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Getting started with ACCA

New to ACCA? Start here. These plain-English guides cover what ACCA is, how the qualification is structured, what it costs, how exemptions and entry routes work, and how you actually become a member.

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ACCA basics

ACCA exams in order: all 13 papers explained

Every ACCA paper in the order you sit them, what each level involves, and how the whole qualification fits together. Start here if you are new to ACCA.

Updated July 2026 · 9 min read
A student studying accountancy with open textbooks and handwritten notes at a bright library desk
ACCA basics

What is ACCA? A plain-English guide

New to ACCA? What the qualification actually is, how it is structured, who it is for, and how long it takes, in plain English.

Updated August 2026 · 8 min read
A professional reviewing an academic transcript and a printed checklist at a desk, deciding which papers to skip
ACCA basics

ACCA exemptions explained: how many papers can you skip?

Already have a degree? How ACCA exemptions work, how many papers you can skip, what they cost, and when it is actually worth taking them.

Updated August 2026 · 8 min read
A confident professional standing in a bright modern office with a sense of achievement, colleagues in the background
ACCA basics

How to become an ACCA member: the steps explained

The steps to becoming an ACCA member, from registering as a student through the exams, ethics module and experience to qualifying.

Updated August 2026 · 8 min read
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ACCA basics

How much does ACCA cost? A full breakdown

A full breakdown of what ACCA costs, from registration and subscription to exam, exemption and tuition fees, and how to keep it down.

Updated August 2026 · 8 min read
A hopeful young student beginning to study accounting with a fresh notebook and a textbook at a bright desk
ACCA basics

ACCA Foundations in Accountancy (FIA): the entry route explained

Starting with no qualifications? How ACCA Foundations in Accountancy works, its levels, and how it leads into ACCA with exemptions.

Updated August 2026 · 8 min read
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ACCA basics

How long does ACCA take? A realistic timeline

Typical completion times alongside a full-time job, what speeds you up, and how to plan your own exam-by-exam timeline.

Updated July 2026 · 8 min read
A professional looking out over a city at dawn, thinking ahead about their ACCA plans
ACCA news

The future of the ACCA BT exam: what changes in 2027

ACCA is retiring the BT exam in its redesigned qualification from 2027. What is confirmed, the mid-July 2027 deadline, and what to do about it.

Updated July 2026 · 8 min read