 By IIC Lakshya
By IIC Lakshya 
 13 Sep 2025
13 Sep 2025


Who is eligible for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course? As a 12th Commerce student, you are eligible, but what about an Arts or Humanities student? If you are an Arts or Humanities student, this article is for you.
Let us explore the ACCA course after 12th-grade students access the course. There are factors of eligibility, educational qualification, mark requirements, and the future of ACCA students.
In India, students choose from various streams, including commerce, humanities, or science, for higher secondary education. A lot of students need clarity when they have completed their 12th qualification, looking for a better career path with a high-paying salary.
Let us share with you the eligibility criteria for a student who does not belong to the commerce stream. As an ACCA aspirant, you will need to have exceptional arithmetic skills; hence, it is efficient for ACCA after 12th Commerce. However, it is completely okay if you are an Arts or Humanities student.
Yet, you will need a basic understanding of mathematics because you need to solve financial and management problems. Let us discuss the factors that ACCA requires from a prospective candidate and how they impact their future.
If you are a candidate planning to pursue the ACCA course, but have an Arts or Humanities 12th certification, what will you do? You will need to pass the 12th standard in at least five subjects, which include Mathematics/ Accounts and English.
Additionally, you will have to use the best books for ACCA, especially because, as an Arts or Humanities student, you will not have background knowledge. Furthermore, these books will offer several resources to create your foundation.
One of the significant requirements when it comes to marks that you secure when you pass the 12th standard. Whether you are a 12th Arts or Humanities student, you will have to get at least 50% in various subjects. Moreover, you should score a minimum of 65% of marks in Mathematics/ Accounts and English.
With these requirements fulfilled, you can easily start preparing for the entry-level exams and, in the future, complete the courses. This is where you need to be aware of your qualifications and their impact on your future ACCA Salary. The better you score, the better the chance is to securing a higher salary.
When studying for the 12th standard, there is a lot of pressure on you. The most important aspect is to qualify for the 12th grade effectively with the necessary marks. The next step is to decide on the career you are planning for.
There is a high scope of ACCA job opportunities in India and abroad. This is where your transition towards ACCA happens because you decide how to shape your future.
Accordingly, develop your knowledge in mathematics and finance, but how? When you are an Arts or Humanities student without any strong foundation in accounting, you have to start with the Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) course.
When pursuing the course of FIA course, you will gain finance knowledge and foundational accounting. This is where extra effort is necessary because, as an Arts or Humanities student, you need to be more focused in the initial stages so that you can grasp the core accounting concepts.
The ACCA duration after 12th Commerce is not enough for arts or humanities students because they need to put in more effort. You will need to have more focus as compared to a Commerce student.
Furthermore, ACCA as a course can also be pursued after you have got a job and are a working professional. Considering it is a significantly important qualification, there are challenges. For a working Professional pursuing ACCA, it is quite important to establish a balance between their course and work.
With this qualification, the course is quite efficient for your career and salary. So, if you are looking for a high-paying salary, pursuing this course will help you achieve a better job opportunity.
In conclusion, you need to dedicate the necessary effort or time to clear your ACCA entrance exam after your 12th Arts or Humanities qualifications. You can belong to any academic background, but you can pursue the ACCA qualification with the best approach and effort.
You can directly apply for the ACCA course once you have completed your 12th grade. You have to qualify in subjects like Mathematics, English, or Accounts so that you can meet the eligibility criteria.
The qualification ACCA is accessible to all students from academic backgrounds which including arts and humanities. Yes, the commerce students might have an initial advantage compared to arts students. However, the comprehensive study materials and structured syllabus can easily catch up and excel.
As a student, you can finish the ACCA qualification in 3 to 4 years when attempting several exams every year. The course is flexible, which allows exams, thus balancing commitments.
When you have completed your 12th grade, you can register for the ACCA course as a candidate. You can start by enrolling in the Applied Knowledge level, moving towards the Strategic Professional levels, and Applied skills.
With your ACCA qualification, you can earn somewhere between INR 40,000 to INR 60,000 monthly for freshers in India. So, basically, the annual package is INR 5 - 7 Lakhs in Big 4 firms for top-performing candidates.