To become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, you complete the ACA qualification while working: at least three years of on-the-job training, 14 exams across three levels and a minimum of 450 days of professional work experience. It typically takes three to five years. You can start as a school leaver apprentice, a graduate from any degree, an AAT member or a career changer.
In the UK, chartered accountant usually means someone qualified through a chartered body, and the ACA from ICAEW is one of the best known routes. ICAEW describes it as valued around the world, and it combines technical learning, practical experience and professional skills development in one programme. Here's how it works, based on ICAEW's own qualification and training pages, read on 26 October 2026.
The ACA at a glance
| Element | What you do |
|---|---|
| Technical knowledge | 14 exams across the Certificate, Professional and Advanced Levels |
| Professional skills | Build skills in five key competency areas |
| Practical experience | At least 450 days of professional work experience |
| Ethics and themes | Sustainability, ethics and technology run through the whole qualification |
| Typical length | Three to five years, depending on your route and prior learning |
Step by step
- Choose your route. ICAEW offers six main routes, including apprenticeships, graduate schemes and joint programmes.
- Find a training role. ICAEW Training Vacancies lists ACA roles, from apprenticeships to graduate schemes and training agreements.
- Start with the Certificate Level. ICAEW describes this as your first step to becoming a Chartered Accountant.
- Work through the Professional and Advanced Levels. Each exam is designed to fit your experience as you progress.
- Log your 450 days. Record professional work experience and develop skills alongside your exams.
- Qualify. Once every element is complete, you become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
The routes in, compared
| Your starting point | Route |
|---|---|
| School leaver | ACA apprenticeship, including a Level 7 apprenticeship in England |
| Graduate of any subject | A graduate training scheme, qualifying in as little as three years |
| AAT trainee or member | Progress to chartered status in as little as two years |
| University student | Degree courses that integrate parts of the ACA |
| Interested in tax | A joint route to become a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Advisor at the same time |
| Member of another accountancy body | A membership route to join ICAEW |
The point of having six routes is that you don't need to wait for the right moment. Pick the one that matches where you are now. A graduate doesn't need an accounting degree. ICAEW says it trains graduates from any degree discipline. If you'd rather start with a smaller qualification, the National Careers Service accounting technician profile is a sensible first step, and AAT holders can move to chartered status faster.
Two facts that surprise people
First, you don't have to work in audit. ICAEW says the 450 days of work experience doesn't need to include audit work, which means you can train in industry, the public sector or a business finance team, not only at a practice. Several of ICAEW's own trainee stories come from banks and broadcasters.
Second, the apprenticeship route is funded. In England, the ACA can be studied as a Level 7 apprenticeship, letting employers access government funding of up to £21,000 for eligible apprentices, as of October 2026. It's one reason the school leaver route is worth a look.
A smaller first step: accounting technician
If you're not ready to commit to the full ACA, the National Careers Service accounting technician profile shows a stepped route through apprenticeships: an Accounts or Finance Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, an Assistant Accountant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, then a Professional Accounting Technician Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship. Employers usually look for up to 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and maths, and A levels in business studies, maths or economics can help.
That route connects neatly to chartered status. ICAEW says AAT trainees and members can reach chartered accountancy in as little as two years, so starting as a technician doesn't cost you time if you keep going.
What it costs to train
ICAEW lists the types of fees involved: an annual student registration fee, tuition or training costs, exam entry fees, credit for prior learning and learning materials. If you're training with an employer, ask which of these costs it covers before you accept an offer.
Chartered accountant vs other accountants
Not every accountant is chartered. The title comes from completing a chartered body's qualification, such as the ACA. If you're in the US, the closest equivalent is the CPA licence, explained in how to become a CPA. For a broader look at accounting careers, start with how to become an accountant.
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My verdict
The ACA is a long commitment, but it's built so you earn while you learn, and the qualification is valued in business, practice and the public sector, so it doesn't lock you into one kind of employer. If you're unsure which route fits, ICAEW runs a short virtual quiz on its site to point you towards one, and its student support team answers questions about training. Pick the route that matches where you are now: an apprenticeship if you're leaving school, a graduate scheme if you've got any degree, or the AAT route if you already have the basics. And don't assume you need to work in audit, because ICAEW doesn't require it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a chartered accountant?
The ACA typically takes three to five years, with at least three years of on-the-job training. Graduates can qualify in as little as three years, and AAT members in as little as two.
How many exams are in the ACA?
There are 14 exams across the Certificate, Professional and Advanced Levels.
Do you need a degree to become a chartered accountant?
No. ICAEW offers apprenticeship routes for school leavers as well as graduate routes for any degree subject.
Do you have to work in audit to qualify?
No. ICAEW says the 450 days of professional work experience doesn't need to include audit work.
Is there an apprenticeship to become a chartered accountant?
Yes. In England, the ACA can be studied as a Level 7 apprenticeship, with government funding of up to £21,000 available to employers for eligible apprentices.
Can AAT members become chartered accountants?
Yes. ICAEW says AAT trainees and members can reach chartered accountancy in as little as two years.
