I am a College/University student
The most well-known route to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in Ireland, is to study and train after completing your undergraduate or masters degree. Accountancy firms and businesses hire graduates into training contracts from a range of academic backgrounds. You don’t have to study accountancy, business or finance at university to become a Chartered Accountant, but if you do you may eligible for exemptions meaning less exams.
Studying an accountancy degree
Larger accountancy firms offer their training places after interviews with final year students (known as the "milk round") and many students secure their training contract before they sit their final exams. You can also apply to and train in smaller firms or train in business through the Training Contract or Flexible Route.
As well as taking our exams, students are required to gain relevant work experience in a training role. The required period of experience for university graduates is 3.5 years, either under a training contract or in our flexible route. You don't need to wait until you graduate to start your application - once you have your exam results transcript, get in touch with us to discuss your next steps.
Studying a non-accountancy degree
All graduates from recognised 3rd level institutions are eligible to start our programme, and you don't need any prior knowledge or experience in accountancy, or even in a business setting - we'll start you at the foundation level of our course, namely our first year exams, "CAP 1".
As a non-accounting graduate, while you'll have a few more exams to sit, you will the do the same amount of work experience as an accounting graduate - 3.5 years is the requirement for all graduates.
For non-business graduates, full time one year diplomas in accounting are offered in leading universities, aimed at students from non-business degrees. Holders of these diplomas can expect exemptions from CAP 1, but this is not essential to start Chartered Accountancy.
Studying a masters in accounting
Full-time, one year Masters (M. Acc) programmes are offered to business students at several colleges. These programmes will give student exemptions from CAP 1 and CAP 2, leaving just the final "FAE" exams to complete. Students must meet the full CAP 1 requirement on the basis of their primary qualification or external examination success in order to be eligible to claim exemption from CAP 2.
As well as their FAE exams, masters students must complete 3 years of required work experience, either in a training contract, or in the flexible route.
Training options: The Training Contract or Flexible Route pathways
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We have two entry routes. Both give you same qualification, same exams and same education / training requirement. The first is the Training Contract which features a 3.5 year contract with a recognized training organization who will provide you with all the experience you need and pay your education fees. Essentially you will work full time to gain the required work experience, and study part-time.It is 3- way agreement between Chartered, you and your employer.
The second entry route is the Flexible Route, which does not involve a formal training contract. You’ll be taking the same exams and will be required to complete the same amount and type of work experience, however you have more flexibility on the timeframe and amount of subjects / exams you take per year. There’s an overall time limit of 8 years to get everything finished and you can start your studies before starting to gain work experience.
Why enrol with us?
€62,374
Average salary package for newly qualified accountant in all sectors
*Leinster society salary survey 2024
No.1 in Ireland
Qualification respected and recognised by employers and recruiters
83% pass rate
Pass rate for FAE in 2023, well above average of other accountancy bodies
*Annual Report 2024
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