Acca Vs Aca.

Da Bomb!

I am a student doing my last year of my accounting degree. Can anybody tell me what the difference between ACCA and ACA? My take on them is that at the end of both you are equally fully qualified? If this is correct then I want to go straight into work and sit ACCA exams, rather then have to do a masters to achieve CAP2's but which firms are best to apply for regarding putting you through acca exams

conor1979

I'm open to correction here but if you do ACA straight out of college you are exempt from CAP1 and go into CAP2. If you do your Masters you go straight into FAE.

I wouldn't just look at what firms are happy with you doing ACCA or ACA, I would concentrate on what you feel happy doing.

I know people who are doing ACCA because it is said it is more acceptable around the world (not sure how true this is) and that ACA is more accepted in most of the former and present Commonwealth countries (not sure how true this is either!)

I do know that a couple of friends of mine doing ACCA for the last few years would have preferred to have done ACA because they say it offers more structure. The amount of lectures they have to do seems crazy to me sometimes, although they are short periods from start to exams. But a couple of nights a week and then most weekends for 3 or 4 months in a row is to much for me!

For the record I have just started the Elevation programme. I got good exemptions after doing ATI and I only have it at the weekends.

But like you said, at the end of the day you are still a fully qualified accountant, just different letters after your name! :rolleyes:

Da Bomb!

thanks conor1979 all information helps.

deejer

I am doing Elevation with ICAI also and am half way through my CAP2 exams. (you can sit second year in 2 modules)

Your business degree should have you exempt from all of CAP1. I know I was. I think doing tax up to second year got it exempt and I didnt think it would. Also I think it would be more beneficial to do the CAP2 exams then FAE because I dont think there are any exams like them in college and the CAP2's give you a chance to work on this before the final exams.

On the subject of which accounting body - I know most in the financial services lean towards the ACCA exams. I have had a few recruitment agencies say this to me anyway.

cson

conor1979 wrote: »

I'm open to correction here but if you do ACA straight out of college you are exempt from CAP1 and go into CAP2. If you do your Masters you go straight into FAE.

Depends on your degree and the results you obtain in it. CAI will prescribe certain grades are required on certain modules in order to attain CAP1 exemptions. Best course of action is to discuss the situation with the course director. For example I know some BESS graduates aren't CAP1 exempt.

@OP: This has been discussed plenty of times here, do a search of the forum and it'll turn up a lot of threads.

Dellboy2007

There's a sticky at the top of the page entitled

Professional Accounting Bodies - Discussion and Comparisons

READ IT