ACPA currently offers seven FSSC Approved qualifications as below:

ACPA offers two qualifications “Pathways”. They are:

• Certified Corporate Executive Accountant

• Certified Project Accountant

Both Pathways share Exam Units at each level except for the Professional Level, which is the level that denotes the Pathway major. (The Exam Units within the Professional Level are different for each Pathway) The schematic diagram below illustrates the linear progression of Qualifications for each Pathway.

• The overarching objective behind the Certified Corporate Executive Accountant Pathway is to provide a qualification vehicle which produces highly skilled and educated Accountants who are equipped to perform as strategic managers within organizations, who are concerned with maximising Socio-Ecologicall Responsible Corporate Performance (SERCP) within the constraints of high-quality corporate governance.
• The overarching objective behind the Certified Project Accountant Pathway is to provide a qualification vehicle which produces highly skilled and educated Accountants who are equipped to perform as strategic managers within organizations, who are concerned with maximising Socio-Ecologically Responsible Corporate Performance (SERCP) within the constraints of a project environment.

Both Pathways provide the academic qualification bedrock on which the Accountant can develop his/her skills and experience, which may then lead to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and further advancement throughout his/her career.

Although this section is devoted to describing the qualifications it is helpful to understand the correlation between the Qualification Levels and the grades of Professional Membership. In order to do this a “broad” definition of the likely level of occupation and responsibilities associated with each membership grade has been added to each qualification description, which may help the reader to understand the competences and skills expected to be gained and used accordingly. Membership Grades and Designations are shown in brackets where appropriate.

Below are offered general definitions that may be reasonably applied to each grade of membership followed by the Ofqual QCF Level Descriptor, which defines the; “Knowledge and Understanding”, “Application and Action”, and “Autonomy and Accountability” attained by an individual who has accomplished success at the corresponding QCF Level. In addition, each Descriptor is accompanied by a table that illustrates the components (Exam Units) of the qualification and their corresponding Unit Credit Value:

The table below shows which Exam Units are relevant for each Level and for each Vocational Pathway.

Vocational Pathways – Syllabus Comparison:

Certified Corporate Executive Accountant “Pathway”

There are four levels of Qualification within the Certified Corporate Executive Accountant Pathway they are:

1. Level 4 Diploma for Accounting Technicians (Graduate Accounting Technician - GAT)
2. Level 5 Diploma for Accounting Technicians (Advanced Accounting Technician - AAT)
3. Level 6 Diploma for Certified Corporate Accountants (Professional Level – Associate - ACCEA)
4. Level 7 Diploma for Certified Corporate Accountants (Strategic Level – Fellow - FCCEA)

Level 4 Diploma for Accounting Technicians (GAT)

Graduate Accounting Technicians will typically be regarded as competently qualified to manage a set of accounting books up to and including Trial Balance. They may well be employed in various sized organisations as junior accountants, and find themselves in charge of small sections of accounting clerks in medium to large companies, or they may be self-employed book-keepers preparing the basic accounts for very small businesses and other self-employed persons.
QCF Level Descriptors - achievement at this level reflects the ability to identify and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address problems that are well defined but complex and non-routine. It includes taking responsibility for overall courses of action as well as exercising autonomy and judgement within fairly broad parameters. It also reflects understanding of different perspectives or approaches within an area of study or work.

This qualification is common to both qualification Pathways and consists of the following Units:

Level 5 Diploma for Accounting Technicians (AAT)

Advanced Accounting Technicians will be regarded as more senior than Graduate Accounting Technicians and will be further qualified in aspects of Law, IT, Audit, and Taxation. They may typically find themselves employed in various sized organisations as more experienced junior accountants, perhaps in charge of small departments, or specialising in particular reporting roles. Again, they may be self-employed book-keepers, perhaps employing other book-keepers within their business, and preparing the basic accounts for small businesses and other self-employed persons.
QCF Level Descriptors - achievement at this level reflects the ability to identify and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address broadly-defined, complex problems. It includes taking responsibility for planning and developing courses of action as well as exercising autonomy and judgement within broad parameters. It also reflects understanding of different perspectives, approaches or schools of thought and the reasoning behind them.

