The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

The ICAS received its Royal Charter in 1854 and is the oldest professional body of Accountants in the world. It has in excess of 15,500 worldwide and was the first to adopt the designation "Chartered Accountant". The designatory letters CA are still an exclusive privilege in the UK for members of the Scottish Institute.

In the age of the global market, top-flight business professionals are turning to the CA qualification to give them access to the best jobs in the location of their choice, both in the UK and abroad. Because ICAS is the only professional body in the UK that both trains and sets the exams for all its students, employers around the world know that the CA qualification stands for consistency and high standards.

Professional Qualification

To qualify as a Chartered Accountant you must apply for a training contract with an organisation authorised by ICAS to train CA students - either a firm of Chartered Accountants or an industrial, commercial or public services organisation. The three-year training contract comprises supervised work experience in the training office, completion of a competency-based Achievement Log and participation in the ICAS education programme in preparation for the professional examinations. During their training students will attend block, day-release or intensive classes at one of 15 ICAS education centres UK-wide.

There are various routes into CA training depending on your current qualifications. School pupils can choose between taking the University Route or the Vocational Route to qualification. University graduates from a wide variety of degrees can apply for training. You don't need to have an Accountancy degree.

Members of other Accountancy bodies are also offered alternative routes to CA qualification. The ICAS has a number of joint venture agreements in place with institutions such as AAT, ACCA, CIMA and CIOT as well as a number of overseas financial bodies from Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Find the CA training route specific to your circumstances on the ICAS website.

Source: www.icas.org.uk www.get.hobsons.co.uk

Contact details

ICAS - The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
CA House
21 Haymarket Yards
Edinburgh
Lothian EH12 5BH
Telephone: 0131 347 0161
Fax: 0131 347 0108
Email: caeducation@icas.org.uk
Web: www.icas.org.uk