ACCA Course Eligibility for Students & Professionals (2025)

By IIC Lakshya

10 Oct 2025

ACCA

Are you an ACCA aspirant? This article serves as a guide to the UK-based organization, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), which offers the course by the same name. The certification credits the student's knowledge, both practical and theoretical, in finance and accounting. Let us explore this further below.

What is the ACCA course?

The ACCA is a globally recognized course with certification that offers comprehensive knowledge in financial management, taxation, accounting, and auditing. Want to learn more about the ACCA syllabus course details? In this article, you will learn about the eligibility criteria to pursue a career after 12th, graduation, and for working professionals.

You have to learn about the ACCA course after your 12th qualification to pursue it effectively. Before you start to look for ACCA fees for admission, you should know all about the ACCA course eligibility.

ACCA Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria of the ACCA course require an aspirant to complete their 12th grade with at least 65% in maths or accounts, and English papers. This is a compulsory requirement; however, there are additional requirements that need to be fulfilled. The ACCA qualification will actually help a lot in your career, so keep exploring. Follow them in the tabular form, where you get to learn about the ACCA course after graduation.

After 12th Grade

When you are planning to pursue the ACCA course after a 12th qualification, there are some basic criteria you must fulfill to become eligible. You can pursue ACCA after 12th Arts or Humanities background, instead of Commerce. The age of the ACCA aspirants must be 18 years old. Below are the ACCA course eligibility criteria for a 12th-standard qualified student:

Features	Details
Academic Qualification	A 10+2 degree is completed from a recognized board
Required Marks to Qualify	Mathematics or Accounts - 65% English - 65% Other Subjects - 50%
Alternative Entry	Pursue the Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) diploma

After Graduation

If you have completed graduation in the Commerce field, which is the relevant area for pursuing the ACCA course, you can apply for it. You can also apply for the ACCA course even if you belong to a different field, like arts or science, or healthcare. You can easily pursue ACCA even with a Law background. Below are some of the significant criteria to be considered for pursuing this course:

Features

Details

Academic Qualification

A 10+2 degree is completed from a recognized board

Graduation from a recognized university (can be from any field; however, relevant subjects might be an added advantage)

Commerce (B.Com degree)
Business Administration (BBA)
Finance or Accounting streams

Exemptions

Based on prior qualification or a specific university degree, graduates do get exemptions from the 13 ACCA papers

For Working Professionals

If you are someone who is working in Finance or business, the ACCA qualification is quite profitable for your future career path. As a working professional, you will get exemptions in ACCA based on your prior qualifications. If you want to register for the ACCA course, follow the criteria below so that you can apply for the certification.

Features

Details

Academic Qualification

A 10+2 degree is completed from a recognized board

Graduation from a recognized university (can be from any field; however, relevant subjects might be an added advantage)

Commerce (B.Com degree)
Business Administration (BBA)
Finance or Accounting streams

At least 2 to 4 years of working experience

Exemptions

Based on prior qualification or a specific university degree, graduates do get exemptions from the 13 ACCA papers

A prior MBA in Finance or a CA Inter degree also adds to your qualification

Are you Ready to appear for the ACCA Exam?

In conclusion, whether you are a 12th-grade qualified student, a graduate student, or a working professional, you can have a successful career with ACCA certification. There are exemptions available for graduate or working professionals, thus trying to save time and money for the students. Ultimately, you must be prepared with better knowledge about ACCA eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 7-year rule in ACCA?

The 7-year rule is about passing the Strategic Professional exams once you clear the first Strategic Professional exam.

Can I do ACCA after 12th without maths?

Definitely, you can do ACCA after 12th without advanced mathematics knowledge. However, you do need to meet a minimum eligibility criteria of basic knowledge in Mathematics, Accounts, and English.

Is ACCA harder than CA?

No. ACCA is considered less hard compared to CA. It is due to its longer mandatory articleship, lower pass rates, and a very rigid exam structure. The experience of the students reflects on why they find CA difficult compared to ACCA.

What is the hardest subject of ACCA?

Many students find some ACCA course subjects challenging. Some students find they find difficult to follow topics like Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA), Strategic Business Leader (SBL), and Strategic Business Reporting (SBR).

How many years to complete ACCA?

Typically, students take about 2 to 4 years to complete the ACCA qualification based on their ability to gain exemptions, prior qualifications, practical experience, and personal pace.