This qualification is also common to both Pathways and consists of the following Units:

Level 6 Diploma for Certified Corporate Accountants (ACCEA)

The Certified Corporate Accountant – with a Level 6 Diploma - is regarded as a Fully Academically Qualified Professional Accountant specialising in all aspects of Corporate Accounting operating at the professional level (Associate). They are more senior than an Advanced Accounting Technician and will be further qualified in Advanced Accountancy, Performance Management, Decision Making, and Risk and Control Management.
He or She will be competently qualified to manage the financial and management aspects of organisations of all sizes. They may typically find themselves employed in large organisations in business critical positions of great importance or find themselves working as consultants specialising in all aspects of Corporate Accounting matters.
QCF Level Descriptors - achievement at this level reflects the ability to refine and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address complex problems that have limited definition. It includes taking responsibility for planning and developing courses of action that are able to underpin substantial change or development, as well as exercising broad autonomy and judgement. It also reflects an understanding of different perspectives, approaches or schools of thought and the theories that underpin them.

This Qualification is unique to the “Certified Corporate Executive Accountant” Pathway and is made up of the following Units: (The Unit entitled “Advanced Accountancy” is common to both Pathways.)

Level 7 Diploma for Certified Corporate Accountants (FCCEA)

The Certified Corporate Accountant – with a Level 7 Diploma - is regarded as a senior Fully Academically Qualified Professional Accountant specialising in all aspects of Corporate Accounting operating at the strategic level (Fellow).
They are more senior than Level 6 Diploma holders and will be further qualified in Strategic Business Planning, Strategic Financial Planning, and Strategic ICT Planning. He or She will be competently qualified to manage the financial, management, and strategic aspects of organisations of all sizes. They may typically find themselves employed in large organisations in business critical positions normally at board level or find themselves working as senior consultants specialising in all aspects of Corporate Accounting matters.
QCF Level Descriptors - achievement at this level reflects the ability to reformulate and use relevant understanding, methodologies and approaches to address problematic situations that involve many interacting factors. It includes taking responsibility for planning and developing courses of action that initiate or underpin substantial change or development, as well as exercising broad autonomy and judgement. It also reflects an understanding of relevant theoretical and methodological perspectives, and how they affect their area of study or work.

This qualification contains Units which are common to both qualification Pathways and consists of the following Units

Certified Project Accountant “Pathway”

There are four levels of Qualification within the Certified Project Accountant Pathway they are:

1. Level 4 Diploma for Accounting Technicians (Graduate Accounting Technician - GAT)
2. Level 5 Diploma for Accounting Technicians (Advanced Accounting Technician - AAT)
3. Level 6 Diploma for Certified Project Accountants (Professional Level – Associate - ACPA)
4. Level 7 Diploma for Certified Project Accountants (Strategic Level – Fellow - FCPA)

Qualifications 1 and 2 above - within this Pathway - are the same as for Certified Corporate Accountant Pathway as described above.

Level 6 Diploma for Certified Project Accountants (ACPA)

The Certified Project Accountant – with a Level 6 Diploma - is regarded as a Fully Academically Qualified Professional Accountant specialising in all aspects of Project and Programme Accounting and Management operating at the professional level (Associate). They are more senior than an Advanced Accounting Technician and will be further qualified in Advanced Accountancy, Project Management, and Project Accounting. He or She will be competently qualified to manage the financial and management aspects of Projects and Programmes within all organisations. Although qualified to manage projects as a Project Manager he or she will primarily be focused on the financial control and reporting of those projects. They may typically find themselves employed in large organisations in business critical positions of great importance and responsible for project portfolios worth hundreds of millions of dollars. They may also find themselves as consultants specialising in Project Accounting and Project Management.
QCF Level Descriptors - achievement at this level reflects the ability to refine and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address complex problems that have limited definition. It includes taking responsibility for planning and developing courses of action that are able to underpin substantial change or development, as well as exercising broad autonomy and judgement. It also reflects an understanding of different perspectives, approaches or schools of thought and the theories that underpin them.

This Qualification is unique to the “Certified Project Accountant” Pathway and is made up of the following Units:

Level 7 Diploma for Certified Project Accountants (FCPA)

The Certified Project Accountant – with a Level 7 Diploma - is regarded as a Fully Academically Qualified Professional Accountant specialising in all aspects of Project and Programme Accounting and Management operating at the strategic level (Fellow). They are more senior than Level 6 Diploma holders and will be further qualified in Strategic Business Planning, Strategic Financial Planning, and Strategic ICT Planning.
They will be competently qualified to manage the financial, management, and strategic aspects of organisations of any size, and in particular of those organisations which are primarily project orientated. They may typically find themselves employed in large organisations in business critical positions normally at board level or find themselves working as senior consultants specialising in all aspects of Project Accounting and Project Management.
QCF Level Descriptors - achievement at this level reflects the ability to reformulate and use relevant understanding, methodologies and approaches to address problematic situations that involve many interacting factors. It includes taking responsibility for planning and developing courses of action that initiate or underpin substantial change or development, as well as exercising broad autonomy and judgement. It also reflects an understanding of relevant theoretical and methodological perspectives, and how they affect their area of study or work.

