Hi guys.

One and a half year ago I was working for a Big 4 Company and we were offered to take the ACA. It was a nice xp and I decided to give it a try, because I had little Accounting knowledge.
I passed first two, Business and Finance and Accounting but failed Assurance.
Anyhow with the crisis I had to leave the position, and know I am stuck.
I do have some questions that I hope someone who graduated ACA could answer:
1. Is it true you have to work for an ICAEW approved company in order to be allowed to take the exams?
2. What’s up with the tuition fee? is it related with going to intercollege and having those courses taken? May I decide not to take em and thus not to pay the fee(8k pounds fee :o)
3.How many times a year may I take exams? I thought it was 2 but I checked their website and there were 4 periods this year.
4. Last year I took Assurance from a 2009 book. And on wanting to retake it I was told I must purchase the 2010 book. How important is it?

Thank you in advance.

Hi
Give the ICAEW student support helpline a call - they will be able to talk through all your options with you - +44(0)1908 248 040

SarahG - February 04 2010 03:14 AM

Hi
Give the ICAEW student support helpline a call - they will be able to talk through all your options with you - +44(0)1908 248 040

Thanks for the reply Sarah.
Unfortunately I am not from the UK.
I know most stuff, was just looking for some people to share some experience related with ACA.
Seeing most people go for ACCA, I kinda have a hard time finding some useful information.

Hi again
Here is some information from the ICAEW student support team. Additionally, you might like to log onto the ICAEW student community where you can post a question to all ACA students - http://www.icaew.com/studentcommunity. I’m not sure where you are based, but there may be an ICAEW office close to you that you can contact if you would like to talk to someone directly. Feel free to let me know and I can put you in contact with them.

Advice from the student support helpline - You do not need to be in a training contract to sit the Professional Stage exams or the two technical papers of the Advanced Stage but you can’t sit the Case Study until you have reached the final year of your training contract. You will not be able to qualify as an ACA unless you complete a minimum of three years training with an authorised training employer of the ICAEW. Infomrmation about training vacancies can be found at http://www.icaew.com/careers.

You need to contact the tuition providers direct to find out their fees.  You do not need to attend tuition if you do not want to although this does improve your chances of passing the exams.

The knowledge papers can be sat at any time of the year. The Application papers can be sat in March, June, September and December. The Advanced Stage pagers can be sat in July and November. You are permitted four attempts at each paper.

The syllabus changes each year and you are therefore advised to purchase new learning materials. It is your responsibility if you answer a question incorrectly based on using old learning materials.