ACCA Eligibility and Registration
Open from Class 12 onward, with an FIA route below the marks bar. Here is who qualifies and how registration works.
ACCA entry opens after Class 10+2, typically with around 65% in Maths or Accounts and English and 50% in other subjects. Applicants below that bar are not shut out: they can start through the Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) route and progress into the main qualification. Graduates and CA or CA-Intermediate candidates enter with exemptions that cut down the 13-exam list.
There is no formal upper age limit, direct registration typically expects you to be 18 or older, and the qualification is open globally, including to Indian nationals. Registration itself happens once, online, at accaglobal.com.
Entry Points by Background
Class 10+2 meeting the marks criteria
Route in
Direct registration
What it changes
Start at Applied Knowledge, all 13 exams ahead
Class 10+2 below the marks criteria
Route in
FIA route
What it changes
Foundation-level start, then progress into ACCA
Graduate (e.g. B.Com)
Route in
Direct registration with exemptions
What it changes
Typically 3 to 6 papers exempted
CA or CA-Intermediate
Route in
Direct registration with exemptions
What it changes
Up to around 8 papers exempted
| Background | Route in | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Class 10+2 meeting the marks criteria | Direct registration | Start at Applied Knowledge, all 13 exams ahead |
| Class 10+2 below the marks criteria | FIA route | Foundation-level start, then progress into ACCA |
| Graduate (e.g. B.Com) | Direct registration with exemptions | Typically 3 to 6 papers exempted |
| CA or CA-Intermediate | Direct registration with exemptions | Up to around 8 papers exempted |
How Registration Works
- 1
Create an account at accaglobal.com
The application is online and global; Indian applicants use the same portal as everyone else.
- 2
Submit academic documents
Your 10+2 or degree documents establish both eligibility and any exemption claims.
- 3
Pay the one-time registration fee
Registration is a single payment; an annual subscription then keeps your status active.
- 4
Claim exemptions before booking exams
Exemptions are assessed from the documents you submit. Confirm them first so you book only the papers you actually need to sit.
See the subject before you register with ACCA.
The FIA Route Is a Path, Not a Penalty
Starting via Foundations in Accountancy adds foundation-level papers before the main qualification, but it leads to the same ACCA destination. For a candidate below the 10+2 marks bar, it is the designed entrance, not a workaround.
Before You Register
- checkCheck your 10+2 marks against the entry criteria, or plan for the FIA route.
- checkGather academic documents for both eligibility and exemption assessment.
- checkDecide your target first session, and work back from its entry deadline.
- checkBudget for the registration fee plus the annual subscription, not the registration fee alone.
Eligibility FAQs
Who can register for ACCA?expand_more
Students who have passed Class 10+2, typically with around 65% in Maths or Accounts and English and 50% in other subjects. Graduates and CA candidates register with exemptions, and those below the entry bar can start via the FIA route.
Can I start ACCA right after Class 12?expand_more
Yes, provided your marks meet the entry criteria. If they do not, the FIA route offers a foundation-level start that progresses into the main qualification.
Is there an age limit for ACCA?expand_more
No formal upper age limit. Direct registration typically expects candidates to be 18 or older.
Next steps
Start free practiceNo signup, before you commit to the course.