Selection Of Professional Courses

How is ACCA different from CA in terms of scope as well as recognition across the globe?
As a CA aspirant, should I do CA first then ACCA or only doing ACCA is comparatively a better option ?
Replies (3)
Quick Summary
This discussion compares the ACCA and CA professional accounting qualifications, detailing their differences in global recognition, exam structure, fees, and career scope. It highlights that CA is primarily India-focused with expertise in local laws and auditing, while ACCA offers global reach based on UK standards and greater flexibility. The choice depends on individual career aspirations, with CA preferred by Indian companies and ACCA by multinational corporations.

Base CA ACCA
Professional Body Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Recognition India Global
Exam Structure Three Levels –
CA Foundation (4 Papers)

CA Intermediate (8 Papers)

CA Final (3 years of articleship training) (8 Papers)

Two Levels –
Fundamentals (9 Papers)

Professionals (5 Papers)

Total Fee Below Rs 1 Lakh Between 2-3 Lakhs
Focus CA courses focus on Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Finance, company law etc. results in expertise in multiple domains. ACCA courses mainly focus on accounting and finance.
Toughness CA is considered the toughest course in India. ACCA is not easy but not as hard as CA.
Practical Training 3 Years Articleship Training has been a mandatory part of the CA curriculum. Similarly, ACCA has also made compulsory 3 years of practical training.
Signing Authority Only Practising Chartered Accountant is qualified to sign the audit report in India. ACCA is not qualified to sign the audit report in India.
Course CA is mainly India based course hence here students get a study base of Indian Laws and Standards. ACCA has global coverage and therefore it is based on UK tax laws and standards.
Flexibility CA is not flexible. Here a student has to attempt at least a group at a time. ACCA is considered flexible as here students can attempt a single paper in each attempt.
Exemption Not Applicable ACCA recognizes the other courses. Forex. If you are CA Inter Pass out, you have to appear in 9 papers out of 15, on the other hand, a Qualified CA has to appear in only 5 papers out of 14 papers.
Earnings The Average salary of Chartered Accountants lies between 6-7 lakhs. The Average earnings of ACCA have been 5-6 lakhs.
Prefer Indian Companies prefer CA’s as they are aware of Indian Laws and related terms. Multinational companies who are handling the work of overseas clients or companies outside India prefer ACCA.
Demand Rapidly Increasing with the implementation of new laws in the country. The scope is limited but expected to grow in the future.
Thanks a lot sir! It helped me a lot.
Your welcome

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