some questions

juanveron45

What steps does one take once they have a degree in accounting from college and want to become a chartered accountant?

what makes the professional exams so difficult?

juanveron45

Is it diificult to get in to do the professional exams unless you have a degree in accounting?

Climber

No it's not difficlut.

There are 14 ACCA exams to complete in order to become a chartered accountant. If you already have a degree in accountancy you can get exempted from doing some of the ACCA exams, sometimes up to 8 exemptions, which means that you only have 6 exams left to do.

I would check out www.accglobal.com and familiarise yourself with the processes and good luck

juanveron45

that doesnt seem to be the correct address, its advertising phones and internet services.

Do the professsional bodies such as the cpa or the acca just take on anyone or do you need to do an interview, whats the first step

Climber

that doesnt seem to be the correct address

Sorry about that, the correct address is www.accaglobal.com

I think you really need to read that website cover to cover and get as much information as you can. Also, DBS and BPP colleges normally hold 'open days' in February. If I were you I would go along to these and ask lots of questions, it's also a good opportunity to speak to other students.

To answer your question:

You can register and sit an ACCA exam no matter what other qualifications you have/or don't have. It's as simple as that. Once you pass all 14 exams (through sitting those exams and/or exemptions AND complete 3 years relevant work experience, you become a qualified accountant and can command 50k+ salaries)

The ACA have a very different approach. You must get a training contract with an accountancy firm and you do your exams through this training contract. So, to get this training contract you normally must have a degree in Accountancy.

juanveron45

im 29 now so I have probably left it too late, if I did a degree in accounting it would take me 4 years and another 3-4 to get my professional exams, do you know anyone who has done this late in life, have i left it too late?do you need a better motivation than money to do this?I see the Dublin busimess school does a night degree ,is this anygood?

tywy

Climber wrote: »

The ACA have a very different approach. You must get a training contract with an accountancy firm and you do your exams through this training contract. So, to get this training contract you normally must have a degree in Accountancy.

Don't have to have a degree in Accountancy, I'm an engineer and I've been offered a training contract, given they are going to pay for me to do a PDA.

OP, have you any third level qualification? If so you can do the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting in DIT, there's a similar course in DCU.

juanveron45

I have a diploma(same as ordinary degree)level 7 in analytical chemistry with quality management, would postgrad in accounting start at a basic level I didn't even do it for the leaving, also is dublin my only option to do a postgrad

juanveron45

I cant seem to find a postgrad accountancy course that allows access without a hons degree in any field with a 2:2 results, I only have a diploma so that rules me out but I did find this online,let me know what you thin?

http://www.open.ac.uk/roi/forms/accounting.php?source=googleac

Fiona44

you dont need any accountancy qualifications to do a training contract.
I did my primary degree in Arts and then I did a 1 year Masters in Business Management.

A degree in accountancy increases your chance of being offered the training contract but a post-grad qualification in any business related discipline should be enough for you- and that would only take 1 year to complete.

Climber

im 29 now so I have probably left it too late

You'll be working for the next 36 years, so if it takes you 10 years to become an accountant it would still be worth it!