ACCA After 12th: Complete Step-by-Step Process to Get Started

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, commonly known as ACCA, is one of the most respected and globally recognised professional accounting qualifications in the world. Undoubtedly, choosing the right path after completing senior secondary school is crucial, as it will help shape your entire career. Therefore, if you embark on your ACCA journey, it will provide numerous global opportunities. 

Moreover, joining the ACCA courses will help you begin early, even before you enter a college or university. This blog discusses how choosing ACCA after your 12th can give you a rewarding career. 

Why Choose ACCA After 12th?

Did you know that, in 2024, ACCA created more than 12,500 new members and has welcomed just under 100,000 students? This massive number shows the growing competition in this sector.

Getting the ACCA credential can help you get a head start on professional examinations, position you for top-tier careers in finance, and build real-world knowledge and skills for a career in finance and accounting. Moreover, by the time others completed graduation, you could already be a qualified ACCA professional, gaining experience in the industry. ACCA may accredit prior learning or qualifications. This allows eligible students to claim exemptions from some exams out of the 13 ACCA papers.

Benefits of Starting Early in Your Commerce Career

Here are some of the advantages of starting early for commerce students:

• Work and Learn: The majority of ACCA employers hire learners for entry-level positions and internships. That way, you can earn and gain experience easily.
• Faster Professional Progress: Choosing the ACCA course after 12th commerce can help you complete 13 exams, along with the Ethics module.
• Affordable: The fees for the exams (including knowledge, professionalism, and skills) range between £147 to £417 for every exam, which is less than a year of college tuition.
• International Recognition: The ACCA qualification has been accepted by more than 180 nations. As of 2023, India has roughly 44,000 students and 2,500 ACCA members.
  

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Step-by-Step ACCA Registration Guide

Here are the ways you can register for this course after finishing 12th boards:

• Check Eligibility: The first step in registering for the ACCA course is to verify your course eligibility.
• Collect All Documents: To make sure you get the registration done successfully, you have to provide documents, such as proof of identity, passport-size photographs, etc.
• Register via myACCA online: Visit the authorised website of ACCA Global and then click on “become a student”. Complete and submit the registration form, upload all the documents, and then pay the initial registration fee, which is £89. However, the cost has been reduced to £30 currently.
• Pay the Yearly Subscription Fee: Once you complete the registration, you have to pay a yearly subscription fee of £137. This will activate your learner’s status.
• Plan Out Your First Examination: After completing your registration, you must plan out your first exams. You can pick the Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), and Financial Accounting (FA), or Knowledge level exams if you want to build your basics. These are entirely computer-based and available throughout the year.
  
  

Documents and Process for Students After 12th

You have to submit the following documents:

Document	Details
12th Grade Certificate/Mark Sheet	Certified copy in English or with translation
Proof of Identity	Passport, Aadhaar, or other government ID
Photograph	JPEG/PNG, passport style
Registration Fee Payment	Online via debit/credit card

Eligibility & Requirements for ACCA After 12th

You must fulfil the following ACCA eligibility criteria:

• Educational Qualification: You need to have the India School Certificate, Higher Secondary Certificate or Higher School Certificate and must pass five subjects, including 3 in grade 12 with Maths and English, with a pass percentage of 65% in two subjects and over 50% in other subjects.
• Age: There is no age limit. Thus, any age group can study ACCA.
• Relevant Work Experience: You don’t need any work experience to start the exams. However, you will require 36 months of proper accounting experience before you become an ACCA member.
• Ethics Module: You need to complete the EPSM (Ethics and Professional Skills Module) before you opt for the 1st Strategic Professional examination.

ACCA Course Structure & Exam Stages

The ACCA syllabus has 13 papers across three levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. ACCA offers exemptions for up to nine papers based on prior qualifications such as a relevant degree or professional certification.You must understand the ACCA exam pattern to prepare efficiently. Exams include multiple-choice, objective, and scenario-based questions, with durations ranging from 2 to 4 hours.

• Applied Knowledge - 3 Exams: Financial Accounting (FA), Management Accounting (MA), and Business and Technology (BT).
• Applied Skills - 6 Exams: Taxation (TX), Corporate and Business Law (LW), Financial Reporting (FR), Performance Management (PM), Financial Management (FM), and Audit and Assurance (AA).
• Strategic Professional - EPSM + 4 Papers: Essentials (two examples), which consist of SBL (Strategic Business Leader) and SBR (Strategic Business Reporting), Options (Two exams of your choice), and EPSM.

Career Scope After ACCA Qualification

The ACCA certification can offer you many career options in India and abroad. The majority of the candidates start their careers in accounting and finance with entry-level job positions. Then, they proceed to senior-level positions once they complete the ACCA programme. 

Job Roles & Global Opportunities for ACCAs

Here are some roles you can get after pursuing the ACCA qualification:

• Financial Accountant: INR 1.5 lakhs to INR 12.5 lakhs annually
• Auditor (Big 4 Firms): INR 4 lakhs to INR 8 lakhs annually.
• Tax Consultant: INR 1.8 lakhs to INR 12 lakhs annually.
• Financial Analyst / Investment Analyst: INR 3 lakhs to INR 9 lakhs annually.
• Risk Manager / Internal Auditor: INR 3.5 lakhs to INR 33 lakhs annually.
  
  

Since ACCA is recognised in over 180 countries, you can also find many career opportunities across industries in the following nations:

• Middle East (tax-free wages)
• Europe (financial centres like London and Dublin)
• Asia Pacific (Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia)
• North America (with certain MRA pathways)

Conclusion

Opting for the ACCA after 12th commerce can be beneficial if you want to enter the finance world. You can benefit from flexible exam schedules, global recognition, and also get to become an ACCA member. Once you know the right steps to become an accountancy expert, you can get a professional qualification that is respected worldwide.

If you're ready to get started but need expert guidance to start your ACCA journey, consider joining NorthStar Academy. We provide structured support for completing the ACCA qualification. We also offer a range of courses, including CPA US courses, US CMA courses, and Enrolled Agent courses. Additionally, we help you with certification exams like the CMA USA exam preparation.