Question 1

What is ACCA?

Accepted Answer

ACCA is a globally recognised professional accountancy qualification designed to develop strong technical, professional and strategic skills across accounting, financial reporting, audit, taxation, finance and business. What makes ACCA particularly valuable is that it goes beyond technical accounting. As you progress through the qualification, you're also developing professional judgement, ethics, strategic thinking and practical experience.

Question 2

Is ACCA good for Indian students?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ACCA can be a strong option for Indian students who want an internationally oriented professional accountancy qualification. It can be relevant to careers in accounting, audit, financial reporting, taxation, finance and advisory. However, I always advise students to first understand their target career and geography before choosing any professional qualification.

Question 3

Can I do ACCA after B.Com?

Accepted Answer

Yes. B.Com graduates can generally apply for ACCA, subject to ACCA's eligibility assessment. Depending on the subjects and level of your previous qualification, you may also be eligible for exemptions from some ACCA examinations. My advice is to check your individual exemptions before planning your ACCA papers because your exemption profile can significantly change the time and cost involved.

Question 4

Can I do ACCA after BBA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. BBA graduates can pursue ACCA, subject to meeting ACCA's entry requirements. Depending on your previous studies, you may also be eligible for exemptions. So before deciding which papers to take, first establish your exact exemption position through ACCA's official assessment.

Question 5

Can I do ACCA after 12th?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Students can start ACCA after 12th if they meet the applicable entry requirements. If a student does not meet the direct-entry requirements, ACCA also has foundation-level routes that can provide a pathway into the qualification. If you're starting ACCA immediately after school, my advice is to focus on building a strong accounting foundation rather than simply trying to complete papers as quickly as possible.

Question 6

Can I do ACCA without a commerce degree?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A commerce degree is not mandatory for ACCA. Students from non-commerce backgrounds can pursue ACCA if they meet the relevant entry requirements or enter through an appropriate foundation route. If you don't have an accounting background, you may need additional preparation in accounting and finance fundamentals, but that should not stop you from considering ACCA.

Question 7

Can I do ACCA while studying B.Com?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many students pursue ACCA alongside their B.Com. The key is planning your two programmes properly. Understand your university subjects, identify your potential ACCA exemptions and then decide how many ACCA papers you can realistically manage alongside your degree. If planned properly, your B.Com and ACCA studies can complement each other very well.

Question 8

What is ACCA PER?

Accepted Answer

PER stands for Practical Experience Requirement. To become an ACCA member, you need relevant practical experience in addition to completing the applicable examinations and other requirements. Under the current framework, this includes 36 months of relevant experience and completion of the required performance objectives. My advice is to start thinking about PER early. Don't wait until you've finished all your exams to start considering how you're going to build your practical experience.

Question 9

Can ACCA practical experience be completed while studying?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can gain relevant practical experience before, during or after your ACCA examinations, provided it meets ACCA's requirements. In fact, I encourage students to gain relevant experience while studying whenever possible. It allows you to connect your ACCA concepts with actual workplace situations and can make your learning much more meaningful.

Question 10

Can ACCA students get exemptions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, exemptions from ACCA exams can be available based on your previous academic or professional qualifications. However, exemptions are not automatically awarded simply because you are pursuing another qualification. ACCA assesses your previous studies against its exemption rules. My advice is to check your individual exemption position through ACCA's official Exemptions Calculator before planning your ACCA journey.

Question 11

Can CA students get ACCA exemptions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, CA candidates and qualified CA professionals may be eligible for ACCA exemptions, depending on the qualification or stage of qualification completed and ACCA's applicable rules. I would not recommend assuming a fixed number of exemptions simply because you are pursuing CA. Your exact exemption profile should be confirmed through ACCA's official assessment before you plan your papers.

Question 12

Can US CPA holders get ACCA exemptions?

Accepted Answer

Potentially, yes, depending on the specific CPA qualification you hold and ACCA's current exemption rules. However, holding another professional qualification does not automatically guarantee exemptions from a fixed number of ACCA papers. If you're already a CPA and considering ACCA, I would first get your individual exemption assessment. Once you know exactly which papers you need, you can make a much more informed decision about the time and investment involved.

Question 13

How many exams are there in ACCA?

