ACCA Exemptions for CA Inter, CA Final, and CA Qualified

ACCA exemptions for CA: The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a globally recognized qualification in accounting and finance. Many students in India complete Chartered Accountancy (CA) and then plan to add ACCA to their profile for international recognition. The good news is that ACCA does not ask students to study the same topics again. Instead, it gives exemptions. 

These exemptions reduce the number of exams students need to appear for. In this article, we will understand the different types of ACCA exemptions for CA at different stages. We will look at exemptions for CA Inter, CA Final, and fully qualified CAs in detail. We will also check the process to apply, the cost of exemptions, and the benefits of adding ACCA after CA.

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What are ACCA Exemptions?

ACCA exemptions mean skipping certain exams if students have already studied the same subjects in their earlier qualification. ACCA recognizes the knowledge students gained in CA and gives them direct entry into the higher levels of the ACCA program. This saves both time and cost.

For Indian students, ACCA is flexible. Depending on whether students have completed CA Inter, CA Final, or are a fully qualified CA, the number of exemptions changes.

ACCA Exemptions for CA Inter Students

Students who have cleared CA Inter do not need to start ACCA from the very beginning. ACCA gives them some direct exemptions from the first-level exams. This is because subjects like accounting, law, and management are already covered in CA Inter. Below, we’ve mentioned  the ACCA exemptions for CA Inter:

So, students at the CA Inter stage usually get 3 to 6 exemptions. This helps them move ahead in ACCA quickly without repeating basic subjects.

By claiming ACCA exemptions for CA Inter, students can save months of preparation and focus only on advanced subjects. Many students who are preparing for the CA Final also keep ACCA as a parallel option by using these exemptions.

ACCA Exemption for CA Final Students

Students who have cleared CA Final exams but are not yet ICAI members also get additional exemptions. Since CA Final covers in-depth subjects like audit, taxation, and financial reporting, ACCA accepts this knowledge as equivalent. Below, we’ve mentioned the ACCA exemptions for CA Final:

So, after clearing CA Final, students can get up to 9 exemptions. This means they only need to appear for the last 4 exams at the Strategic Professional Level.

The ACCA exemptions for CA Final help students reduce their study load, cut costs, and finish ACCA in less than a year in many cases.

ACCA Exemption for CA Qualified Students

Students who are fully qualified chartered accountants and have ICAI membership get the maximum exemptions in ACCA. They skip the entire first two levels and directly start with the last stage. Below, we’ve mentioned the ACCA exemptions for CA Qualified:

So, a fully qualified CA in India only needs to take 4 exams to become ACCA qualified. These exams are Strategic Business Leader (SBL), Strategic Business Reporting (SBR), and two optional subjects.

The ACCA exemptions for CA Qualified are designed to value the effort of Indian chartered accountants while ensuring they also learn global reporting and leadership skills.

Step-by-Step Process to Claim ACCA Exemptions

Applying for ACCA exemptions is simple, but it must be done carefully with the correct documents. Below, we’ve mentioned the steps to follow:

Register on the ACCA website: Students need to visit accaglobal.com and create their account. During registration, they must select India as their country and ICAI as their qualification. 

Upload required documents: Once registered, students must upload their CA mark sheets, ICAI membership certificate (if applicable), and a valid ID proof such as Aadhaar or passport. These documents help ACCA verify the qualifications.

Use the exemption calculator: ACCA provides an online exemption calculator. By entering “ICAI” and selecting the qualification level, students can see which papers are exempt. This tool helps in planning the remaining exams.

Pay exemption fees: Exemption fees must be paid online in British pounds. Each exempted paper requires a separate fee, but this is still cheaper than writing all exams.

Start preparing for the remaining exams: Once exemptions are approved, the ACCA account will show “Exempted” against the respective papers. Students can then plan for the remaining exams according to their career goals.

Cost of ACCA Exemption for CA Students

Even though ACCA exempts certain papers, students have to pay exemption fees for each subject that is skipped. This is a one-time cost, but it is much less than the cost of attempting all exams. Below, we’ve mentioned the approximate cost:

Benefits of ACCA After CA

Completing the ACCA after CA offers many benefits for students and professionals. Below, we’ve mentioned the benefits of ACCA After CA:

Global recognition: The ACCA qualification is recognized in over 180 countries. This means that Indian CAs can use their degree to work in countries like the UK, Canada, Singapore, and the UAE. 

Shorter duration of study: With exemptions, CA Inter, CA Final, and CA qualified students have fewer exams to attempt. This will reduce the time required to complete ACCA. 

Lower overall cost: Exemptions reduce the exam fees, study material costs, and coaching fees. Even though students must pay exemption fees, the total cost is far lower than completing all 13 exams.

Stronger career opportunities: By adding ACCA to CA, students will increase their chances of working in multinational companies, Big 4 audit firms, and international finance roles. The combination of CA and ACCA is highly valued in global markets.

Flexibility for working professionals: ACCA allows students to attempt exams twice a year, and they can choose to write only one or two papers at a time. This flexible approach makes it easier for working professionals to study without leaving their jobs.

Exposure to global standards: ACCA exams cover international accounting standards, financial reporting, and business leadership. These subjects prepare professionals for senior roles in finance and management.

ACCA exemptions have many advantages for Indian CA students and professionals. Depending on the level of CA, the number of exemptions may change. The ACCA exemptions for CA Inter allow students to skip the first stage. 

The ACCA exemptions for CA Final provide almost complete coverage of the first two levels. The ACCA exemptions for CA Qualified give maximum benefit by exempting 9 papers in total.

These exemptions save both the time and money of students and make the ACCA journey much simpler and shorter. By completing the remaining exams, Indian students gain an international qualification that adds strong value to their CA degree and helps them build a global career.