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Chartered Accountant

Regulators
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
  • Chartered Accountants Ireland
Nations
United Kingdom
Sectors
  • Finance

Regulatory or professional bodies

Chartered body

Address

CA House
21 Haymarket Yards
Edinburgh
EH12 5BH

Email address
connect@icas.com
Phone number
+44 (0)131 347 0100

Chartered body

Address

Chartered Accountants’ Hall
Moorgate Place
London EC2R 6EA

Phone number
+44 (0)2079208100

Chartered body

Regulatory authority
Chartered Accountants Ireland
Address

The Linenhall
32-38 Linenhall Street, Belfast
Antrim, BT2 8BG

Phone number
+44 (0)28 9043 5840

Regulation

Regulation summary

Chartered Accountants are governed by the relevant institute’s Charter, Bye-laws and regulations.

www.charteredaccountants.ie/Professional-Standards/Home

www.icaew.com/regulation

www.icas.com/regulation

Regulation type

Accreditation

Reserved activities

None - restrictions apply to use of title only

Protected titles

Chartered Accountants Ireland, ICAEW - Chartered Accountant, ACA, FCA

ICAS - Chartered Accountant, CA


Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

Examinations and practical experience

www.charteredaccountants.ie/Prospective-Students

www.icaew.com/aca

www.icas.com/become-a-ca

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK
Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify
Summary of routes

You may be eligible for reciprocal membership or advanced credit against the Chartered Accountant membership requirements, depending on your home body qualification.

www.charteredaccountants.ie/Prospective-Students/Entry-Routes

www.icaew.com/membership/Becoming-a-member/members-of-other-bodies

www.icas.com/members/become-a-member/reciprocal-membership-arrangements


Registration

Registration requirements

You will need to complete the examination and practical experience requirements for membership of the relevant Institute to gain access to the Chartered Accountant title. This will involve examination and registration fees.

www.charteredaccountants.ie/Prospective-Students/Apply-and-Join/Fees-payment-options

www.icaew.com/for-current-aca-students/apply-for-exams/exam-applications/aca-fees

www.icas.com/students

You will also need to pay an annual subscription fee and comply with continuing professional development requirements to maintain access to the Chartered Accountant title of the relevant institute.

www.charteredaccountants.ie/Members/members-hub/member-subscriptions

www.icaew.com/membership/membership-administration/feesandsubscriptions

https://www.icas.com/regulation

If you wish to engage in public practice as a principal of an accountancy firm, you will need to apply for a practising certificate and pay the associated registration and annual fees. You must ensure you are aware of the precise practising requirements and restrictions of the institute with which you apply.

www.charteredaccountants.ie/Professional-Standards/Authorisations

www.icaew.com/technical/practice-resources/regulations-standards-guidance-and-ethics/practising-certificate

https://www.icas.com/regulation/regulatory-authorisations/practising-certificates


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

Chartered Accountants Ireland - Royal Charter of the 14th May 1888, The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland), 1966, and The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act, 1966

ICAEW - Royal Charter of the 11th May 1880 and Supplemental Charter of the 21st December 1948

ICAS - Royal Charter of the 23rd October 1854 and Supplemental Charter of 1951

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.