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After +2, selecting the right course is never simple, especially with numerous options promising a successful future. 

The ACCA may already be on your radar if you have an interest in finance, numbers, and international opportunities. 

Employers in more than 180 countries trust the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a globally recognized professional body in accounting and finance.

ACCA has grown in popularity among Nepali students in recent years.

Some appreciate it because of the growing need for certified accountants in Nepal, while others see it as a gateway to international jobs in the UK, Australia, or the Middle East. 

In any case, ACCA provides a well-organized route that leads to opportunities both domestically and internationally.

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What is ACCA?

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, or ACCA, is a global association of professional accountants with its headquarters in the United Kingdom.

It is one of the biggest and most prestigious accounting associations, with over 240,000 members and more than half a million students worldwide.

ACCA is a professional qualification as opposed to conventional business or accounting bachelor's degrees. 

This implies that it gives you the practical abilities that companies seek out, in addition to the academic knowledge.

The curriculum and recognition are the same whether you decide to study ACCA in Nepal through authorized learning partners or elsewhere.

To put it briefly, ACCA is intended for students who wish to earn a globally recognized degree in accounting and finance, which would enable them to work in banks, auditing firms, multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, and even government agencies in Nepal and abroad.

Course Structure of ACCA

"How is the course truly structured?" is one of the most often asked questions by students when they first learn about ACCA. 

ACCA is broken down into three stages: CAP I (Applied Knowledge), CAP II (Applied Skills), and CAP III (Strategic Professional). 

This is in contrast to a traditional bachelor's degree, which is completed semester by semester. 

You progressively delve deeper into the realm of accounting and finance at each level, progressing from fundamental ideas to sophisticated professional judgment.

CAP I : 

Students are introduced to the foundations of business and accounting at this introductory level. 

Financial accounting, management accounting, and business technology are among the topics covered here. 

Because it enables you to comprehend the fundamental ideas upon which the entire ACCA curriculum is built, CAP I is frequently referred to as the foundation. 

CAP I ensures that you have the confidence to move forward even if you lack a background in management or commerce.

CAP II : 

After mastering the fundamentals, students advance to CAP II. 

Corporate and business law, taxes, audit and assurance, performance management, financial reporting, and financial management are some of the topics covered at this more in-depth and technical level.

At this point, you begin to realize the practical applications of accounting knowledge. 

Because the topics covered in CAP II are directly related to the job that finance professionals undertake daily, this is when students start to feel like professionals-in-training.

CAP III : 

CAP III, the last ACCA stage, is where professional judgment, leadership, and strategy take precedence over technical understanding. 

Strategic Business Leader (SBL) and Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) are two prerequisite courses that students must finish here. 

Depending on their professional interests, participants can also select two elective courses, such as Advanced Audit & Assurance, Advanced Financial Management, Advanced Performance Management, or Advanced Taxation. 

The main goal of CAP III is to get you ready to think and behave like a financial leader who can direct teams and make important choices.

Additionally, keep in mind that in addition to these tests, ACCA needs you to finish an Ethics and Professional Skills module and three years of relevant work experience.

By the time you graduate, you will be prepared for the workforce and have passed the exam, regardless of whether you intend to pursue a job in Nepal or elsewhere.

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Duration of ACCA

"How long does it take to complete ACCA?" is one of the most frequent queries students have.

The answer to that is, it totally depends upon you.

Because ACCA is flexible, you can complete it faster if you work quickly, or more slowly if you would rather balance it with other studies or work.

If students study full-time, they typically finish ACCA in two and a half to three years. 

However, you are never under a lot of pressure because the curriculum officially permits up to 10 years to complete. 

While full-time students studying abroad typically finish ACCA a little sooner, many students in Nepal pace themselves and finish in three to four years.

Here’s a rough outline of the timeline's typical operation:

CAP I (Applied Knowledge) - 

• The majority of students finish this phase in six to nine months. 
• Many people complete it quickly, sometimes even in a single sitting, because there are only three papers.

CAP II (Applied Skills) - 

• Depending on how many papers you try each session, this level typically takes 12 to 18 months. 
• To prevent overburden, some students prefer to work on just one paper at a time, while others manage two.

CAP III (Strategic Professional) -

• Because the final stage includes both required and elective papers, it usually takes 12 to 18 months.
• Due to its intimate ties to professional practice in the real world, many students also work alongside this stage.

