exam cycles. There are 13 papers in total out of which four papers are on demand and the remaining nine papers are session-based. Except for the four on-demand papers, the rest of the papers are held session wise. 

If a student wants to complete the whole course in 18 months then they can attempt four papers in a session and eight papers in a year. So, students can attempt eight papers in the first year and after that, you can give the remaining five papers in the next two sessions.

On average students take 3-4 years to complete the course if they pace it properly. 

 

Which countries can I work in if I get the ACCA qualification?

Acca is a global professional course, which means that they have a presence in over 180 countries across the world. There are job opportunities all over the world, for eg: United Kingdom, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, USA and Africa to name a few. They can work with the MNCs of their choice or can even set p their own practice. 

 

Who are the employers for ACCA?

As mentioned earlier, students can work for various MNCs. Most students aim to work with the big 4, which consist of Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). 

Apart from the big 4, ACCAs can also work with other MNCs across the globe. Students also have the option of setting up their own firm. 

 

Why choose Lakshya as your learning partner for ACCA?

Lakshya is an authorized learning partner for ACCA and offers the most comprehensive training modules for ACCA exams. Lakshya has highly qualified faculty who will mentor and guide you with any issues you may have during the duration of your study. 

Here are some of Lakshya’s training capabilities:

• Customized learning solutions - You can choose to learn either in a classroom/face-to-face environment or learn online. 
• State of the art classrooms - If you wish to do your course offline, we have the best learning environment for you. 
• Virtual Instructor-led Classes - Attend online classes just as though you were with the faculty. Our HD classes will give you the freedom of learning from home. 
• On-demand classes - Watch recorded classes, when and where you wish. Keep learning on the go and refresh your knowledge. 
• Learn from experts - All of our classes are taught by seasoned professionals who will help you not just be well prepared for the exams but for your professional journey as well.
• Placement Support - At Lakshya we help our students to find their dream job, we are active participants in your placement journey and extend our support at all times. 

 

If you have any more queries, please feel free to call our career experts who will guide you with the information.