Students who wish pursue a career in finance and accounting can go through the comparative study of ACCA vs CA. Here they will understand the benefits of both courses per their suitability.
Students often get confused while comparing ACCA and CA. CA or Chartered Accountancy which mainly focuses on Finance and Financial Accounting concepts whereas, ACCA covers topics such as Taxation, Auditing, Accounts Handling and Management Accounting. Business can only run successfully with exceptional handling of Finance and Accounting.
You may take a look at the article below to see how ACCA vs CA is a much debated topic when it comes to finance.
ACCA vs CA: A Comparative Study
In summary, we will draw a brief comparison between ACCA vs CA. After completing these certificate courses, they can choose from several career paths. Through this article, we will draw a comparison on ACCA vs CA. Students can review our study to decide which will be a better choice to take up to gain the best out of their educational situation.
|
Specifics |
ACCA |
CA |
|
Name |
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants |
Chartered Accountants |
|
Recognition |
Accepted in over 180 countries |
Accepted in over 25 countries |
|
Exam Structure |
Two Levels - Fundamentals and Professional |
Three Levels - Foundation, Intermediate and Final |
|
Fees |
INR 2 to 3 Lakh P.A |
INR 1 Lakh P.A |
|
Eligibility Requirement |
Class 12 with commerce and a bachelor’s degree such as BBA, BCom, BMS |
10+2 and CA CPT and CA IPCC (based on the levels) |
|
Duration |
2 Years |
4.5 Years |
|
No. of Papers |
14 |
20 |
|
Articleship |
Not Required |
3 years of articleship |
|
Scope of Career |
Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Forensic Accountant, Auditor, Tax Specialist, etc. |
Accountants, Accounting Managers, Auditing Experts, Taxation Experts, etc. |
ACCA vs CA: Overview
ACCA is one of the fastest-growing international accounting organisations. The certification is open for candidates who wish to develop a career in accounting and finance. Moreover, students with a graduate degree can apply for the exam. It is also popular due to its flexible examination scheme. It is easy to get a job outside the country with an ACCA certification.
Read More: ACCA
The ICAI is the conducting body behind the CA exams in India. ICAI is known to be the second-largest accounting organisation in the world. A career with a CA degree will result in high-paying jobs in the finance industry. However, it is a demanding occupation since CA’s must be well acquainted with the latest laws and case studies. They must also know about accounting, auditing, taxation, finance and corporate law.
Read More: CA
ACCA vs CA: Eligibility Criteria
When comparing ACCA vs CA admission requirements, there are a few similarities. Therefore, you need to know the eligibility criteria to enroll in the course. The ACCA vs CA prerequisites are as follows:
ACCA Eligibility Criteria
You must note that they must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the ACCA exam.
- Candidates must have successfully passed Class 12 in Commerce with compulsory subjects like English, Accounts and Mathematics.
- A minimum of two subjects should carry 65% in the class 12 mark sheets, and the rest can be 50%.
- Also, candidates can apply post-completion of their B.Com, BBA and BMS degrees.
CA Eligibility Criteria
You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for CA courses.
- Aspirants from any stream in 10+2 with a minimum of 55% are eligible to take the CA common proficiency course (CA CPC), Level 1 or Foundation course. They may further appear for CA CPT.
- After Level 1, candidates will qualify for CA IPCC or Level 2 intermediate courses.
- Once aspirants have completed Level 2 and 2 and a half years of articles or trained under official practising for CA, they will qualify for the CA final.
Furthermore, you can complete the CA course in 4.5 years.
ACCA vs CA: Syllabus
Both ACCA and CA syllabus is drafted keeping in mind the questions that will be asked during the respective exams. Access to the syllabus will help students plan their study, and utilise their resources optimally.
| ACCA Syllabus | CA Syllabus |
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ACCA vs CA: Top Colleges
The most renowned and widely recognized universities/colleges in India that offer ACCA and CA Certification courses are listed below:
Top Colleges Offering ACCA
Since many colleges have integrated the ACCA syllabus with B.Com and B.Com (Hons) degrees, here is a list of top colleges offering ACCA.
- Christ University
- Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce
- Apeejay Stya University
- Sharda University
- GITAM Institute of Management
- UPES
- Graphic Era Hill University
- Manipal University
- Global Centre for Entrepreneurship and Commerce
- International College for Girls
Top Colleges Offering CA
Below is the list of the top 10 institutes which offer CA courses in India.
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
- Indian Institute of Finance
- Academy of Commerce
- Nahata Professional Academy
- Vidya Sagar Career Institute Ltd
- Chanakya Academy for Management and Professional Studies (CHAMPS)
- Pearl CA College, Kochi
- Northern India Regional Council of ICAI
- Navkar Institute
Read More: Top CA Firms in India
ACCA vs CA: Career Scope
Given below are the ACCA vs CA career options one can opt for:
ACCA Scope in India
After their ACCA certification, candidates can gain jobs in the following designations in India and abroad since it is now considered equivalent to being on a level with an Indian CA qualification.
- Accountant
- Internal Auditor
- Forensic Accountant
- Compliance/Governance Officer
- Management Accountant
- Chief Financial Officer
- Group Accountant
- Business Analyst
- Business Adviser
- Tax Accountant
- Risk Manager
- Treasurer
- Credit Control Manager
- Insolvency Practitioner
- Funds Manager
- Financial Analyst
The salary in the above mentioned positions can range from INR 3 Lakh to INR 7 Lakh.
Read More: ACCA Scope in India
CA Scope in India
CA certificate holders can explore a career in accounting and finance departments in the industry. Apart from this, they can work in planning financial strategies, governing pension funds and long-term investments, controlling prospective investments, unification or takeover.
Some profiles they can work in are mentioned below.
- Finance Officer
- Account Executive
- Accountant
- Finance Controller
- Finance Manager
- Chartered Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Assistant Account Manager
- Senior Account Executive
- Senior Accountant
- Business Analyst
- Account Assistant
Read More: CA Scope in India
ACCA vs CA - Which is Better?
Likewise, with ACCA vs CA as the subject of debate, an ACCA certification will help candidates pursue a master’s specialisation in financial accounting. Other than that, students with ACCA certification can set up their businesses or consultancy firms and work on large business accounts. On the other hand, CA is a certification that has been given a lot of importance due to its difficulty level. The pass percentage is also comparatively high, leading to very few students actually acquiring the CA degree.
Moreover, the framework is designed in a very complex way for CA, making it very hard for students to balance learning and working. On the other hand, ACCA is a global chartered accounting certification aimed at students who wish to pursue a career in Big 4 accounting firms. At the same time, ACCA candidates get to work with MNCs in India and Internationally.
