CA vs ACCA – Which Course is Better? Detailed Comparison
Last Update On 5th September 2024
Duration: 11 Mins Read
The most common question asked at the time of choosing a qualification is, ‘Should I pursue CA vs ACCA in India? What is the difference between ACCA and CA? Is ACCA better than CA? What is the ACCA vs CA difficulty like?’ It’s time to find answers to all the ACCA and CA difference regarding salary, fees, difficulty and duration are mentioned below as a summary, with the details of the differences mentioned further below:
Difference Between ACCA vs CA
If becoming a Chartered Accountant is what you’ve been aiming for, with these two courses you can fulfil your dream, as they both allow you to practice Chartered Accountancy in India and overseas. Additionally, these two courses hold immense prestige in the world of accountancy. Professionals with this degree are welcomed into the corporate world with interesting job opportunities and impressive salary packages. However, to know more about the differences between these two accounting courses, here’s a detailed differentiation between CA vs ACCA.
What is ACCA Course
The full form of ACCA is Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, This course is globally recognised with over 200,000 members and 600,000 students across 180+ countries. The ACCA qualification is considered the largest professional accounting qualification in the world. ACCA course is one of the most prestigious certifications in accounting and is preferred by many students who want to build a successful career abroad. In India, ACCA is said to be equivalent to CA and ACCA professionals are hired at the same salary in most companies such as PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, and BDO.
What is CA?
A Chartered Accountant (CA) is a professional designation in accounting, recognized for expertise in financial management, auditing, taxation, and business advisory. In India, the CA qualification is awarded by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It involves completing a rigorous curriculum, including exams and practical training. CAs play crucial roles in ensuring financial accuracy, compliance, and strategic financial planning for businesses. They can work in various sectors, including public accounting, corporate finance, and consulting.
Benefits of the ACCA Course
Global Recognition:
The ACCA qualification is globally recognized, offering international career opportunities and the flexibility to work in various countries, making it ideal for those looking to build a global career.
Flexibility and Accessibility:
The ACCA course offers multiple exam sittings per year and a flexible structure, allowing students to study at their own pace while working. It also offers a range of entry points depending on previous qualifications.
Diverse Curriculum:
ACCA covers a wide range of topics including financial reporting, management accounting, performance management, taxation, and audit, providing a comprehensive skill set that is applicable across different roles and industries.
Ethics and Professional Skills:
ACCA emphasizes ethical practices and professional skills through its Ethics and Professional Skills module, ensuring that candidates are not only technically proficient but also ethical and professional in their conduct.
Strategic Business Insight:
The ACCA curriculum includes strategic business leadership and management accounting, equipping students with the skills needed to take on leadership roles and make strategic business decisions.
Continuous Professional Development:
ACCA members have access to continuous professional development resources, keeping them updated with the latest industry trends and developments, and ensuring lifelong learning and career progression.
Benefits of the CA Course
Recognized Expertise in India:
The CA qualification is highly respected and recognized in India, providing strong credibility and a competitive edge in the Indian job market.
Comprehensive Knowledge:
The CA curriculum covers a broad range of topics including accounting, taxation, auditing, financial management, and corporate laws, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of various aspects of finance.
High Demand and Career Opportunities:
CA professionals are in high demand across various industries such as accounting firms, corporate sectors, banking, and consulting. This opens up numerous career opportunities with attractive salary packages.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities:
With a CA qualification, you can start your own practice, providing auditing, taxation, and consulting services, which can be highly rewarding and offer independence.
Regulatory Knowledge:
The CA course places a strong emphasis on understanding and applying regulatory frameworks and standards, which is crucial for compliance and advisory roles.
Networking and Professional Growth:
Becoming a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) provides access to a vast network of professionals, opportunities for continuous learning, and professional development through seminars, workshops, and conferences.
How to Become an ACCA in India
To become an ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) in India, follow these steps:
Meet the Eligibility Requirements:
Ensure you have the necessary academic qualifications. Typically, you need a minimum of 10+2 (High School) qualification with subjects like Mathematics and English.
Register with ACCA:
Apply for ACCA membership through the official ACCA website. Submit the required documents, including academic certificates, identification proof, and photographs.
Complete the ACCA Exams:
Pass 13 exams divided into three levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. You can take these exams at your own pace.
Gain Practical Experience:
Obtain three years of relevant practical experience. This can be gained before, during, or after your exams. The experience must be supervised and verified by a qualified professional.
Complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module:
Complete this online module, which is designed to enhance your ethical understanding and professional skills.
Upon fulfilling these requirements, you will be awarded the ACCA qualification and can use the ACCA designation professionally.
Key Difference between CA vs ACCA
CA vs ACCA: Which Offers More Opportunities
ACCA vs CA earn the same salary packages in companies that hire both qualifications. Qualified members earn salaries between ₹6 to 8 lacs per annum as freshers.
While CAs are hired in all companies across India, ACCAs are hired more in MNCs such as the Big 4 (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY), Grant Thornton, BDO, etc. ACCAs are also hired by companies such as Standard Chartered, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas, Maersk, ICICI Securities, Abans, etc.
