ICAEW Membership based on Experience (Pathways to Membership Scheme)

Benefits of ICAEW Membership

Being a member of the ICAEW provides access to what is commonly known in this profession as the most comprehensible range of career and professional development resources, some of which include free accounting and auditing standards, technical updates, online and face-to-face learning opportunities and further education. It also demonstrates your commitment to maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards towards employers and clients.

ICAEW membership is a passport for accessing different markets all around the globe. The portability of this professional qualification is the main reason professionals undertake ICAEW studies. If you aim to have a globe-trotting career and adorn your professional CV with international experience, then obtaining an ICAEW membership is the way to go.

ICAEW membership does not only open exciting career opportunities and personal development, but it also enables access to a first-class range of services specifically designed to support you in your professional career. Some of these are:

• Awarded based on your experience through passing the Examination of Experience.
• An ACA designation – the choice amongst employers.
• An opportunity to have a global influence and build a professional network.
• Continuous support in your professional development and
• Keeping you informed – online, in print, and on the move.

This is only a snippet of the many benefits of ICAEW membership, but it gives you access to a worldwide community of professionals, excellent technical expertise, ongoing career support, and development opportunities plus an immense variety of products, services, and events.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants can apply for ICAEW membership through Pathways if they meet the full eligibility criteria as mentioned below.

1) Applicant must be a fully qualified current member holding full membership from one of the bodies listed below.

• The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – UK
• The Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA) – China
• The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) – UK
• The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)* – Hong Kong
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) – Bangladesh
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) (ICAG) – Ghana
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) – India
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) – Nepal
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) – Nigeria
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) – Pakistan
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka
• The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) – Kenya
• The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) – Singapore
• The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) – Malaysia
• The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Greece (SOEL) – Greece

^{* Individuals who joined HKICPA as members of the Association of International Accountants (AIA) before 01 June 2008 are not eligible to apply for Pathways.}

2) Applicant must have at least five years of full membership in any professional body mentioned above.

3) Applicant must have gained membership of that professional body through the normal education and training route.

4) As a fully qualified current member, the applicant is compliant with the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements of the professional body.

5) The Applicant is a member in good standing with a good disciplinary record and no outstanding complaints against the applicant.

6) An eligible sponsor supports the applicant’s application. This must be an individual who holds current membership of a professional body that is a full IFAC member body, who knows you and is in good standing, is compliant with the CPD requirements of that body, and who has a good disciplinary record with no complaints outstanding against him/her.

Note: Requirements 2,3,4 and 5 that are mentioned above must be confirmed on the applicant’s letter of good standing.

Procedure for obtaining ICAEW Membership through Examination of Experience

To demonstrate that the applicant is qualified by experience, and he/she meets the appropriate criteria for membership in ICAEW, the applicant is required to complete the Pathways Examination of Experience.  This Examination is an assessment that requires the applicant to demonstrate professional skills, achievements, experience, approach, and expertise.

Examination of Experience consists of a series of questions (a total of nine questions from a total of five sections), which the applicant completes in his/her own time, and submits in the required template format by the specified submission deadline. The questions assess the following aspects.

• Ethical awareness and professional judgment.
• Planning and analytical skills.
• Quality of thought.
• Past experience and achievement; and
• Awareness of current and technical issues.

All eligible applicants are entitled to a maximum of up to four attempts to pass the Examination of Experience.

It would be better to consult with one of our experienced mentors (click here for his LinkedIn Profile), who has mentored a lot of students in the last four years, and he will explain the entire process in detail. Register Now for a free consultation session.

Price and Dates

Submission deadlines and results dates

Registration Fee of ICAEW:

Free – Only eligible candidates who intend to apply at some point soon should register as a candidate.

Examination of Experience fee of ICAEW:

£300 per attempt (non-refundable) – This is an exam admission fee and is payable with each Pathways exam submission you make. Most of the students pass this exam on their first attempt.

Cost payable by successful candidates only:

These fees are payable by applicants who successfully pass the Pathways Examination of Experience. Successful applicants will be invited to join ICAEW. Individuals must pay the ICAEW admission and annual membership fees in full before they can use the ACA designation or call themselves an ICAEW member.

ICAEW membership fees run from 01 January to 31 December. ICAEW admission fee is a standard rate irrespective of what time of year you join.

Candidates who are successful at passing the Examination of Experience in 2024 can opt to delay their membership to start on 01 January of the following year. However, if you delay your ICAEW membership for 12 months or more, there are penalties and additional costs to pay (see the delayed membership section below). 2024 membership costs are shown below.

^{*UK/Europe – countries forming the EU and EEA are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.
ICAEW General Affiliate** UK/Europe – should you already hold affiliate status; you will only be required to pay the relevant subscription. If you have paid your 2019 general affiliate fee, this fee can be offset against the subscription fee when you apply. ICAEW General Affiliates should read the ICAEW practicing certificate regulations at icaew.com/regulations for more information and where required include the appropriate fees with your Pathways application.}

Click here for details of all applicable ICAEW Fees.

“VM” Mentoring Services specific to availing ICAEW Membership

We, “VM”, offer our services to members of all professional bodies (listed above) in availing their ICAEW membership through getting professional mentoring from one of our experienced mentors who has mentored a lot of students in the past four years. Click here to check the profile of the mentor.

After registration with us, our mentor will coordinate with you and guide you through the entire process as per the desired requirements of ICAEW. Our mentor will review each answer of the Examination of Experience Document by keeping in consideration the requirements of ICAEW in the context of achievements, experience, professional approach, skills, and expertise and provide constructive feedback to ensure that all answers follow the prescribed requirements.   Some major benefits of using our services are:

• Complete guidance throughout the preparation of the Examination of Experience document to avail of ICAEW membership on the first attempt with good marks.
• Guide students in answering questions based on various industries/sectors’ experience and overall experience gained through mentoring many other ICAEW students from all over the world.
• Multiple feedback on the Examination of Experience document before submission to ICAEW; and
• Provide professional advice on avoiding any trouble in the entire process.

Our (VM) Fee

Basic Mentoring Package: USD 300 225 (1 online meeting + 2 reviews of Examination of Experience document)

Standard Mentoring Package: USD 450 350 (3 online meetings + 6 reviews of Examination of Experience document)

Extensive Mentoring Package: USD 600 450 (4+ online meetings + Unlimited reviews of Examination of Experience document)

Premium Mentoring Package (for mentees residing in Pakistan): We provide a special fee for our students based in Pakistan. Please get in touch with us for details about this fee, which includes 3 online meetings and 6 reviews of the Examination of Experience document.

Review of Examination of Experience document: USD 120 80 (Only one review of final Examination of Experience document)

*Reduced fee is offered for a limited time.

Note

• Transfer charges are included in the fee amount as our Global Payment Agent charges this amount to secure your transaction and details.
• Payment Terms: 1^st Instalment i.e. Fifty percent (50%) of the Package fee after a free consultation meeting with a mentor while the remaining sum before the second meeting or after 1 month of registration whichever comes first.
• Approx. 15% discount on mentoring fee if students complete the entire work with all respect before 01 July 2023 (for Sep 2023 session).