This qualification contains Units which are common to both qualification Pathways and consists of the following Units:

Level 6 Certificate for Certified Project Managers (CPM)

The Certified Project Manager will be regarded as competent to manage projects of any size, in-line with the ANSI standard in Project Management known as ANSI/PMI 99-001-2008.
QCF Level Descriptors - achievement at this level reflects the ability to refine and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address complex problems that have limited definition. It includes taking responsibility for planning and developing courses of action that are able to underpin substantial change or development, as well as exercising broad autonomy and judgement. It also reflects an understanding of different perspectives, approaches or schools of thought and the theories that underpin them.

This qualification contains the following Units:

Studying, Entry Requirements, & Special Consideration

Entry Requirements

The ethos of ACPA is based upon; “making the attainment of professional qualifications available to anyone who desires to better themselves through academic achievement as accessible and non-discriminatory as possible”. This means that students from all walks of life, colour, creed, privilege, and background are welcome to study for the ACPA Qualifications. Students should ideally be experienced in completing a programme of study up to at least Level 3, and should have attained success in pre-adult education. Students can enter a course of study, which will lead them to successfully completing the four Level 4 ACPA Exam Units. Successful Level 4 Students will gain their first qualification; the Level 4 Diploma for Accounting Technicians, Student Members will also become professionally known as Graduate Accounting Technicians, and be entitled to use the designation “GAT” after their name.

Studying

The type of study method you use to sit the ACPA exams is entirely up to you. Many Students choose self-study methods, whilst others prefer to use established accountancy tuition providers, such as Kaplan.
Each exam has a dedicated reading list, which ensures that the Student knows exactly what he or she must study and master in order to pass the exam. The study material is widely available, and details of how to obtain the text books can be found on the ACPA web site ( http://ACPAGlobal.com ) from either you personal members account page or from the download link on the syllabus page.
Because you can sit the exams whenever and wherever you like, you study at your own pace, and are not under pressure to “cram” for more than one exam at a time. This relaxed approach to learning is more productive and enjoyable for the Student. Being focused on just one exam at a time ensures that you will be more likely to succeed, and the subject matter that you are studying will become a part of your knowledge base for the rest of your life.

Special Consideration

Sometimes a Learner may suffer illness, injury, or some event outside his/her control, which may have an adverse effect on his/her ability to perform or complete the assessment. In such cases the Learner may apply for "Special Consideration". Special Consideration is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. A Learner wishing to be considered for Special Consideration must in the first instance contact the Membership Officer by email (within thirty days of the assessment) explaining why he/she feels that Special Consideration is required and giving the details concerning the events that have caused the Learner to request Special Consideration. A Learner will qualify for Special Consideration if he/she failed an assessment as a result of circumstances beyond the Learners control. If Special Consideration is granted then ordinarily a free re-sit may be offered to the Learner.

Exemptions based upon Qualifications & or Experience

Not sure if you qualify for exemptions?

If you're not sure whether or not your current qualifications and experience will gain you exemptions then please contact the Membership Officer directly for advice, giving as much information about your experience and qualifictions as you possibly can. Please include your CV and scanned copies of any certificates and / or transcripts which you think may help.

For further details about the Qualifications please contact the Examinations Officer directly.

Standards - Qualifications

Qualification Awarding Standards – FSSC & Ofqual

ACPA maintains a clearly defined standard for each part of its exam qualifications, which form the basis of our Professional Membership Grades as defined in the Professional Membership section.
Since the beginning of 2010 ACPA has adopted a policy to harmonize the ACPA qualifications with the definitions determined by Ofqual (United Kingdom) within “Annex E: QCF Level Descriptors” of the Regulatory Arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit Framework. This harmonization has led to a clearer definition of membership grades and the improved correlation between Professional Membership and Qualification requirements.

ACPA Qualifications Approved by the FSSC (UK)

The ACPA qualifications have been approved by the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) in the United Kingdom. As a result of this approval the listed qualifications were re-named in order to comply with the Ofqual regulations concerning the Qualifications Credit Framework. The table below illustrates the name changes: