Finishing the entire ACCA qualification (13+ papers) in 3 months is generally not possible; however, you can complete the initial Applied Knowledge level (3-4 papers) within 3 months through intensive, full-time study. Passing all 13 papers typically takes 1.5 to 3 years.
In total, the examinations are 5300 learning hours and take on average between 3 and 4 years to complete. In addition, 36 months' work experience and a Professional Ethics Module must be completed.
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To complete PER you'll need to achieve 36 months of supervised experience. This should be in a relevant accounting or finance role. You'll also complete nine performance objectives - all five Essentials and four Technical objectives.
The ideal pace for completing your ACCA qualification is 3 years by taking one exam per session throughout the year. While every student's study habits vary, ACCA suggests allocating approximately 150 hours of study time for each paper on average to complete the qualification in the suggested time duration.
As expected, exemptions will greatly affect your ACCA course duration. However, the minimum time it takes to complete the full ACCA qualification is still 12 - 15 months, based on the number of exams you are capable of completing in one year.
Is ACCA harder than CA? Generally, CA is considered tougher because of its very low pass rates and lengthy articleship requirement in India. ACCA has a more flexible exam structure, on-demand exam options for early levels, and modular progression.
The starting pay for a fresh ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) student in India is INR 5.5–11 lakhs per year while the senior positions can offer INR 19–30 lakhs per year.
Hardest ACCA Papers Based on Syllabus Complexity
Failing is really common. In fact, it's more common than a pass if you look at the pass rates. Some students keep failing ACCA exams over and over again. Unfortunately, if you fail once, you're likely to fail twice when it comes to the ACCA.
A full ACCA course in the fast time available to move at the speed of your studies. Priority tutor support throughout the ACCA course, online study materials and students can enrol and start studying in less than one day. The Fast Track ACCA Course includes the ACCA exams at The Exam House Exam centres.
ACCA pass rates tend to follow consistent patterns across levels: Foundation / Applied Knowledge: 70% to 90% Applied Skills: 40% to 55% Strategic Professional: 35% to 55%
Remember, ACCA isn't impossible. It's challenging, but with the right approach from day one, you can absolutely clear your papers on the first attempt. Thousands of students do it every quarter.
There is no specific age to complete ACCA. Some people start with the course as early as just after completing Class 12th. On the other hand, some other people may start pursuing ACCA in their 30s to gain career growth. However, 27 is the average age when most candidates complete their ACCA certification.
How to Prepare for the ACCA for a Two-Year Completion Goal
In terms of difficulty, ACCA is more difficult to complete than accounting degree as it incorporates the difficulty levels of a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree into one qualification.
There is no restriction to the number of exams you may attempt, allowing you to choose to sit as many or as few papers as you like at each exam session. You are, however, recommended to attempt a maximum of four exams in a six-month period.
The difficulty level of ACCA or MBA depends on personal interests, knowledge of subjects, and career aspirations. An MBA from a top institute requires a tough entrance exam like CAT, NMAT, or CET to appear. While ACCA has no entrance exam, it still has a tough syllabus that requires extensive knowledge.
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Experience: Entry-level ACCA professionals may earn around $60,000 to $70,000 annually, while those with over five years of experience can command salaries exceeding $100,000.
In this blog, we have addressed the most asked questions about the ACCA qualification like, can you finish ACCA in 2 years? On average, it takes two to three years to prepare for all 13 exam papers, but you may earn the qualification in 18 months if you focus on the major eight.
CA professionals typically earn ₹6-8 lakhs annually at entry level, slightly ahead of ACCA holders at ₹5-7 lakhs. This reflects intensive articleship training and immediate applicability in India's regulatory environment.
All Big 4 accountancy firms – Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG – are active recruiters of ACCA-affiliated accountants. Choice often depends on your interest area: audit, consulting, tax, or advisory.
ACCA has a high number of female students due to the flexible study options, the global recognition of the qualification, and because the organisation takes the issue of gender equality and women's empowerment seriously.