ACCAs are hired in profiles such as Accounting Advisory that deal with IFRS, Risk Advisory, Internal Audit, Statutory Audit, Forensic Audit, Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuations, etc.
CA vs ACCA: Which Course Should You Choose?
Choosing between CA (Chartered Accountant) and ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) depends on your career goals, location, and the industry you wish to work in:
Geographic Focus:
CA: Best suited for those planning to work in India, as it is highly recognized and respected in the Indian job market.
ACCA: Ideal for those seeking a global career, as it is internationally recognized and offers greater flexibility to work in various countries.
Curriculum and Scope:
CA: Comprehensive coverage of Indian laws, taxation, and financial regulations, with a rigorous focus on auditing, accounting, and financial management.
ACCA: Broader international perspective with emphasis on global accounting standards, ethics, and strategic business management.
Flexibility and Structure:
CA: More rigid structure with set exam schedules and mandatory articleship (three-year practical training).
ACCA: Offers more flexibility with multiple exam sittings per year, online modules, and the ability to complete practical experience concurrently with exams.
Cost and Duration:
CA: Generally more affordable but requires a longer commitment (3-5 years) due to the mandatory articleship.
ACCA: Higher overall cost but can be completed faster if exemptions apply and practical experience is already gained.
Recognition and Career Opportunities:
CA: Strong recognition in India, leading to opportunities in public accounting, corporate finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship.
ACCA: Widely recognized in over 180 countries, offering diverse roles in multinational corporations, global firms, and international finance.
Choose CA if you aim to build a career primarily in India, focusing on Indian financial laws and regulations. Opt for ACCA if you seek a global career with flexibility and a broader international perspective in accounting and finance.
CA vs ACCA: Eligibility Criteria
Chartered Accountant (CA) Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification:
Must have completed 10+2 (Senior Secondary) from a recognized board to enroll in the Foundation Course.
Graduates and postgraduates from recognized universities with specified marks can directly enroll in the Intermediate Course, bypassing the Foundation Course.
Foundation Course Entry:
After completing 10+2, students can register for the CA Foundation Course.
Pass the Foundation exams to proceed to the Intermediate Course.
Intermediate Course Entry:
Graduates/Postgraduates can directly enter the Intermediate Course if they have secured at least 55% marks in Commerce or 60% marks in non-commerce streams.
Pass the Intermediate exams to proceed to the Final Course.
Final Course Entry:
Completion of both groups of Intermediate Course and a three-year articleship (practical training) under a practising CA.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification:
Minimum of 10+2 (Senior Secondary) with English and Mathematics.
Completion of the ACCA Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) program or a bachelor’s degree can also be an entry point.
Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) Route:
No minimum qualification required, suitable for those without 10+2 but wishing to build a foundation for ACCA.
Direct Entry for Graduates:
Graduates with a degree accredited by ACCA may get exemptions from certain exams.
Relevant degree holders can claim exemptions from up to nine exams (Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills levels).
Experience and Ethics:
Complete the ACCA exams, gain three years of relevant practical experience, and complete the Ethics and Professional Skills module.
Comparison Summary
Educational Qualification:
CA: Requires 10+2 for Foundation; graduates/postgraduates can enter directly into Intermediate.
ACCA: Requires 10+2 with English and Mathematics; flexible entry points through FIA or direct graduate entry with exemptions.
Entry Routes:
CA: Foundation to Intermediate to Final, with a mandatory articleship.
ACCA: Flexible with multiple entry points based on qualifications, and possible exam exemptions for degree holders.
Practical Experience:
CA: Mandatory three-year articleship.
ACCA: Three years of relevant practical experience required, which can be completed before, during, or after exams.
Both qualifications require passing a series of exams and gaining practical experience, but they offer different pathways and flexibility based on the candidate’s educational background and career goals.
Signing Authority
Chartered Accountants (CA) have signing authority in India, with ICAI having the sole signing authority. ACCAs have signing authority in 90+ countries including UK, Dubai, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
ACCA vs CA: Level of difficulty
If you consider the number of papers and the time taken to prepare for the exam, CA seems like a tough option but that doesn’t mean that ACCA is easy and can be done easily. Just based on passing percentage ACCA has a better passing rate than CA. But ACCA is recognized in 180 Countries, which gives you wider and better career prospects and helps you get global job opportunities.
It is no surprise that the CA course is commonly considered to be harder than ACCA, considering the number of years, the number of papers, course levels and versatility of both courses. But, this is a completely subjective topic, and the results can differ from case to case.
The flexibility in terms of tests and papers is one of the reasons why ACCA is slightly easier to handle than CA. Subjects are grouped in CA. So, you will have to rewrite all the subjects in that group again if you fail a subject in that group. On the other hand, in ACCA, you will only have to retake the specific subject if you fail an exam and attempt it at your convenience.
