ACCA After CA: Benefits, Challenges, and Decisions
ACCA After CA: Is It Worth Pursuing in 2025?
What is ACCA after CA, and why are professionals considering it?
If you're a Chartered Accountant wondering, "Should I pursue ACCA after CA?" you're not alone. Many Indian CAs are exploring this path to enhance their global career prospects. But is investing time and money in ACCA after completing CA worth it? Let's break it down.
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a globally recognized accounting qualification that can complement your existing CA credentials. For Indian chartered accountants considering international opportunities, understanding the value of adding ACCA to their resume is crucial.
Benefits of pursuing ACCA
How does ACCA enhance your global career opportunities?
The primary advantage of getting ACCA after CA is international recognition. While your CA qualification holds tremendous value in India, ACCA opens doors worldwide, particularly in:
- United Arab Emirates
- Singapore
- Africa and parts of Europe like Ireland, Netherlands
- Middle Eastern nations
If you're asking, "How can I work abroad as a CA from India?" Adding ACCA certification might be your answer.
What exemptions do CA holders get for ACCA?
Here's some good news: if you're wondering about the ACCA course after CA - you don't need to start from scratch! You can receive exemptions from up to 9 of the 13 ACCA papers as a qualified CA. This means:
- You'll only need to complete four strategic professional-level exams
- Ethics compliance training is still required.
- Your CA foundation significantly reduces your ACCA journey.
Why are Indian CAs increasingly adding ACCA to their profiles?
Many professionals pursue ACCA after CA in India for these key reasons:
- Standing out from other CAs: ACCA provides a differentiating factor in a competitive job market with thousands of CAs.
- Global career aspirations: For CAs who ask, "How can I work internationally?" ACCA serves as a passport to overseas opportunities.
- Peer influence: Seeing colleagues and friends succeed with dual qualifications creates a powerful motivation.
Is ACCA after CA worth it? A practical evaluation
When ACCA after CA makes sense
If you're planning to work in regions without strong local accounting bodies
For CAs with international ambitions, ACCA certification is particularly valuable in:
- Middle Eastern countries, Where ACCA is highly regarded and often preferred
- African nations: Where ACCA serves as a recognized international standard
- Certain parts of Asia Where ACCA has established strong recognition
In these regions, ACCA can:
- Increase your job prospects three to fivefold
- Leads to better salary potential.
- Provide immediate recognition factor with recruiters.
If you're committed to the additional study
The ACCA journey requires significant dedication:
- Each ACCA paper requires approximately 150-200 hours of study.
- The exams focus on depth of understanding rather than rote memorization.
- You'll need about 2 hours daily over two months for each subject
When ACCA after CA might not be the best choice
If your career is focused on India
For CAs planning to build their career in India:
- Local employers prioritize experience over additional qualifications.
- Indian finance leaders (often CAs) are more familiar with CA training.
- After your first job, skills matter more than additional certifications
If time and financial investment is a concern
Consider these practical factors:
- ACCA requires significant study time alongside your job
- The financial investment might yield better returns elsewhere
- Alternative skills might provide better differentiation.
What alternatives should CAs consider instead of ACCA?
If you're asking, "What can I do after CA besides ACCA?" consider these high-demand alternatives:
Country-Specific Accounting Qualifications
- ICAEW for UK: The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales qualification is more recognized than ACCA within the UK
- US CPA: Essential for working in the United States financial sector
- CPA Australia: The preferred qualification for accounting professionals in Australia
- CPA Canada: The standard for accounting practice in Canada
These local qualifications often provide better recognition and career opportunities in their respective countries than ACCA.
IFRS/USGAAP Certification
- Essential for aspiring CFOs
- Costs approximately ₹30,000-40,000
- Highly valuable with increasing global IPOs
- Supports career growth to executive levels
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG
- Rapidly growing field
- Critical for corporate strategy
- Increasing demand from organizations worldwide
- Positions you at the forefront of business reporting evolution
Data Analytics Expertise
- You can increase your salary by 20-50%
- Investment of approximately ₹150,000 for comprehensive training
- Transforms your capabilities as a financial professional
- Highly sought-after in modern finance
Check out our popular recruiter friendly data analytics courses
CIMA UK Qualification through the Fast-Track Leadership Program (FLP)
- The CIMA FLP program allows CAs to write just one case study paper
- Dramatically adds a softer managerial edge to your otherwise technical CA profile
- Complements analytical accounting knowledge with strategic management skills
- Creates a balanced professional identity as both technician and business leader
- Perfect for CAs aiming for CFO or other leadership positions
- Provides the CGMA designation (Chartered Global Management Accountant)
Making your decision: Checklist
Before deciding on ACCA after completing your CA, ask yourself:
- Where do I see my career in 5 years? (India or internationally)
- Can I realistically commit to the additional study time?
