The future is here - Next Gen ACA

ICAEW has launched the Next Generation ACA, which will ensure its future chartered accountants are equipped with the technical and professional skillset they need to thrive

You’re building a career in a profession that’s evolving fast. From AI to ESG, the expectations on finance professionals are changing. It’s no longer just about technical precision. It’s about adaptability, insight and forward-thinking leadership.

This September, ICAEW launched the refreshed ACA qualification in answer to these challenges. Built in consultation with employers, students and education experts, it is the evolution of a professional qualification that has opened doors for thousands for almost 150 years.

This marks a major moment for the accountancy profession. Recent enhancements to the ACA have strengthened its relevance, preparing future ICAEW chartered accountants who will drive value, navigate complexity, and uphold the highest standards of integrity. The changes bring together the technical rigour the ACA is known for with a new structure and content designed to meet real-world needs. Redefined and ready for the future, the Next Generation ACA reflects the needs of organisations and future ICAEW Chartered Accountants of today and tomorrow.

The next generation

The Next Generation ACA reimagines the core components of the ACA, preparing students and employers alike for the future of work in business and practice, and is leading the way in sustainability, ethics and technology, integrating these core themes throughout.

From September, the ACA will comprise:

• 14 business, finance and accountancy exams.

• Specialised learning.

• Professional skills and experience.

Business, finance and accountancy exams

With 14 new exams, designed to enable smooth, supportive and attainable progression, yet with no compromise on learning outcomes. The ACA will remain fully flexible, with students able to take exams in any order.

Split across three levels, a new exam at Certificate Level is focused on introducing the fundamentals of sustainability and ethics. At Professional Level, the introduction of the Fundamental Case Study will embed learning from the Certificate Level, preparing students for further Professional Level learning. The Advanced Level now includes two case studies, which assess both technical and strategic knowledge, preparing students to address complex real-world scenarios.

Specialised Learning

Innovation in the ACA qualification includes the introduction of ground-breaking Specialised Learning. A range of engaging and interactive courses will span specialised technical content, sector specific content, professional skills and emerging issues and updates.

Specialised Learning enables students and employers to tailor learning to individual development needs, facilitating early career specialisation. Designed to react quickly to changes, the introduction of Specialised Learning will deliver real-time learning on the latest emerging trends and issues, keeping trainees at the forefront of the profession.

Students must complete a minimum of 30 units of Specialised Learning across the course of their training agreement, with one unit equivalent to around one hour of learning.

Professional skills/experience

Developing professional skills and gaining realworld experience remain central to the Next Generation ACA, preparing students for success in today’s business environment.

Professional skills will develop resilient, inclusive leaders who are critical thinkers and effective communicators. There are 25 skills which will be assessed at three proficiency levels across five new competency areas:

• Communication.

• Critical thinking.

• Leadership.

• Professionalism.

• Understanding self and others.

Students will also continue to gain invaluable business and commercial insight implementing technical and specialised knowledge in the workplace. Students will complete a minimum 450 days of professional work experience with an Authorised Training Employer, typically taking between three and five years.

From December 2025, students will also have the opportunity to develop their digital skills with the new Technology Hub. This will include demonstration platforms and dummy datasets where students can safely interact and experience different technologies in a sandbox environment.

What this means for students

Students starting the ACA from 1 July 2025 onwards will become some of the first to begin their ACA journey on the updated qualification. Students who started before this date will continue the existing ACA components, with the opportunity to complete the existing or new exams for the period of exam dual running.

Whether you’re just starting your studies or nearing the finish line, all ICAEW chartered accountants will come into membership with a qualification respected by employers around the world and become part of a community that is always looking ahead.

Learn more

You can learn more about the Next Generation ACA and how changes to the qualifications might impact you at www.icaew.com/nextgenerationaca