Chartered Accountant Schools

Admission to a majority of chartered accountant schools is open to graduates of every field and, whilst a big proportion of those being admitted have business related degrees, other subjects such as mathematics, social sciences, languages, science and arts are also represented.

What qualifications do I need to be admitted into chartered accountant schools?

Admission to chartered accountant schools minus a degree could be possible, it is important to note that accounting is a relatively competitive field, and graduates have a higher chance of gaining entry to chartered accountant schools compared to non-graduates. In addition, major industry players are more likely to prefer graduates over diploma holders. Nonetheless, a number of employers educate their apprentices to sit for Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification as an admission prerequisite for ICAS.

There are three distinct professional institutes of chartered accountants that are recognized worldwide in the UK. These are:

-          Chartered Accountants Ireland.

-          Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

-          Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS).

Other than the above, there are also other professional bodies which offer chartered accounting.

Admission prerequisites differ slightly amongst the institutes. ICAS requires that the applicant be a holder of a degree whereas the ICAEW will agree to take three GCSEs along with two A-levels or first class honors degree. Nevertheless, one of the most challenging aspects of becoming a chartered account is getting a training contract with an employer sanctioned by either of the institutes. A majority of companies will demand at least 280 UCAS points other than a degree from a reputable university. Furthermore, there are those companies that will want to be furnished with an evidence of mathematical know-how and aptitude. Numeracy expertise is frequently examined as part of the recruitment process.

Over and above the academic prerequisites, applicants to chartered accountant schools are required to show proof of the following:

-          Numeracy skills.

-          IT expertise.

-          Integrity as well as trustworthiness.

-          Typical business consciousness plus interest.

-          Solid analytical and problem solving abilities.

-          Self-motivation combined with obligation.

-          Leadership traits besides effective time management skills.

-          Communication and interpersonal skills.

-          Be self-motivated.

-          Organizational coupled with time management skills.

Competition for admission to chartered accountant schools is stiff and the selection procedure quite thorough.As such,it is highly recommended that if you are considering entering the profession that you begin the application process early enough so as to guarantee admission to the widest variety of prospects as a number of employers have application deadlines.There are many chartered accountant schools so if you get rejected at one apply at another.