ACCA is generally considered equivalent to a Master’s degree (specifically a UK Master’s degree) in terms of academic level and professional standing, rather than a PhD. While ACCA is a high-level professional qualification, it focuses on practical accounting and finance skills, whereas a PhD is a research-focused, terminal doctoral degree.
Yes, in many countries, ACCA is considered equivalent to a Master's degree in terms of its level of difficulty and professional value.
UK NARIC (The National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) recognises ACCA as being equivalent to a UK Master's degree.
ACCA Qualification
When you take the Professionals level, it is equivalent to a master's degree.
The ACCA qualification is one of the most prestigious and widely acknowledged accountancy qualifications.
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.
While ACCA is a professional qualification that is highly respected in the accounting industry, it is not equivalent to a master's degree. ACCA focuses on practical accounting skills, while master's degrees often offer more in-depth theoretical and research-focused learning.
The ACCA Qualification is broadly equivalent to UK university degree standard when you complete the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams. When you complete the Strategic Professional exams, it is equivalent to a UK university Master's degree.
Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
Following completion of up to 13 professional examinations, three years of supervised, relevant accounting experience and an ethics module, it enables an individual to become a Chartered Certified Accountant.
Average Salary of an ACCA in India
5.5 – 11 lakhs p.a and for senior roles, it is ₨. 19-30 lakhs per annum. The average salary of an ACCA member in India is: Entry level: ₹7.05 lakhs per year.
A CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant. A CPA is a statutory designation for qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniformed Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements.
While an ACCA is a professional accounting qualification granted by an international body, an accounting degree is an academic degree bestowed by a university. ACCA is not a formal education.
One hundred and Five Indian Universities, Seven Indian Institutes of Management, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay recognise Chartered Accountancy Qualification as equivalent to Post Graduation for admitting CA students to the Doctoral Programme.
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.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $109,000 and as low as $34,000, the majority of Acca Accountant salaries currently range between $53,500 (25th percentile) to $78,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $95,000 annually across the United States.
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.
Through ACCA's UK and Irish framework recognition the ACCA Qualification Strategic Professional is recognised as Masters degree level throughout the European Union.
Exam difficulty: Higher-level exams demand strong analytical skills. Many candidates struggle to complete papers within the given time. Study approach: Students who rely only on self-study often find it harder to pass. Enrolling in a structured ACCA course increases success rates.
Is ACCA better than an MBA? It entirely depends on your career goals. If you wish to acquire specialised skill sets in accounting, then ACCA certification is the best option. However, an MBA degree is helpful if you want to develop managerial skills.
Of course, your earning potential depends on a variety of factors, including your level of experience, your industry, and your location. However, in general, an ACCA qualification can significantly increase your earning potential and open up new career opportunities.