ACCA Affiliate vs ACCA Member: Full Comparison Guide 2025

By IIC Lakshya

21 Nov 2025

ACCA

Are you confused about the term “affiliate” being used with the ACCA certification? You can learn about the difference between “affiliate” and “member” here. Furthermore, the transition from affiliate to member is also crucial for a professional career. Learn how significant the characteristics of the terms are, thus assessing the current and future professional career.

Who is an ACCA Affiliate?

Want to learn the ACCA affiliate meaning? There are various standards for getting professionally qualified as an ACCA-certified professional. It includes both educational and professional requirements that the ACCA aspirants must fulfill. If an aspirant has completed all the ACCA syllabus and examinations but has yet to gain practical work experience, they are known as an ACCA affiliate.

Who is an ACCA Member?

The ACCA board grants membership to qualified students who have relevant work experience. After all educational qualifications are completed, professional qualifications are necessary to claim the “ACCA” status.

The students must implement key strategies to balance work and ACCA preparations. ACCA membership comes with several benefits, in addition to the right to use “ACCA” in their professional career.

Key Differences: ACCA Affiliate vs ACCA Member

If you are an ACCA affiliate, you still lack practical experience in relevant work. However, as an ACCA member, you become a complete professional who can apply for senior-level positions in finance and accounting. With the ACCA qualification, the career growth of the students develops. Below is a tabular form of the key differences described, which reflect why being an ACCA affiliate is different from being an ACCA member.

Key Features	ACCA Affiliate	ACCA Member
Exams	Must pass all ACCA exams	Must pass all ACCA exams
Ethics Module	Aspirants must complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM)	Aspirants should complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM)
Work Experience	An Affiliate is someone who has not completed the 36-month Practical Experience Requirement (PER)	A Member is someone who has completed the 36 months of relevant work experience of PER
Status	An ACCA-qualified candidate Not completed all requirements, like the necessary relevant work experience	An ACCA-qualified candidate Completed all educational and professional requirements
Professional Recognition	An Affiliate can apply for the roles of financial analyst or accountant They cannot use the “ACCA” designation	A member can use the “ACCA” designation with their name for their professional application and experience It signifies a complete professional status

Understanding ACCA Progression through Affiliation and Membership

So, how can an ACCA aspirant progress from affiliation to membership? When you are enrolling in the ACCA course, you get to hear the terms “affiliate” or “member”. These two phases are significant in the ACCA journey, especially because they help you assess your position as an aspirant and your future career.

When you finish all exams of ACCA and have qualified in the educational requirements, you are only an affiliate. As an affiliate, you cannot carry “ACCA” as a professional status until you acquire practical and relevant professional experience. After you gain the Practical Experience Requirements (PER), you will be working in real-world accounting, finance, and auditing roles.

This is how you progress from ACCA affiliation to ACCA membership. Once you acquire work experience, like a financial advisor or bookkeeper, you can transition from ACCA affiliate to ACCA member.

Therefore, becoming a recognized accountant or financial counsellor in the competitive market. Now, you can easily use the “ACCA” status to further your professional career. Hence, these are also some of the top benefits of getting an ACCA certification.

How can an ACCA Affiliate Transition to an ACCA Member?

When you transition from affiliate to member, you need to work in a finance or accounting role. It helps students to meet the performance objectives. Furthermore, students also need to record their work experience on the online system in ACCA.

It will help them gain their ACCA status in their professional career path. Additionally, students also need to complete their Ethics and Professional Skills module before they can apply for ACCA membership. It is a must for students to acquire the three-year work experience, which will qualify them on the PER scale.

When all these requirements are met, the ACCA affiliation to ACCA membership transition smooth as students can apply for membership and submit their records. The board will then review and grant you certification.

Why is ACCA Membership Important?

It is not a difficult process, the transition from ACCA affiliate to ACCA member; however, it is a significant step in an ACCA aspirant's journey. In conclusion, the key difference between these two positions is before acquiring practical work experience and after getting work experience. There are further ethics requirements that need to be fulfilled to transition from affiliate status to membership.

Frequently Asked Questions on ACCA Affiliate vs ACCA Membership

Which country is best for ACCA affiliates?

Some of the best countries for ACCA affiliates in 2025 are the UAE, Singapore, India, and the UK.

Can I finish ACCA in 2 years?

Yes, students can easily finish the ACCA exams in two years, especially if they are disciplined and dedicated. You need to finish eight ACCA papers every year so that you can effectively finish all four exam sessions annually, along with gaining practical experience.

Is there a time limit for affiliates to join ACCA?

There is no time limit for affiliates to join ACCA, as you can apply to become an ACCA member after passing all exams. There are in total of 13 exams in the ACCA certification; hence, it is better if you complete the ethics modules, effectively complete all the exams, and gain practical work experience of 3 years. Ultimately, apply for ACCA membership.

What is the subscription fee for an ACCA affiliate?

The subscription fee for an ACCA affiliate is INR 18,193 for the first to third year. The subscription fee for an ACCA affiliate is INR 36,298 in their fourth year and above.

What qualifies as an affiliate?

Any entity that is owned by another, controlled through monetary superiority or authority, and has developed contractual relationships is identified as an affiliate.