ACCA can exempt you from some of the nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams, depending on your earlier qualifications. It never gives exemptions for the Strategic Professional exams or for work experience. Only ACCA can decide what you receive, so treat this guide as a way to prepare for ACCA's own check.
Which exams can be exempted
The current ACCA Qualification has 13 exams. Exemptions can apply to the first nine:
Applied Knowledge (3): Business and Technology, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting.
Applied Skills (6): Corporate and Business Law, Taxation, Financial Reporting, Performance Management, Financial Management, Audit and Assurance.
The four Strategic Professional exams and the Ethics and Professional Skills module remain to be completed, along with your practical experience.
How to check what you may get
Open ACCA's exemptions calculator.
Enter where you studied, your qualification and when you completed it. Use the exact names on your certificates.
Note which exams it shows, then register with ACCA and supply your qualification documents. Documents not in English need official translations.
Wait for ACCA to confirm your exemptions before you plan your exams.
What affects the result
ACCA looks at the institution, the type of qualification, the modules you studied and the dates. Two people with similar-sounding degrees can receive different results, so a friend’s outcome tells you little about yours.
Accounting or finance degree: check your exact university and programme in the calculator. An accredited programme has set exemptions.
Degree in another subject: you may receive few or none. Check before you assume.
Studying now: tell ACCA where you are in your course, as your exemptions can depend on what you have completed.
Another accounting body’s qualification: enter the exact body and award in the calculator.
If you believe your result is wrong, ACCA lets students ask for a review. You can also claim further exemptions if you gain new qualifications after you register.
Fees and deadlines
Fees: ACCA charges a fee for each exemption you claim. Current amounts are on its fees page.
Payment: you must pay within 30 days of the exemptions being awarded.
Changing your mind: tell ACCA within 14 days of the award if you want to give up an exemption and be eligible for a refund or credit.
Should you claim every exemption?
Not always. An exemption saves time, but later exams build on the earlier ones. ACCA itself suggests testing your knowledge first and sitting the exam if you find significant gaps. This matters most if your studies were a long time ago, or if you plan to work in audit, where age limits on qualifications can apply.
What changes from July 2027
ACCA is redesigning its qualification. Applications received up to June 2027 are assessed against the current structure, and those from January to June 2027 will also receive outcome letters covering the new design. Applications from July 2027 are assessed against the redesigned qualification, and the calculator will be updated at that point. Exemptions will still not be available for Strategic Professional exams.
If your application falls close to that date, check the latest position with ACCA.
Getting help in Doha
Bring your transcripts and talk to an advisor, who can help you read your calculator result and plan your exams around it. ACCA makes the final decision. See our ACCA training in Qatar, or compare it with the CMA in ACCA vs CMA.
Sources
- ACCA
- Accounting and finance
- Exams
