Dispelling the latest myth

The recent UK Government report, which suggests that access to professions such as accountancy is becoming a closed shop for the wealthy, may come as a surprise to the thousands of people who have studied with ACCA.

We have always ensured that access to our global qualification is open, fair and transparent – and only two months ago we were highlighted as an example of good practice in the UK Government's Fair Access to Professions.

Mature students can register for the ACCA course without any formal qualifications, and those who have qualified through the Certified Accounting Technician programme can study for the full ACCA qualification and receive exemptions from their first three papers. ACCA also offers partial exemptions for qualifying accountants who hold professional qualifications in a variety of other professional areas.

Access to our qualification is open to school-leavers, women returning to a career after raising families and to those without direct access to university - as well as to graduates. Ultimately, if you have the ability and are prepared to work hard, not only will you gain a professional qualification but also have the opportunity to progress to higher qualifications and degrees via the Open University, Oxford Brookes University and Said Business School. 

I would be very interested in your views on this and whether there is more that can be done to dispel the myth that accountancy is only for the privileged few.

Comments

[Gilbert Nyandoro]

There are certain qualifications that are indeed inaccessible to the poor and I agree with the sentiments in the report. However, ACCA is at the forefront of fairness in giving access to all. What I think ACCA can do is to use its global influence so that other bodies come to the party.

[Panirselvam Ayadurai]

Professional education is one's choice for better quality of life that should not be just restricted to the privileged few. ACCA is a privileged qualification of a higher order only for those (regardless of the individual circumstances, social class, age, race, religion, language, etc) who could sustain their efforts to passing this most difficult set of examinations prior to qualification as chartered certified accountant. I despise any form of exclusivity when it comes to accountancy education. ACCA's education policy is undeniably the right one and that is why today ACCA is at the threshold of everything that is a world-class act in the making.