Any candidate looking to make a career in finance and/or accounting would be spoilt for choices on offer in form of the desi CA, US CPA and ACCA. However, it can get quite confusing for anyone to choose the most appropriate one. The decision becomes critical when its about your career and future of your family.
We at VGLD are here to guide you in taking the best decision for your future! We will start with taking a quick look at high-level differences followed by a detailed discussion.
High-level Overview
Below are the key differences between these three courses to give a high-level overview to help facilitate some quick decision-making.
| Nature | US CPA | Indian CA | ACCA |
| Number of papers | 4 | 20 | 13 |
| Course duration | 1 year | 4.5 years | 3 years |
| Frequency of exams | Quarterly | Semi-annual | Quarterly |
| Course Fees (approx. in INR) | 3,30,000 | 2,00,000 | 3,00,000 |
But don’t take a decision in haste. We at VGLD, would rather suggest you to go to below detailed differences before taking a final decision.
Detailed Differences
In addition to above highlighted differences, we will now closely look at each of the key differentiators between these courses so that one can make an informed decision.
- Number of levels & Papers – In order to obtain a full-fledged degree (required to practice profession), a candidate must clear requirements in all the below-mentioned levels. –
Assuming no exemptions are available, a candidate must pass the below sets of papers to be eligible for a full accreditation. These papers are carefully curated to test one’s academic & application skills in fields like accounting, taxation, law, audit etc.
| US CPA | Indian CA | ACCA |
| Examination – 4 papers | Foundation – 4 papers | Applied Knowledge – 3 papers |
| Work experience | Intermediate – 8 papers | Applied Skill – 6 papers |
| Practical Training – 8 papers | Professional Level – 4 papers | |
| Final | Practical Experience Requirement (PER) |
- Eligibility – Each of these courses do not limit the intake of students from other streams like science, arts and others. In fact, a basic graduation in any field gives you a good playing field.
| US CPA | Indian CA | ACCA |
| 120 credits for qualification150 for license | Appear in exam post Higher Secondary (HS) | Appear in exam post Higher Secondary (HS) having minimum marks in English and Mathematics/Accounts |
| Commerce Graduates – 55% scoreNon-Commerce Graduates – 60% score | Students pursuing graduation |
- Practical Training/Experience – Each of these courses require a candidate to undergo few years of work experience/practical training to ensure that the candidates are fully-prepared to handle real-world pressure and challenges.
| US CPA | Indian CA | ACCA |
| 2 years of work experience | 3 years of practical training | 3 years of Practical Experience Requirement (PER) |
| Anytime – during or after exams | Post clearing Intermediate-level (at least 1 group) | Anytime – during or after exams |
- Frequency of examinations – With most students now opting to study and work simultaneously, an increased frequency in number of available terms adds to the flexibility and ease. Both CPA & ACCA score in this section by offering students the option to appear in an exam over 4 times in a calendar year as per their order of choice.
| US CPA | Indian CA | ACCA |
| Quarterly | Semi-annual | Quarterly |
- Format of examinations – All these courses offer different set of exam patterns. Hence, a candidate can choose from the most suitable option.
| US CPA | Indian CA | ACCA |
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) | Written | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Short-task based simulations | Scenario-based questions | |
| Written communication |
- Accounting Standard & It’s Usage – Accounting Standard used across these courses is a major difference one should be aware of. Depending on the career choice, one should pay careful consideration to this as it goes a long way impacting the career opportunities at your disposal.
| Particulars | US CPA | Indian CA | ACCA |
| Accounting Standard used | US GAAP | Ind-AS | IFRS |
| Geographical usage | USA | India | Global |
If you have any further doubts about any course or want to check your eligibility, please feel free to Contact VG Learning Destination @ +91 9700000038 or mail us at contact@88vgld.com
