You can call yourself a "qualified accountant" once you have passed all required exams and completed the practical experience requirements of a recognized professional body (such as CPA, ACCA, or ACA), typically taking 3–5 years. While anyone can use the title "accountant," "qualified" requires professional body certification, not just a degree.
Legally anyone can call themselves an 'accountant' – they don't need any qualifications, training or experience. ICAEW Chartered Accountants are trained professionals you can trust.
While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs. In fact, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and CPA licensure data, only about 50% of accountants in the United States are actively licensed CPAs.
For example, to become a chartered accountant through ACA or ACCA, you must have studied for the qualification and have at least three years' work experience in a relevant role. It usually takes three to five years in total to become fully qualified.
A part-qualified ACA individual has likely completed some of the necessary exams or requirements but has not yet finished the entire program. They might be in the process of gaining the necessary experience or preparing for the remaining exams to obtain the full ACA qualification.
Look for recognised certifications. Qualified accountants often belong to professional bodies. These organisations uphold strict codes of conduct and continuous professional development. One of the easiest ways to check if an accountant is qualified is to look for recognised certifications.
Becoming an accountant generally takes 4 years for a bachelor's degree, but achieving the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, required for many advanced roles, adds time for the extra 150 credit hours, experience, and the rigorous exam, often totaling 6-7 years from scratch, with accelerated paths possible for those with prior credits or part-time study. Entry-level jobs might accept a 2-year Associate's Degree or a 4-year Bachelor's, but CPA licensure unlocks more senior opportunities.
Get the most from your membership
Now that you have been awarded associate membership of ICAEW, you can use the letters ACA after your name and call yourself an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. We encourage you to use your ACA designation and the individual logo to promote yourself as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
An AAT licence entitles members to call themselves an AAT Licensed Accountant or AAT Licensed Bookkeeper, depending on the types of service they've been approved to offer clients.
CPAs are licensed by their state's Board of Accountancy. Becoming a CPA requires passing a national exam and meeting other state requirements. All states require CPA candidates to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework to be licensed, which is 30 hours more than the usual 4-year bachelor's degree.
You cannot generally represent yourself as a CPA. Some jurisdictions, however, permit you to refer to yourself as a “CPA but not in public practice.” Others, though, do not let you use the title in any form.
Absolutely not. Many accounting roles don't require CPA certification. In fact, our Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Accounting are designed as non-licensure programs. That means they provide the essential accounting knowledge and skills needed for a variety of accounting careers.
Due to education and licensing requirements, CPAs are typically more qualified to pursue higher level jobs than bachelor's-level accountants. They also tend to have a deeper understanding of topics in accounting and finance, including tax law and data analysis.
To qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant you must complete the ACA, a highly-respected professional qualification that requires students to complete at least three years on-the-job training while passing a series of exams.
Both ACCA and ACA have three course levels, but ACA is often considered more difficult due to its focus on private practice skills, with the strategic professional option in the ACCA having the lowest pass rates.
To be eligible for the ACA qualification, you typically need to have completed a recognised degree or an equivalent qualification. While a degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is common, the ACA is also open to graduates from a variety of backgrounds. Register as a student with the ICAEW.
While the average CPA Exam candidate is just 29 years old,3 there are no age limitations on who can become a CPA. In fact, if you're mature in your career, there are many benefits of earning your CPA license later in your career.
Direct entry graduates can complete the CA course in as little as 4.5 years. This is the minimum time required. You can add an extra 6 months to the course if you have difficulty passing the CA exams. The CA course is open to all ages, and there are no age restrictions.
While you can start working in an accounting firm with no qualifications whatsoever (albeit in a non-technical role), to work in a technical role you will likely need qualifications from awarding institutes such as the Association of Accounting Technicians (more commonly referred to as 'AAT').
Accountants, who maintain and analyze financial records and data, earn a median annual salary of $81,680. Salaries vary considerably, however. For instance, the bottom 10% earn less than $52,780 annually, while the top 10% earn $141,420 or more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
In addition to passing the Uniform CPA Examination, CPA's qualifications generally include earning a four-year degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and one to three years of professional work experience.