Qualifications at a glance

ACCA Qualification

Entry requirements

Three GCSEs and two A Levels in five separate subjects including maths and English or their equivalent.

Work experience	Three years.
Number of exams	Up to 14, depending on exemptions.
How long does it take?	Three to four years on average.
What else is involved?	A professional ethics module.

Foundations in Accountancy

Entry requirements

None, it is open access and you can start at any level.

Are you starting out in accounting and finance? Or already working in finance but have no formal qualifications? Then you can choose to take any or all of our entry-level qualifications, referred to as Foundations in Accountancy.

Global MBA

Entry requirements

ACCA member or a minimum of three years’ professional/managerial work experience.

Work experience	None involved in qualifying, but three years' professional/managerial work experience is required for entry.
Number of exams	Assignment-based and two exams.
How long does it take?	If an ACCA member, as little as 21 months.
What else is involved?	Two face-to-face workshops.

CertIFR

Entry requirements

No formal qualifications are required. Designed for professional accountants and auditors qualified in national accounting standards. Those with experience but no formal qualifications in accounting and auditing can also register.

Work experience	None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams	One online multiple-choice assessment.
How long does it take?	Average of 20 hours.

DipIFR

Entry requirements

Professional accountants and auditors working in practice and industry and qualified in national accounting standards are eligible to take the qualification.

Practitioners not yet qualified, but who can verify the following, are also eligible:

• A relevant degree plus two years' work experience.
• Three years' work experience.
• ACCA affiliate status.
• ACCA Certificate in International Financial Reporting plus two years' work experience.

Work experience	None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams	One written exam.
How long does it take?	Three to six months.

CertIA

Entry requirements

No formal qualifications are required. Designed for professional accountants and auditors who are qualified in national accounting standards. Those with experience but no formal qualifications in accounting and auditing can also register.

Work experience	None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams	One online multiple-choice assessment.
How long does it take?	Average of 25 hours.