Accepted Answer

Under the current ACCA structure, a student with no exemptions can complete up to 13 examinations: 3 Applied Knowledge exams, 6 Applied Skills exams, 2 Strategic Professional Essentials, and 2 Strategic Professional Options. However, students may receive exemptions based on previous qualifications, so not everyone needs to complete all 13 exams. There is also an important transition taking place in the ACCA qualification from 2027, so students registering around this period should follow ACCA's applicable transition guidance.

Question 14

What are the ACCA Applied Knowledge papers?

Accepted Answer

The Applied Knowledge level consists of three papers: Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), and Financial Accounting (FA). These papers establish the fundamentals that you need before moving into the more advanced ACCA subjects. If you're coming from a non-commerce background, I would particularly encourage you to build a strong conceptual foundation at this stage.

Question 15

What are the ACCA Applied Skills papers?

Accepted Answer

The current Applied Skills level consists of six papers: Corporate and Business Law (LW), Performance Management (PM), Taxation (TX), Financial Reporting (FR), Audit and Assurance (AA), and Financial Management (FM). This is where the qualification becomes significantly more application-oriented. You need to understand concepts and, more importantly, know how to apply them to exam and business scenarios.

Question 16

What are the ACCA Strategic Professional exams?

Accepted Answer

Under the current structure, Strategic Professional consists of two Essentials — Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) and Strategic Business Leader (SBL) — along with two Options selected from AFM, APM, ATX and AAA. However, ACCA is transitioning to a redesigned qualification from 2027. The Strategic Professional structure will change as part of that redesign. So, if you're starting or continuing ACCA during this transition period, I recommend checking the specific transition rules that apply to your registration and exam history.

Question 17

What is the ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module?

Accepted Answer

The Ethics and Professional Skills Module is designed to develop the professional skills that complement your technical ACCA knowledge. It focuses on areas such as ethical judgement, communication, professional behaviour and decision-making. From my perspective, this is an important part of the qualification because being a finance professional isn't only about getting the technical answer right. You also need to know how to communicate your conclusion and make sound professional decisions.

Question 18

Is ACCA difficult?

Accepted Answer

ACCA is a professional qualification, so you should expect the exams to require consistent preparation and application of knowledge. The level of difficulty varies from student to student. Your academic background, accounting knowledge, preparation strategy and the number of papers you attempt together will all make a difference. The most important thing is to understand the concepts, practise sufficiently and develop the right exam technique.

Question 19

What is the ACCA pass rate?

Accepted Answer

ACCA pass rates vary by paper and examination session, so I don't recommend using one overall figure to judge the qualification. ACCA publishes official pass rates after each examination session. If you're researching a particular paper, look at the pass rate for that paper and the relevant session rather than relying on a general claim about the entire qualification.

Question 20

How often are ACCA exams held?

Accepted Answer

Most session-based ACCA exams are held four times a year — in March, June, September and December. Some Applied Knowledge exams may be available as on-demand computer-based exams, depending on the paper and location. Because exam availability and deadlines can change, students should always check the current ACCA timetable before finalising their study plan.

Question 21

How long does ACCA take?

Accepted Answer

The duration depends entirely on your individual starting point. Your exemptions, number of papers attempted, study hours, exam results and practical experience will all affect the timeline. A graduate with exemptions may complete the examination component faster than someone starting from the beginning. But remember that becoming an ACCA member also involves practical experience and other requirements.

Question 22

Can ACCA be completed in 1 year?

Accepted Answer

Some students with significant exemptions may be able to complete their remaining examinations in a relatively short period. But I would be cautious about saying that the entire ACCA qualification can universally be "completed in one year." Your practical experience and other membership requirements also need to be considered. Rather than choosing ACCA purely because of a one-year completion claim, I would recommend building a realistic plan based on your exemptions and career commitments.

Question 23

What is the ACCA fee in India?

Accepted Answer

The total ACCA cost in India depends on your individual exemption profile and the number of examinations you need to take. You should consider the initial registration fee, annual subscription, examination fees, exemption fees where applicable, professional-skills requirements and tuition costs. I always tell students to calculate the complete cost of the qualification, rather than looking only at the coaching fee. ACCA's fees can also change, so the latest official India fee schedule should be checked before registration.

Question 24

Is ACCA expensive?

Accepted Answer

The answer depends on the individual student. The total cost can vary significantly depending on exemptions, examination attempts, annual subscriptions, exemption fees and the tuition provider you choose. Instead of asking whether ACCA is simply "expensive" or "cheap," I would recommend calculating the complete cost of your own ACCA journey and considering the qualification in the context of your long-term career plans.