ACCA vs CA Syllabus
Most of the subjects of CA and ACCA overlap, such as
- Accounting (IFRS vs Ind-AS)
- Financial Management
- Costing (called Performance Management in ACCA)
- Audit & Assurance (International Standards vs Indian Standards)
The primary difference between ACCA and CA is the Taxation subject – CA covers Indian tax and ACCA covers taxation of countries such as the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. We always suggest our students opt for UK taxation as it is the closest to Indian taxation.
CA vs ACCA: Examination Format
The primary difference between CA and ACCA exists in the exam structure.
Group System:
ICAI insists we appear for exams in groups at the CA Foundation, IPCC and Final CA levels. Most of these exams are split into Group 1 and Group 2, each comprising 4 exams. ACCA enforces no such mandate. Students are allowed to appear for 1 exam at a time, up to 4 exams – as per the student’s discretion.
Aggregate System
The reason why CA pass rates are so low compared to ACCA (40% globally) is due to the aggregate system. If a student fails any exam in CA by even 1 mark, the entire group is considered failed. The student has to re-appear for the entire group again. This makes it extremely difficult for CAs to clear the qualification.
ACCAs have no such rule. If a student appears for 3 exams and fails 1, he is considered passed for the other 2. He can re-appear for the 1 he failed in with the NEXT 2 papers. This allows students to pass these exams much faster.
Frequency of attempts
CA examinations are held bi-annually in May and November. ACCA examinations are held quarterly in March, June, September and December.
Internship/ Articleship
CAs’ have to complete their article ship period of 3 years after passing IPCC Group 1 and have to complete their articleship before appearing for their Final CA exam. They have to work in a CA firm for most of their articleship.
ACCAs can start their 3-year work experience before, during or after their exams. The start and end dates are left up to the discretion of the students. ACCA students also do not have to mandatorily work in a CA firm, although we always suggest students follow this. We also suggest that the student should ideally work under a CA or an ACCA (this is not mandatory). We recommend students start working towards the end of their Skill Level, but this is optional.
After the 36 months of work experience, students must complete their Performance Objectives and Ethics Module to achieve a holistic experience as per the ACCA rules.
ACCA vs CA Duration
ACCA students on an average take 2-3 years to complete the qualification. Students clearing the exams along with the 3 year work experience complete ACCA within 3-4 years.
CA students on an average take 6-8 years to complete the qualification. Students clearing the exam in their first attempt take 5 years including articleship.
Exemptions
ICAI provides no exemptions to students pursuing CA. ACCA provides many exemptions, such as:
Graduation: 4 exemptions of 13 ACCA exams
IPCC passed + Graduate: 6 exemptions of 13 ACCA exams
CA qualified: 9 exemptions of 13 ACCA exams
You can calculate exemptions you would receive based on your academic background using the ACCA exemptions calculator.
Companies Hiring for ACCA vs CA
ACCA vs CA earn the same salary packages in companies that hire both qualifications. Qualified members earn salaries between ₹6 to 8 lacs per annum as freshers.
While CAs are definitely hired in all companies across India, ACCAs are hired more in MNCs such as the Big 4 (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY), Grant Thornton, BDO, etc. ACCAs are also hired in companies such as Standard Chartered, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas, Maersk, ICICI Securities, Abans, etc.
ACCAs are hired in profiles such as Accounting Advisory that deals with IFRS, Risk Advisory, Internal Audit, Statutory Audit, Forensic Audit, Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuations, etc.
ACCA vs CA: Salary and Jobs
While ACCA has a wider global reach as compared to CA, the salary one can achieve as an ACCA has more growth. CA on the other hand, has a great demand in India. Here is a glimpse into the average salary of ACCA and CIMA in India.
Average ACCA Salary
CA Salary in India
ACCA vs CA Fees
CA would cost ₹2 to 2.5 lacs over the span of the course. And ACCA would cost ₹3.5 to 4.5 lacs depending on the GBP rate and exemptions you would be entitled to. However, their ROI is what you should be taking into consideration.
ACCA with CA
A lot of students that have completed CA or even partially completed CA (passed IPCC) can complete ACCA without wasting much time.
IPCC complete + Graduate: 6 exemptions of 13 exams in ACCA
Final CA complete: 9 exemptions of 13 exams in ACCA
This would make it extremely easy for students to complete ACCA along with CA!
IPCC students can complete 7 ACCA exams in 1 to 1.5 years along with their articleship.
CA qualified members can complete 4 ACCA exams in 6 months along with their job and earn themselves an international and global certification with CA.
The ACCA qualification is recognized in over 180 countries including Canada, Singapore, and Australia. If you’ve made the decision to become a global CA and are contemplating your next move, we can help you take a step forward. Check out Zell Education’s Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course to learn more.
FAQ’s on CA vs ACCA:
Is ACCA or CA better?
In terms of global scope and wider opportunities, ACCA is a better course to consider as it makes you a global CA.
Which is harder, ACCA or CA?
While both the courses are difficult to clear, the ACCA body is more flexible in terms of examinations, exemptions and mandatory work experience.Â
Is ACCA equal to CA?
Yes, in the accounting world, ACCA equals CA. However, ACCA is a more widely accepted course as compared to CA.
