How to Become an ACCA Professional in India: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students

To become an ACCA professional in India, you need to complete 13 exams across three levels, finish the Ethics and Professional Skills Module, and gain 36 months of relevant work experience. Most students who plan well complete the full journey in 2.5 to 3 years. This guide covers every step, eligibility, registration, exams, EPSM, work experience, and membership, with the specific numbers and timelines you need before you begin.

Table of content:

1. What is ACCA and why do Indian students choose it?

2. Am I eligible to register for ACCA in India?

3. How do you become an ACCA professional in India? The 5 steps

3.1 Step 1: Register with ACCA Global

3.2 Step 2: Plan and clear your ACCA exams

3.3 Step 3: Complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM)

3.4 Step 4: Gain 36 months of relevant work experience

3.5 Step 5: Apply for ACCA membership

4. Frequently Asked Questions

ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a globally recognised professional accounting qualification accepted in 180+ countries. Indian students choose ACCA because it can be started after Class 12, pursued alongside a BCom degree, completed in 2–3 years, and leads to roles in Big Four firms, MNCs, and GCCs in India and abroad. 

ACCA is built around IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), which is the framework used by companies operating across borders. If your goal is to work in multinational environments, in India, the UAE, the UK, or Singapore, ACCA is structurally better suited to that path. 

For students in Kerala specifically, ACCA has become an increasingly popular choice because of the strong Gulf connection. ACCA is one of the most recognised finance qualifications among UAE employers, and a Kerala student who qualifies through ACCA has a direct, credentialled path to finance roles in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. 

Key numbers at a glance:

To register for ACCA directly in India, you need to have completed Class 12 with at least 65% in English, Accounts, and Mathematics, and at least 50% in other subjects. Students who do not meet this can start via the Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) route. BCom, CA Inter, and CMA Inter holders are eligible for paper exemptions. 

Direct ACCA registration, who qualifies:

FIA route — if you do not meet direct entry criteria: 

Exemptions reduce the number of papers you need to sit, not the quality of your qualification. A BCom graduate who claims maximum exemptions still earns the same ACCA membership as someone who cleared all 13 papers. Exemption fees apply, so factor these into your total cost estimate.

Registration is done directly on the ACCA Global website (accaglobal.com). You will need scanned copies of your Class 12 or degree marksheets, a passport-sized photo, and a valid ID proof. At registration, you also declare any exemptions you are claiming, this is important to get right from the start, as incorrect exemption claims can cause administrative delays. ACCA charges an initial registration fee plus an annual subscription fee, which you pay each year to remain an active student.

ACCA has 13 papers across three levels. 

Applied Knowledge (3 papers): Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), Financial Accounting (FA). 

Applied Skills (6 papers): Corporate and Business Law (LW), Performance Management (PM), Taxation (TX), Financial Reporting (FR), Audit and Assurance (AA), Financial Management (FM). 

Strategic Professional (4 papers): 2 compulsory — Strategic Business Leader (SBL) and Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) — plus 2 optional from Advanced Financial Management (AFM), Advanced Performance Management (APM), Advanced Taxation (ATX), and Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA). 

Exams are held four times a year, March, June, September, and December. A student clearing 2 papers per sitting consistently can complete all 13 in approximately 2.5 to 3 years. 

Applied Knowledge papers can be taken as on-demand CBE exams at any time, you do not have to wait for a fixed sitting date, which gives you flexibility in the early stages.

EPSM is an online module, not an exam, that covers professional communication, commercial awareness, scepticism, and ethical decision-making through realistic workplace scenarios. It takes approximately 20–40 hours to complete and can be done at your own pace online. You become eligible for EPSM after passing your Applied Knowledge papers. Many students delay this step, which then delays their membership application. Complete it early, ideally during your Applied Skills stage, rather than treating it as a last-minute checkbox. 

ACCA membership requires 36 months of approved, relevant work experience, recorded against specific performance objectives in ACCA's online PER (Practical Experience Requirement) portal. This experience can be gained before, during, or after your exams. Eligible roles include audit associate in a CA or CPA firm, finance analyst, tax executive, management accountant, or accounting trainee. You need a workplace mentor or supervisor to sign off on your performance objectives. The experience does not have to be in an ACCA-approved employer, but it must be genuinely relevant to the performance objectives ACCA specifies. 

Start logging your experience early, even internships during college count if they meet the relevance criteria. Many students delay PER recording and hold up their membership application as a result.

Once all 13 exams are cleared, EPSM is completed, and 36 months of approved work experience is logged and verified, you can apply for full ACCA membership through the ACCA portal. On approval, you are entitled to use the designation "ACCA" after your name and are officially recognised as a Chartered Certified Accountant, eligible for senior finance roles in global firms, Big Four companies, MNCs, and GCCs across 180+ countries. 

Tip: Membership also unlocks ACCA's mutual recognition agreements with bodies like ICAEW, CPA Australia, and CPA Canada, meaning you may be able to gain additional qualifications with reduced requirements if you later want to work in those markets.

1. Can I do ACCA after Class 12 in India?

Yes, students who have completed Class 12 with at least 65% in English, Accounts, and Mathematics, and at least 50% in other subjects, can register for ACCA directly. This means you can start your ACCA journey immediately after your board exams, and many students pursue ACCA alongside their BCom degree simultaneously. If you do not meet the percentage criteria, the Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) route is available as an alternative entry point that eventually leads to full ACCA qualification.

2. How long does it take to complete ACCA in India?

Most students who plan well and clear papers consistently complete all 13 ACCA exams in 2.5 to 3 years. The work experience requirement of 36 months can be completed in parallel with your exams, so it does not necessarily add time to your overall journey.

4. Is ACCA recognised by Indian employers?

Yes, ACCA is strongly recognised by a specific segment of Indian employers: Big Four firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC), global capability centres, multinational corporations, and large shared service centres.

5. Can I do ACCA alongside my BCom degree?

Yes, and this is one of the most common paths among ACCA students in Kerala. ACCA's flexible exam schedule (four sittings per year) and modular structure allow you to align paper attempts with your college calendar. Many students clear the Applied Knowledge papers during their first and second year of BCom, and move into Applied Skills papers in their second and third years. BCom also gives you up to 9 paper exemptions, which reduces your total exam load. With proper planning, finishing both BCom and all ACCA exams within 3 years is achievable.