ACCAs (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and CAs (Chartered Accountants) are two of the most renowned courses for commerce stream students. A question often asked is – which one of the two is better? And why so? Which is the tough one? Which is better to pursue in India or which course matches the Global Standards? and so on. Let us clear all these doubts with an in-depth analysis of both worlds in the ultimate guide on ACCA v/s CA.
What is CA?
CA or the Chartered Accountancy course is one of the toughest and most highly regarded accountancy courses in India conducted by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, a Statutory Body. You must register yourself as a student with the ICAI to enrol for the course. CA is a good option for higher education in India in the fields of Auditing, Accounting, Tax Management, Management Accounting, Consultancy, And Finance.
What is ACCA?
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is a global professional accounting body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification. It is a globally accepted qualification for successful careers in every sector like Finance, Accounting, Banking, Consulting, Business Management, Audit, and Accounts. ACCA course enjoys global recognition with employers across the industry with more than 208,000 fully qualified members and 503,000 students across 181 countries.
To know why CAs or CA Inter students are pursing ACCA watch the below video:
The following table should give you a better comparison of the two and help you decide basis your aptitude and career aspirations.
| Parameters | CA | ACCA |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition | Primarily in India | Globally Recognized Qualification by employers and students across 181 countries |
| Focus | CA courses focus on Indian Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Finance, Company Law, etc. results in expertise in multiple domains. | ACCA courses mainly focus on Global Accounting, Global Laws, Taxes, Finance Costing & Audit.
ACCA students learn Indian Taxes & Laws on the job & by attending “specially designed workshops”. |
| Exam Structure | 3 Levels 4 Papers – CA Foundation8 Papers – CA Intermediate 8 Papers – CA Finals |
3 Levels 3 Papers – Knowledge6 Papers – Skills 4 Papers – Professional |
| Articleship/Internship | 3 Years of Articleship Training | 3 Years of Practical Experience to obtain membership |
| Duration | 4.5 -5 Years (On average) | 3 Years (On average) |
| Passing Percentage (Approximately) | 5 – 10% only. | 45 – 50% Globally. |
| Salary Expected | 5-7 lakhs per annum | 4 -6 lakhs per annum |
| Exemptions | NA | Depending on any existing qualifications you may hold, exemptions can be awarded. It means that you can skip the subjects in which you already hold a certificate. |
| Flexibility | Minimum one group at a time which comprises 4 papers, are to be attempted | Minimum 1 paper per attempt every quarter |
| Total Investment | 3.5-4 Lakhs | 3.5-4 Lakhs |
