CPA Eligibility vs ACCA Eligibility: Key Differences

People talk about CPA and ACCA like they’re the same, but they’re not. Both build your career in accounting and finance, yet they work on different rules, different reach, and different goals. Before you even think about applying, you need to know how CPA Eligibility and ACCA Eligibility actually differ.

Let’s go through what matters, no sugarcoating, no textbook tone, just plain facts that help you decide which one fits you.

The CPA full form is Certified Public Accountant. It’s a US-based qualification that builds deep technical control in auditing, taxation, and financial reporting.

A CPA is not just someone who knows accounting. It’s someone who can legally sign off on financial statements in the US and in some other countries that recognise the license. That’s authority built through strict exams and eligibility filters.

The CPA title is regulated by state boards in the United States, not a single body. That makes CPA Eligibility a bit tricky because each state has its own rules. But the core idea stays the same: they only want candidates with solid education in accounting and business, plus verified work experience.

So when you hear What is CPA, think of it as a license that lets you speak the language of US business law, not just numbers.

Here’s how the CPA Eligibility works for most states:

1. Education Requirement
You need 150 credit hours of education, which usually means a bachelor’s degree plus extra coursework. Most US degrees cover 120 hours, so international students often need a postgrad diploma or a master’s to reach 150.

2. Subjects You Must Cover
Your education must include accounting, auditing, business law, taxation, and general business topics. If your degree doesn’t have these, you’ll need to complete bridge courses before you apply.

3. Work Experience
Most states ask for one to two years of work experience under a licensed CPA. The role must involve accounting, audit, or financial reporting.

4. Exam
Four sections:

• Auditing and Attestation
  
  
• Business Analysis and Reporting
  
  
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
  
  
• Tax Compliance and Planning
  
  

Each section runs for four hours. You can take them separately in any order.

5. Ethics Requirement
Some states require you to pass an additional ethics exam before issuing the license.

So yes, CPA Eligibility isn’t a quick checklist. It’s layered to make sure you actually understand accounting in a legal, public sense.

Now, the ACCA or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is a UK-based qualification. It’s global, recognised across 180-plus countries, and flexible enough to fit both students and working professionals.

Here’s how ACCA Eligibility works:

1. Education Requirement
ACCA lets you start right after your 10+2 if you studied English and math. Missed that? Then, start with the Foundation and reach up to the main course.

2. Subjects Covered
ACCA focuses on accounting, audit, tax, law, and business ethics. The course builds these over three levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional.

3. Work Experience
You need three years of relevant work experience to become an ACCA member, but you can complete this while studying.

4. Exam
13 papers of this are divided into three levels. You can take them at your own pace. Some papers are computer-based, and you can attempt them multiple times a year.

That’s the short version of ACCA Eligibility: more flexible, open to younger students, and globally spread out.

Here’s where both split paths.

CPA Eligibility filters candidates hard at the start through education, credits, and licensing. ACCA Eligibility opens the gate earlier, then builds depth over time.

So if you already have a degree and want to focus on the US or companies following US GAAP, a CPA fits. If you’re starting early or want international mobility, ACCA makes more sense.

If you still wonder what is CPA in real life, here’s the simple version: it’s the gold license for accountants working with US-based financial systems.

A CPA can:

• Audit public companies
  
  
• File and sign tax reports
  
  
• Work as a consultant on financial compliance
  
  
• Handle mergers and valuations.
  
  
• Move into leadership roles like Finance Controller or CFO.
   

ACCA isn’t bound by one country. It builds a wider profile. You don’t get legal signing authority in the US, but you do get mobility. ACCA-qualified professionals work in finance teams, consulting firms, banks, and corporations across continents.

Many students go for ACCA because it starts earlier, costs less, and fits their global career plans. You can even complete ACCA alongside college, unlike CPA, which demands a finished degree first.

People love to compare toughness, but the truth is simple: both demand discipline.

CPA papers stick to the technical side of US accounting. ACCA papers take more time and check how well you handle judgment and analysis.

If you come from an Indian or UK background, ACCA feels more natural. If you’ve studied US accounting or plan to work in US firms, CPA is the better fit.

CPA usually takes 12–18 months to finish if you already meet eligibility. The total cost is around USD 3,000–4,000, including application, exam, and review materials.

ACCA runs about 2–3 years, depending on your speed. Total cost is roughly USD 2,000–2,500, including exams and annual fees.

So CPA is shorter but pricier. ACCA is longer but lighter in cost.

If you already have a degree and work in accounting, go for a CPA. It makes you more credible in audits, tax, and financial reporting jobs, especially if you deal with US clients.

If you’re still in college or want international exposure, go for ACCA. You’ll gain broader coverage of global standards and flexibility in where you work.

Don’t pick based on what others say. Pick based on where you plan to work and what kind of work you want to do.

Can I do CPA after ACCA?
Yes, but it won’t cut your CPA exam subjects automatically. You’ll still need to meet US credit requirements.

Does ACCA qualify me for CPA?
Not directly. You’ll still need to meet 150 US credit hours and work under a CPA.

Can I work abroad with a CPA degree?
Yes, in countries that recognise the CPA license or through global firms that operate under US GAAP.

Can I start ACCA without college?
Yes. You can start after 10 plus 2 or go through the Foundation route.

Which one pays better?
CPA salaries run higher in the US and at Big Four firms. ACCA pay is solid worldwide, but it shifts based on where you work and what you do.

Both CPA and ACCA can change your career path, but only if you pick the one that matches your plan. CPA builds deep authority in the US accounting system. ACCA builds reach across countries. One is about precision and regulation, the other about flexibility and global relevance.

If you want help figuring out which path fits your background, Zell Education trains students and professionals for both. They guide you through CPA Eligibility, course prep, and exams in a way that connects directly to real business, not boring theory.