Study Support

The ACA qualification:

theres more to it than
passing your exams!
You may be forgiven for thinking
that the ACA is all about passing
exams and getting your technical
work experience. However, the
development of skills throughout
your training should not be
ignored. Fulfilment of the initial
professional development (IPD) and
structured training in ethics (STE)
requirements are an important
factor in your development as a
professional accountant and can
help your performance in the
examinations.
Initial professional
development
IPD is designed to help you
integrate the technical knowledge
gained from your studies, technical
work experience and professional
skills development, which improves
your performance in the exams and
in the workplace. It also feeds into
the CPD requirements that you will
be asked to meet after you qualify.

The IPD framework asks you to

consider your work experience
and skills development in the key
areas which define a chartered
accountant:
ethics and professionalism
personal effectiveness
professional judgement
business awareness
technical and functional expertise.

All three
stages of the
IPD and STE
programmes
must be signed
off online by
students and
employers
before
applying for
membership.

We have developed a toolkit to

tie in with the six-monthly review
meetings that take place as part of
the training contract. The toolkit
helps you and your employer to
monitor your skills development
in the five key areas above. Your
employer must confirm that you
have completed your IPD when you
apply for membership.
If your employer has a rigorous
skills development framework
already in place, we may be able
to recognise that it meets the
IPD requirement.

Structured training
in ethics
The ACA qualification has ethics at
its heart it is fully integrated into
11 of the 15 examinations and the
IPD requirements. To be doubly
sure you are as ethical as can be,
ACA students also need to complete
an online training programme
designed to fully test your ethical
awareness; both from a personal
and professional perspective.
The three stages of the programme
include interactive case studies, self
test questions and links to further
guidance and support covering
a range of ethical issues that you
may encounter at home and in the
workplace.
All three stages of the IPD and STE
programmes must be signed off
online by you and your employer
before you apply for membership
so its important to include discussion
of these essential elements as part of
your six-monthly review process.

THE COMPONENTS OF THE ACA

For more information and advice
on all aspects of your training visit
www.icaew.com/acastudents

An integrated approach to learning and development

Exams
15 exams including
the Case Study in
your final year

TWE
450 days of technical
work experience

IPD
Initial professional
development

STE
Structured
training in ethics

The four essential elements of ACA training

Training contract/agreement (three to five years)

Six-monthly reviews with your employer

VITAL issue 42 October 2009 www.icaew.com/acastudents

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