- What specific skills would most benefit my career trajectory?
- Will the return on investment justify the time and money spent?
Conclusion:
The decision to pursue ACCA isn't one-size-fits-all. Your career aspirations, time availability, and personal circumstances play essential roles.
If global opportunities call you, ACCA might be the perfect stepping stone. However, investing in specialized skills might yield better returns if your path lies within India.
Remember that your professional journey should align with both your career goals and personal growth objectives. The most direct path isn't always the most rewarding.
Need personalized guidance on ACCA after CA or other certification options? Email us at info@eduyush.com or WhatsApp us at +919643308079 for expert advice tailored to your unique situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to complete ACCA after CA?
With exemptions from 9 papers, most CAs can complete the remaining 4 ACCA papers in 12-18 months while working.
What is the cost of pursuing ACCA after CA in India?
After accounting for exemptions, the cost ranges from ₹140,000 to ₹180,000, including registration, exam fees, and study materials.
Can I work abroad with just CA, without ACCA?
Yes, but ACCA significantly enhances your prospects, especially in the UK, UAE, and European countries.
Which is better after CA: ACCA or country-specific accounting qualifications?
It depends on your target country. For specific countries, local qualifications are usually better:
- UK: ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) is preferred
- US: US CPA carries more weight than ACCA
- Australia: CPA Australia is more recognized locally
- Canada: CPA Canada is the standard qualification ACCA is most valuable in regions without strong local accounting bodies, like parts of Africa, the Middle East, and certain Asian countries.
Will ACCA increase my salary in India?
While possible, skills like data analytics, IFRS expertise, or ESG reporting typically yield better salary improvements within India.
acca after ca. Questions? Answers.
If you go through an ACCA partner, we estimate your costs to be around INR 150,00 which will cover the following
1)registration fees
2) Exemptions fees
3) exam fees for the four professional papers
4) ethics and professional skills module
5)annual subscription fees
6) BPP books with BPP online classes.
To know more do reach out to the Eduyush team.
To enrol, students will need to apply via Myacca for exemptions from 9 papers. If you are keen on enrolling, Eduyush team will help you out in this regard and also work on your scholarships on your exemptions.
For a CA, you need to write four professional-level papers and complete an ethics module.
We estimate approximately a year to eighteen months to complete. This is after factoring in your work schedule and trends of our past students.
If you are planning to take up ACCA, its always better to start it after your CA for the following reasons
1) You will be exempt from the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skill level exams. So that's nine out of thirteen papers
2) Scholarships are better for a CA than others
3) Focus on clearing your CA first, as doing together both will take away your focus from both.
Take the ACCA during your CA only if you are planning to give up taking the CA exams altogether.
The answer is Yes and No
Yes :
1) Your conceptual clarity needs to be higher
2) The ACCA strategic professional level exams are case study based. This will require skillsets in exam technique and communication
3) Rote learning will not help
4) Marks are awarded for good and bad answers rather than the solution.
No:
1) Unlike CA, you don't need to write in groups. so you can schedule one exam at a time and clear it. You need to score 50% to clear the subject individually
2) You can schedule your papers quarterly
3) Plenty of ACCA resources on-site that will guide you on how to plan your studies.
To become a member of ACCA and qualify as a professional accountant, your must complete the Practical expereince Requirements (PER).
There are three components to the PER:
1) completing 36 months' employment in an accounting or finance-related role or roles
2) achieving five Essentials and at least four Technical performance objectives to the satisfaction of your practical experience supervisorrecording and
3) reporting your PER progress through the onlineMy Experiencerecord.
Since you are already a CA, your articleship expereince should siffuce all points especially towards point 1 and 2. If you are missing out on any of objectives in point 2, you can still gain that though work expereince.
Yes you can become a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and Newzealand once you fulfil the following criteria.
1) You are residing in Australia or Newzealand
2) Submit a Letter of Good Standing from ACCA. The letter must be dated within 3 months of the date of your application
3) Have at least 5 years of work experience in finance and accounting post admittance to ACCA. This must be backed by your employer's attestation.
4) Two CA references from CA ANZ Members
CPA Canada signed the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) in 2011.
In 2020, CPA Canada activated the withdrawal from the existing MRA because it intended to agree to a fresh MRA with ACCA. The withdrawal of the MRA is applicable from April 30, 2021.
No new timelines have been given for when the new MRA will come in.
We would advise Indian CA's to apply using the MRA with CPA Canada directly rather than the ACCA route
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