**From September 2018 ACCA will be making a few changes, I’ll make a new post**
How many exams?
The breakdown, this will show how many exams/case studies etc you will need to sit for each qualification.
- Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
- Foundations in Accountancy (FIA formerly CAT)
- Association of Taxations Technicians (ATT)
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA held by ICAEW)
- Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA held by CIOT)
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
The most difficult here is CFA, this qualification breaks people; and it is that way by design, but it is NOT an accounting qualification! It is a Financial Market qualification, please don’t get this confused.
AAT
There are three levels TO AQ 2016 and 17 exams in total.
AAT have introduced Synoptic exams; the best way to describe them is they will contain parts of a previous exams plus an additional subject.
- Foundation Certificate in Accounting – Level 2: (5 exams) 6-12 months to complete
- Number of exams at this level: 5 exams
o Book keeping transactions (BTRN) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Book keeping controls (BKCL) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Elements of costing (ELCO) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Work effectively in finance (WEFN) – Synoptic exam only.
o Synoptic assessment (FSYA).
o Using Accounting software (UACS) – solo exam only.
- Advanced Diploma in Accounting – Level 3: 12 months + to complete
- Number of exams at this level: 6 exams
o Advance book keeping (AVBK) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Final accounts preparation (FAPR) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Management accounting: Costing (MMAC) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Indirect tax (IDRX) – Solo + will be in synoptic exam.
o Ethics for accountant (ETFA) – Synoptic exam only.
o Spreadsheets for accounting (SPSH) – Synoptic exam only.
- Professional Diploma in Accounting – Level 4: 12-18 months to complete
- Number of exams at this level: 6 exams (4 fixed + 2 options)
o Financial statement of limited companies (FSLC) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Management accounting: Budgeting (MABU) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Management accountant: Decision and control (MDCL) – Solo + part of synoptic exam.
o Accounting systems and control (ASYC) – Synoptic exam only.
You will need to pick 2 of these option papers:
o Personal tax (PLTX) – solo exam only.
o Business tax (BSTX) – solo exam only.
o Credit management (CDMT) – solo exam only.
o Cash and treasury management (CTRM) – solo exam only.
o External auditing (ETAU) – solo exam only.
FIA
There are four levels to this qualification and 9 exams in total.
- Introductory Certificate in Financial & Management Accounting
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Recording Financial Transactions (FA1)
o Management Information (MA1)
- Intermediate Certificate in Financial & Management Accounting
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Maintaining Financial Records (FA2)
o Managing Costs & Finance (MA2)
- Diploma in Accounting and Business
- Number of exams at this level: 3 exams
o Accountant in Business (FAB)
o Management Accounting (FMA)
o Financial Accounting (FFA)
- Certified Accounting Technician – Pick two option papers
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Foundations in Taxation (FTX)
o Foundations in Financial Management (FFM)
o Foundations in Audit (FAU)
ATT
There is not really a level structure in ATT you will sit 5 exams in total.
- Compulsory Computer Based Examinations
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Law
o Professional Responsibilities & Ethics
- Compulsory written papers
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Personal taxation
o Business taxation
- Compulsory written papers – Pick an option paper
- Number of exams at this level: 1 exams
o Business Compliance
o Corporate Taxation
o Inheritance Tax, Trusts & Estates
o Value Added Tax
CIPFA
There are three levels to this qualification and 12 exams in total.
- Professional Certificate
- Number of exams at this level: 4 exams
o Financial Accounting
o Management Accounting
o Company Financial Reporting
o Audit and Assurance
- Professional Diploma
- Number of exams at this level: 6 exams
o Business and Change Management
o Corporate Governance and Law
o Financial Management
o Public Service Financial Reporting
o Strategy and Policy Development
o Taxation
- Strategic Stage
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Strategic Public Finance
o Strategic Case Study
CIMA
There are three levels to this qualification and 12 exams in total.
- Operational
- Number of exams at this level: 4 exams
o E1 Organisational Management
o P1 Management Accounting
o F1 Financial Reporting and Taxation
o Operational case study
- Management
- Number of exams at this level: 4 exams
o E2 Project and Relationship Management
o P2 Advanced Management Accounting
o F2 Advanced Financial Reporting
o Management case study
- Strategic
- Number of exams at this level: 4 exams
o E3 Strategic Management
o P3 Risk Management
o F3 Financial Strategy
o Strategic Case Study
ACA
There are 3 levels to this qualification and 15 exams.
- Certificate
- Number of exams at this level: 6 exams
o Accounting
o Assurance
o Management Information
o Business and Finance
o Principles of Taxation
o Law
- Professional
- Number of exams at this level: 6 exams
o Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
o Audit and Assurance (AA)
o Taxation Compliance (TC)
o Business Strategy (BS)
o Financial Management (FM)
o Business Planning Taxation (BPT)
- Advanced
- Number of exams at this level: 3 exams
o Corporate Reporting (CR)
o Strategic Business Management (SBM)
o Case study (CS)
ACCA
There are four levels to this qualification and 14 exams in total.
- Knowledge
- Number of exams at this level: 3 exams
o F1 Accountant in Business
o F2 Management Accounting
o F3 Financial Accounting
- Skills
- Number of exams at this level: 6 exams
o F4 Corporate and Business Law
o F5 Performance Management
o F6 Taxation
o F7 Financial Reporting
o F8 Audit and Assurance
o F9 Financial Management
- Essentials
- Number of exams at this level: 3 exams
o P1 Governance, Risk and Ethics
o P2 Corporate Reporting
o P3 Business Analysis
- Options – Pick two option papers
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o P4 Advanced Financial Management
o P5 Advanced Performance Management
o P6 Advanced Taxation
o P7 Advanced Audit and Assurance
CTA
There is not really a level structure in CTA and there exam structure can be confusing but in total you’re sitting 8 exams.
- Advisory
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Taxation of Owner-Managed Businesses
o Taxation of Individuals
o Inheritance Tax, Trusts & Estates
o Advanced Corporation Tax
o Human Capital Taxes
- Awareness
- Number of exams at this level: 3 exams
o Taxation of Unincorporated Businesses
o Taxation of Individuals
o Inheritance Tax, Trusts & Estates
o VAT including Stamp Taxes
o Corporation Tax
- Application and interaction
- Number of exams at this level: 1 exams
o Taxation of Owner-Managed Businesses
o Taxation of Individuals, Trusts & Estates
o Taxation of Companies
o Human Capital Taxes
- Compulsory Computer Based Examinations
- Number of exams at this level: 2 exams
o Law
o Professional Responsibilities & Ethics
CFA
There are three levels to this qualification and 3 exams in total, just remember that each exam has a morning and afternoon paper (it will feel like you’re sitting 6 papers).
- Level 1
- Number of exams at this level: 1 exams
- Level 2
- Number of exams at this level: 1 exams
- Level 3
- Number of exams at this level: 1 exams
Brainthrough!