CPA Exam Registration Process? – A Step-by-Step Guide
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ACCA expanded as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants was formed in 1904. It is a globally recognized professional accountancy body that offers the “Chartered Certified Accountant” qualification (also known as the ACCA certification). It is a fast-growing international accountancy organization having more than 2,00,000 members and more than 500,000 students, with a presence in over 180 countries.
It is no surprise that the salary for ACCA in UK and US is also soaring. With the ever-rising demand for the ACCA designation, the remuneration paid to an ACCA-certified professional is also quite high, especially in the UK and US.
The ACCA is one of the most sought-after professional qualifications in accounting and finance. As a globally recognized course and its updated/Industry-relevant content, ACCA is a great way to build a career in Accounts and finance as a beginner. However, the ACCA course is developed keeping everyone in mind. ACCA qualification is great for students and experienced professionals interested in Accounts.
By pursuing the ACCA course, you can access the global job market. As an ACCA-certified accounting professional, you can get many high-paying and well-respected job opportunities worldwide. If you want to work as finance or accounting professional in foreign countries, then a certification like the ACCA is a must-have.
Coupled with all the above, its incredibly flexible examination scheme makes it more desirable and attractive for students.
The ACCA designation has quite a Flexible course. The students can join the course right after passing their 12th examination or after completing their formal education.
Let’s dig deeper into the ACCA course details.
To pursue the ACCA course, a candidate must fulfill these eligibility criteria:-
The students who have cleared the 10th can enroll in the ACCA course through Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) program.
To become an ACCA-certified accounting professional, the candidates must clear up to 13 exams (however, ACCA may provide exemptions for up to 9 exams depending upon the candidate’s previous qualification). The candidate may also deal with the Ethics and Professional Skills module.
The 13 papers of the ACCA examination are divided into three levels:-
1. Applied Knowledge Level: The knowledge level covers three exams, and candidates who pass all of these are awarded the ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business. The Knowledge Level exams are on-demand, so you can take them any time in the 365 days of the year.
2. Applied Skills Level: The Skills level includes six exams, which include –
The Skill Level exams are conducted every March, June, September, and December. Candidates are awarded the Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business after completing the above-mentioned exams.
3. Strategic Professional Level: Candidates have to prepare for 4 papers out of 6; these papers are divided into two modules – Essentials and optional.
Essentials:
Optional: (Any 2)
Similar to the skill level, the Professional Level exams are also conducted every March, June, September, and December.
Salary for ACCA in UK and US is relatively high compared to those in India.
However, the exact salary for ACCA in UK and US is highly dependent on their total years of relevant experience and their current designation in a company. Obviously, if you have spent more time in an industry, the salary you can demand will be that much higher.
Here is the table representing the average salary for ACCA in UK and US:-
| United Kingdom (UK) | United States (US) | |
| Fresher or entry-level | GBP 39,100 | USD $44,000 |
| Mid Level | GBP 52,500 | USD $87,000 |
| Senior Level | GBP 68,200 | USD $101,000 |
Important Note:- In the United Kingdom, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a recognized accounting body, and you can freely pursue a career in accountancy with no restrictions from work. But the same is not true in the United States. In the US, ACCA is not recognized, and as an ACCA-qualified accountant, you can practice Public Accountancy in any state of the United States. Thus, the US may not be the right place to start your ACCA career as a fresher.
Salary for ACCA in UK and US is also quite dependent on your job position in a company. The more important your job role, the higher your salary for ACCA in UK and US.
In India, a fresher with the ACCA qualification usually gets hired in a similar position as an Indian Chartered Accountant or CA. Companies like Grant Thornton, BDO, J. P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and other big names actively hire many ACCA freshers in various accounting and finance positions. However, if you work hard enough, you will easily be able to experience immense growth in your career. Here is the list of average salaries and salary ranges for various Job profiles in India.
| Job Title | Range (Annual) | Average (Annual) |
| Accountant | ₹172k – ₹729k | ₹348,171 |
| Chartered Accountant | ₹364k – ₹20 lakh | ₹985,808 |
| Finance Manager | ₹197k – ₹20 lakh | ₹967,750 |
| Auditor | ₹300k – ₹20 lakh | ₹625,710 |
| Associate Auditor | ₹252k – ₹839k | ₹398,739 |
The best feature of the ACCA qualification is that it opens opportunities for candidates to work in several other countries in addition to the UK, the US, and India. After understanding the salary for ACCA in UK and US, now let’s see it for other countries.
With an ACCA certification in hand, you can grab a high-paying job nearly anywhere around the globe.
Here is the list of the Salary for ACCA in UK and US, and other countries.
| Fresher or entry-level | Mid Level | Senior Level | |
| Ireland | EUR 20,400 | EUR 28,100 | EUR 40,100 |
| UAE | AED 7000 /pm | AED 10,000 /pm | AED 20,000 /pm |
| Switzerland | CHF 67400 | CHF 117000 | CHF 155000 + |
| Canada | CAD 62,300 | CAD 82,500 | CAD 110,000 |
| Australia | AUD 50,800 | AUD 64,200 | AUD 84,600 |
When writing this article, the ACCA is currently not recognized as an official accounting body in the USA. Thus, as an ACCA-certified accounting professional, you can not work as an official public accountant in any of the states of the United States. You will need a CPA license to practice public accountancy in the United States, which is issued at the state level.
However, you can still work in other domains under other companies, such as consulting and advisory, apart from the audit.
Both the ACCA and CPA are quite prestigious qualifications in the field of accounting and finance and are well respected in the global accounting community. However, many consider US CPA to be more valuable than ACCA, especially in the USA, as the entry barrier for CPA is higher and the fact that the ACCA is not recognized in the United States. The entry requirement for a US CPA is equivalent to a master’s degree with stringent work experience that needs to be showcased.
However, outside the United States, both certifications have nearly the same footing in the job market.
As a fresher, the ACCA-certified accounting professional will be able to draw a better salary than a USA CMA-certified individual. On average, a fresher with CMA certification can earn up to 4 lakh to 5 lakh per annum, while the same for an individual with ACCA qualification hovers around 6 lakh to 8 lakh per annum.
However, if you can grab both certifications, you will be able to get a very high position and can expect a salary of up to 10 to 15 lakh rupees per annum.
There is no reciprocal agreement that entitles someone who has ACCA qualifications to qualify for licensed CPA status automatically. So, there is no quick route for ACCA members to obtain the US CPA. If you want to acquire the US CPA certification after the ACCA qualification, then you need to sit for the CPA exam and pass the four-part exam. However, your previous preparation for the ACCA exams will help you a lot in clearing the uniform CPA exam. You can get certified and get a satisfactory job in the US or UK Moreover, the salary for ACCA in UK and US is considerably good.
Yes! ACCA is recognized in the United States. It is true that an ACCA-qualified accounting professional is not permitted to work as a public accountant in any of the states of the USA. However, as an ACCA-certified professional, you can still work in other domains under other companies, such as financial consulting.
ACCA qualification, being one of the most respected and globally recognized certifications in accountancy, can open up the gates to many new high-paying job opportunities. Employers from all around the world are looking for ACCA-certified accounting professionals to join their companies.
The high salary for ACCA in UK and US has pursued many individuals to join the ACCA course in India. However, most do not know how to prepare for the ACCA exams correctly. That’s where NSA (or NorthStar Academy) comes to your rescue. We at NSA help as many students as possible achieve their desired finance certification. Our well-organized way of covering the entire syllabus with frequent doubt sessions, live classes, and mock exams assists our students in preparing efficiently.
Contact us from here for any assistance required.