Question 25

What jobs can I get after ACCA?

Accepted Answer

ACCA can support careers across a wide range of accounting and finance functions, including financial reporting, audit, accounting, taxation, management accounting, financial analysis, controllership, advisory and finance roles. But I always tell students that clearing ACCA is not the end of the career journey. Practical experience, communication skills, technology skills and industry knowledge will also influence the roles and opportunities you can move into.

Question 26

What is the salary after ACCA in India?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed salary attached to the ACCA qualification. Your compensation can depend on your role, experience, location, employer, technical skills and whether you are an ACCA student, affiliate or member. I would be very careful about websites or institutes promising a particular salary simply because you've completed ACCA. The qualification can strengthen your professional profile and open relevant opportunities, but your actual salary will depend on the value you build through your skills and experience.

Question 27

Can ACCA get me into Big 4 firms?

Accepted Answer

ACCA is relevant to many roles within large professional-services firms, including accounting, audit, financial reporting and advisory. However, ACCA itself is not a guarantee of a Big Four job. Your academic performance, technical skills, relevant experience, communication, interview performance and the requirements of the particular vacancy will all play a role.

Question 28

Can ACCA help me work abroad?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ACCA has an international orientation and can be relevant to accounting and finance careers across many countries. However, there is an important difference between having an internationally recognised qualification and automatically being eligible to work in another country. You also need to consider immigration and work-authorisation requirements, local regulations, employer requirements and any licensing rules applicable to the particular role.

Question 29

ACCA vs CA — what is the difference?

Accepted Answer

Indian CA and ACCA are both professional accountancy qualifications, but they have different structures and regulatory contexts. CA, awarded by ICAI, is closely aligned with the Indian accounting, audit, taxation, legal and regulatory environment. ACCA is an internationally oriented professional accountancy qualification with its own global examination, ethics and practical-experience framework. So when students ask me which one they should choose, I first ask them about their career objective and target geography rather than treating one qualification as universally better.

Question 30

ACCA vs CPA — what is the difference?

Accepted Answer

The US CPA is a US accounting and licensure pathway administered through individual state boards and focused on the applicable US accounting, audit, taxation and regulatory environment. ACCA is an internationally oriented professional accountancy qualification with its own examination, ethics and practical-experience framework. If your career target is the US accounting and regulatory environment, you need to understand the CPA pathway and state-specific requirements. ACCA follows a different international pathway.

Question 31

ACCA vs CMA — what is the difference?

Accepted Answer

ACCA provides broad coverage across accounting, financial reporting, audit, taxation, financial management and strategic finance. The US CMA is a two-part certification with greater emphasis on management accounting, financial planning, performance management and strategic financial management. So I would advise students to start with the career role they want and then determine which qualification aligns with that direction.

Question 32

ACCA vs CIA — what is the difference?

Accepted Answer

ACCA is a broad professional accountancy qualification, while CIA is a specialist certification focused on internal audit, governance, risk and controls. If you want broad exposure across accounting and finance, ACCA provides that wider coverage. If you want to specialise specifically in internal audit and controls, CIA has a much more focused curriculum. For certain professionals, they can also complement each other rather than being alternatives.

Question 33

Why choose Simandhar for ACCA?

Accepted Answer

At Simandhar, our focus is on helping students build a professional career — not simply helping them complete an examination. For ACCA, that means providing structured preparation, experienced faculty, exam-focused learning, study resources, question practice and student support throughout the qualification journey. At the same time, I believe students should make an informed decision before enrolling with any institute. Look at the faculty, teaching methodology, study material, doubt support, mock exams, fees and career support. If those elements align with your learning style and career goals, that's when a learning partner can genuinely add value.

Be an AI Enabled
Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants
(ACCA) in 2026

Be an AI Enabled
Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants
(ACCA) in 2026

What is the ACCA Course?

Be an AI EnabledAssociation of CharteredCertified Accountants(ACCA) in 2026

Be an AI EnabledAssociation of CharteredCertified Accountants(ACCA) in 2026

What is the ACCA Course?

Be an AI Enabled
Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants
(ACCA) in 2026

Be an AI Enabled
Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants
(ACCA) in 2026