To become a full ACCA member, you must pass the tests and finish the Ethics and Professional Skills module in addition to 36 months of relevant work experience. 

Students frequently work on their requirements for practical experience in addition to their coursework, which streamlines the timeframe.

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ACCA Subjects and Eligibility 

Understanding the specifics of each level, including the subjects you'll study and what qualifies you to advance, is helpful before deciding on ACCA. 

To fulfill the ACCA test component, students must complete 13 papers total throughout the three levels. 

But tests by themselves are insufficient. 

You must also finish the Ethics and Professional Skills Module and 36 months of relevant work experience to become a full ACCA member. 

The ACCA is a genuinely international and esteemed certification because it integrates ethics, theory, and practice.

Cost and Investment

Naturally, students want to know the cost when arranging for ACCA.

Here is a rough split to give you a clear idea, while the exact amount may differ based on where and how you study:

1. Registration and Annual Fees

• ACCA UK sets the initial registration price, which is approximately £45 to £50 (almost NPR 7,000).
• A subscription price of approximately £120 per year (roughly equivalent to NPR 19,000).

2. Exam Fees

• Depends on the level and whether you make your reservation early or late.
• Exam fees often vary from £80 to £250 per paper (about £13,000 to £40,000 for NPR).

3. Tuition Fees (Nepal)

• In Nepal, the entire cost of studying ACCA through a local learning partner typically ranges between NPR 7 to 10 lakhs (including materials, exam fees, and tuition).

4. Tuition Fees (Abroad)

• Tuition costs, excluding living expenditures, are greater in nations like the UK and Australia, frequently surpassing £10k per year.
• Studying overseas can be several times more expensive than pursuing an ACCA in Nepal when living expenses are taken into account.

5. Other Costs

• Exam practice sessions, revision courses, and study resources can raise your costs.
• Although optional, these are frequently advised, particularly at higher levels.

Most students in Nepal finish their ACCAs for between NPR 7 and 10 lakhs, but when tuition and living expenses are taken into account, the same degree might cost four to five times as much outside. 

However, because ACCA offers good job chances, many students view it as a worthwhile investment. 

Banks, auditing firms, businesses, and non-governmental organizations in Nepal are becoming increasingly interested in hiring ACCA graduates, even though ACCA certification often leads to a higher starting salary and faster career promotion in foreign countries.

The ACCA cost-benefit ratio is one of the major factors affecting the enrollment decision of the students.

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Global Scope and Employment Possibilities

The international reputation of ACCA is its greatest attraction.

It is acknowledged in the world of leading companies, in academic institutions, and professional associations, and has more than 180 countries of members and students.

ACCA offers students wishing to study in foreign countries a ticket to the global opportunities in such countries as Canada, Singapore, Dubai, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

An ACCA degree in Nepal is equivalent to one in other countries since the coursework and the exams are all similar.

Moreover, the choices of the people who want to stay in Nepal are turning more and more into opportunities.

Due to their capability of enhancing not only the accounting competence but also the global level skills, the ACCA qualified professionals are in high demand in banks, corporate houses, international companies, audit firms, and even in non-governmental organizations.

This means that even when deciding to work locally or when deciding to take up your career abroad, ACCA can equally be rewarding.

Career Positions, Roles, and Salaries

Note: Pay varies by country, organization size, and experience. 

These figures are just approximations that are supposed to act as a guide.

ACCA is not just any other course, but is an excellent program with 13 papers, real-world work experience, and the one-unit course called ethics, ensuring that you are ready to be employed in any corner of the world.

It is a systematic course that takes you progressively through CAP I, CAP II, and CAP III.

The relaxed approach allows you to complete it in as much time as you need to, although the majority of students complete in two and a half to three years.

Employment possibility weighs more than the huge investment, which ranges between NPR 7 and 10 lakhs in Nepal and is significantly higher in other countries.

The demand for ACCA graduates is all over the world, both within Nepal, in banks and audit firms, as well as in multinational companies and Big Four companies abroad.

ACCA will give you the freedom and the recognition you need to follow your career objectives, either in your home country or overseas.

Finally, it is an uphill task, but ACCA can be the secret to making a safe, respectable, and truly international profession for students who are committed.