Yes, taking a break from ACCA is permitted and often necessary for managing burnout, work pressure, or personal commitments. While you can pause your studies, you must be mindful of the 7-year time limit for the Strategic Professional level exams to avoid losing passes. It is important to plan your return to maintain momentum.
It's quite common to take a break from your studies but we know that it can sometimes be a challenge to get started again. We can help you reflect and design a strategy that will put you on the right path to ACCA membership.
We can only grant requests for extension under the most extenuating of circumstances such as critical illness or bereavement after long term care. The maximum extension we can grant under any circumstances is one year (four exam sessions). We can only grant one request for extension per student.
Returning to ACCA. We're delighted to hear from former students interested in returning to ACCA. If you've been removed from our student register, you can reapply through a process known as re-registration. If you are no longer a registered student, you must re-register before you can book or sit an exam.
ACCA offers you flexibility, so you can study full-time, or work full-time studying part-time around your job – from anywhere in the world. You can also choose how frequently you sit your exams and how many you take at one time.
The typical duration for ACCA is 2–3 years, depending on exemptions, study pace, and exam planning. Class 12 students may take 3–3.5 years, while CA Inter and commerce graduates complete it faster.
Like any professional qualification, the ACCA is a big-time commitment, especially if you're working. It demands sacrifice. Sometimes you'll be tired, frustrated, and struggle to balance different areas of your life.
Completion deadline - 2026.
All students and members must submit all requirements for the BSc programme by May 2026. The closure of the programme following December 2026 will have no effect on the recognition or validity of this prestigious qualification. You will continue to enjoy the reputational benefits it offers.
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ACCA term this as 'resignation'. We do not freeze or cancel accounts, as your data and information will remain should you wish to return to your studies. For us to process your request, please fill out the form and a member of our team will change your account status.
If you're passionate about finance and dream of working in leading companies across the world, ACCA will give you the edge you need to stand out in the competitive job market. So yes, ACCA is absolutely worth it in 2025—and the earlier you start, the faster you can reap the rewards of this prestigious qualification.
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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.
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.
And if you forget to pay, you may be removed from the register of students and have to pay a re-registration fee, as well as any outstanding fees, to enable you to continue with your studies. Remember, you have to pay this whether or not you're planning to take exams that year. You can pay your fees online at myACCA.
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.
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.
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The demand for ACCA professionals continues to surge as companies recognize the value of team members who understand global accounting standards and international finance practices.
Quitting ACCA is the personal choice of an individual. One must, however, give it a second thought after debating with the mentor or explore further options that can provide much-needed fast-tracking to our qualification.
The ACCA exams, especially at the Strategic Professional Level, are tough. The exams require rigorous conceptual clarity, application-based learning, and exam-taking strategy. Also, subjects like Advanced Financial Management (AFM) and Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) subjects pose difficulties for many students.
A large segment of experienced accountants are reaching retirement age, and younger generations often prioritize work-life balance, purpose-driven work, and flexible career paths. This causes organizations with more traditional accounting roles to struggle to appeal to emerging talent.