ICAEW training and professional development activities

ICAEW renders a wide variety of courses to its members and interested professionals.

The ACA qualification

The most important is the cycle of courses needed (with other established criteria) to achieve the ACA qualification (get the ACA - Association of Chartered Accountants title). It means that a person becomes an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

The ACA qualification typically takes three years to complete, though it can take up to five years (generally the maximum length of a training contract). There are essentially four parts to attaining qualification:

- 15 ACA exam modules (Accounting; Assurance; Business, Technology and Finance; Law; Management Information; Principles of Taxation; Financial Accounting and Reporting; Business Strategy and Technology; Business Planning; Audit and Assurance; Tax Compliance; Financial Management; Corporate Reporting; Strategic Business Management; Case Study)

- Practical work experience (3–5 years, or 450 days)

- Professional development

- Ethics and professional scepticism training.

The ACA qualification (along with a practising certificate) is needed to gain audit rights in the UK -  the ability to sign a statutory audit report.

 Professional Development courses

ICAEW Academy of Professional Development offers high-quality learning and leadership development solutions for all career stages, across a wide range of sectors.

Among them are:

- The ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB) ‒ is an internationally recognised certificate that provides essential knowledge in business, finance and accounting

- ICAEW Business and Finance Professional (BFP) ‒ is an internationally recognised professional certificate. With the BFP status, professionals demonstrate that they have a solid understanding of how businesses operate and that they meet the ICAEW standards relating to technical knowledge, business skills and ethics

- The ICAEW Certificate in Insolvency - is the flexible learning programme for insolvency professionals

- Corporate Finance Qualification - is recognised around the world and establishes a high level of expertise across international markets. It is designed with a focus on the commercial, practical and technical skills demanded by major corporate and financial clients and investors

- Diploma in Charity Accounting demonstrates that a person has the skills and knowledge to make a real difference to organisations in the charity sector

- The ICAEW ISAs online learning and assessment programme intended to a better understanding of the International Standards on Auditing and the audit process

- IFRSs learning and assessment programme (certificate) gives a comprehensive overview of all current international standards in the private sector

  Continuing professional development (CPD) courses

ICAEW is the centre of technical excellence and offers exclusive content, events and webinars to help auditors with continuing professional development. They cover a range of areas: Audit and Assurance, Business and Management, Corporate Finance, Financial Reporting, Financial Services, Information Technology, Tax. ICAEW offers over 90 CPD courses in a range of locations and runs them throughout the year.