ACCA Exemptions Guide (2026): Who Gets How Many, and What They Cost

Quick answer:
ACCA exempts you from papers you’ve effectively already covered in a prior degree or professional qualification. A qualified CA gets the most — 9 of 13 papers exempted, leaving just the 4 Strategic Professional papers. Commerce graduates typically get 5 exemptions, MBA (Finance) graduates up to 9, and Indian CMA get 6-7 and US CMA get 3. Each exemption costs a fee roughly equal to that paper’s own exam fee (£84-£114, ₹9,800-₹13,200), so exemptions save time and effort more than money.

If you already hold a relevant degree or professional qualification, you may not need to sit all 13 ACCA papers. Exemptions let you skip papers ACCA considers already covered by your prior education — the more advanced your qualification, the more you can skip. Here’s exactly how many exemptions each common qualification gets, what they cost, and how to apply.

Note: this guide reflects ACCA’s current 13-paper structure. ACCA has confirmed a restructure to 11 papers starting late 2027 — anyone starting or currently progressing through ACCA today will most likely finish well before then, and exemption mapping for the new structure isn’t published yet. Re-check exemption counts against ACCA’s official rules if your timeline stretches close to 2027.

Exemptions are only available at the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills levels — there are no exemptions from any Strategic Professional paper, regardless of qualification.

CA (fully qualified) and MBA in Finance both max out at 9 exemptions under ACCA’s current rules — the most any single qualification can unlock — leaving just the 4 Strategic Professional papers to complete the qualification.

Each exemption is charged at roughly the same rate as sitting the exam itself — exemptions save time and study effort, not money, unless your coaching provider discounts the exemption fee.

• Applied Knowledge exemption: £84-£86 per paper (₹9,800-₹10,000).
• Applied Skills exemption: £111-£114 per paper (₹12,900-₹13,200).
• Foundations in Accountancy (FA1, FA2, MA1, MA2): free — no exemption fee at all for these entry-level papers.

IMS Proschool offers up to 82% off exemption fees for enrolled students — see ACCA Course Fees in India for the full fee breakdown.

• Students who’ve only completed Class 12, with no further qualification.
• CA Foundation-level students (only CA Inter/IPCC and fully qualified CA get exemptions).
• Anyone whose qualifying degree or certification is more than 5 years old.
• Graduates of institutions or programmes not recognised by ACCA.
• Cases where the prior course didn’t cover the equivalent Knowledge or Skills level material.
• Relevant work experience alone, without a matching accountancy qualification.

Claim exemptions when you register on the ACCA website, using the official exemptions calculator to check what you’re likely eligible for based on your qualification and university. You’ll need to submit official proof — award certificates, transcripts or mark sheets, signed by the relevant body (e.g., ICAI for CA). ACCA reviews your documents and confirms or rejects each exemption; if approved, you pay the exemption fee within 30 days. If you earn an additional qualification later, you can apply for a renewal exemption — but at least 20 days before the relevant exam entry deadline.
ACCA also maintains a list of recognised universities whose specific degree programmes map to fixed exemption sets — examples include Ahmedabad University, Bangalore University, Calicut University and others; check ACCA’s official list for your own institution rather than assuming based on degree name alone.
ACCA exemptions remain valid for 5 years, or until the next specified revalidation exercise — whichever comes first.

• Recently qualified: claim it — the material is fresh, so there’s little value in re-sitting it.
• Qualified a long time ago: consider sitting the exam instead — a refresher may serve you better than an exemption for material you’ve forgotten.
• Unsure either way: try a past paper for that subject — if you can still comfortably clear it, claim the exemption.
• Tight on budget: remember exemptions cost about the same as the exam itself, so they don’t reduce your ACCA cost much — factor in coaching and material savings instead.

IMS Proschool is an ACCA Approved Learning Partner and helps students identify and claim every exemption they’re entitled to, with up to 82% off exemption fees for enrolled students.

Exemptions can cut a 3-4 year ACCA journey down significantly depending on your prior qualification — CAs and MBA (Finance) graduates get the most benefit, commerce graduates get a solid head start, and everyone else builds up from the full 13 papers. They save time and effort, not money, so decide qualification-by-qualification rather than claiming every exemption automatically.

How do I find out which exemptions I qualify for?
Use ACCA’s official exemptions calculator on their website, or check with an ACCA-approved learning partner — you’ll need your degree or certification details on hand.

Are ACCA exemptions free?
No — a fee applies for each exemption, roughly matching that paper’s own exam fee, except for the four Foundations in Accountancy papers (FA1, FA2, MA1, MA2), which are exempted free of charge.

What is the expiry of ACCA exemptions?
Exemptions remain valid for 5 years, or until ACCA’s next specified revalidation exercise — whichever happens sooner.

Can I do ACCA after CA?
Yes — it’s a common and popular combination. A fully qualified CA gets 9 exemptions, leaving just the 4 Strategic Professional papers, and ACCA’s global recognition complements the CA’s India-focused credential.

Is it worth doing ACCA after BCom?
Yes for most commerce graduates — you get 5 exemptions straight away, and ACCA adds international recognition and IFRS expertise on top of your existing accounting foundation.

How many ACCA exemptions does a CMA get?
A US CMA-certified professional typically gets 3 exemptions while Indian CMA gets 6-7 exemptions, leaving 6 papers to complete — 2 from Applied Skills plus all 4 Strategic Professional papers.

Will ACCA exemptions change with the 2027 restructure?
Likely, yes, but the details aren’t published yet. ACCA has confirmed the qualification moves from 13 to 11 papers starting late 2027 (BT retiring, LW shifting to Knowledge level, fewer Strategic Professional options). If you’re starting ACCA now, you’ll almost certainly complete under the current 13-paper structure and exemption rules described here before the change applies.