ACCOUNTING

Certified Accounting Technician (CAT)

Why Choose CAT?
Upon successful completion of the Certified Accounting Technician examinations, you will receive an invitation to become a Certified Accounting Technician. However, completing the examinations alone does not mean you have completed the qualification. In order to obtain the qualification and use the designatory letters CAT (Certified Accounting Technician) after your name, you must also satisfy the appropriate practical experience requirement. Alternatively, if you have an NVQ Level 4 in Accounting, this is regarded as equivalent to the practical experience requirement and completion of this and your CAT examinations will be accepted for CAT status.

Entry Requirements
You must normally be aged 16 or above to register, but there are no formal academic qualifications necessary. If you have no academic qualifications, you will be expected to complete all three Levels of the Certified Accounting Technician examinations.

You may claim exemption from the Introductory Level exams if you satisfy the one year's practical work experience requirement and can verify this by completing your Technician Training Record (TTR), which will be sent to you when you have registered as a CAT student.

CAT Introductory Level

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE INTRODUCTORY LEVEL
This level introduces the student to the basics of accounting concentrating on the core areas of recording, storing and processing financial transactions from original documents and the basic recording, storing and processing of internal cost accounting information including an introduction to the clerical, administrative and information technology systems and software associated with these areas.

The introductory level sets the scene for the further development of an understanding of financial and cost accounting systems and processes within a departmental and business perspective at the intermediate level.

CAT Intermediate Level

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
This level develops upon the basics of the core accounting activities of recording financial and cost accounting transactions, as introduced at the introductory level and requires the candidate to process, compile and present information in a systematic and organized fashion and to provide some basic decision support for management.

The intermediate level sets the scene for widening and deepening the candidates knowledge in the main accounting areas but also prepares the candidate for developing technical knowledge in the reporting aspects of financial and management accounting, and for introducing other specialist support areas such as auditing, taxation, financial management and the management of people and systems at the Advanced Level.
 

CAT Advanced Level

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ADVANCED LEVEL
This final level of the scheme develops upon core technical knowledge and skills acquired at the intermediate level in accounting for unincorporated businesses requiring analysis and application of relevant theories and techniques to internal information for decision support.

The advanced level also requires the candidate to develop their financial accounting knowledge to the area of company accounting and to more advanced reporting and decision-making aspects of financial and management accounting, introducing other specialist support areas such as auditing, taxation, financial management and the management of people and systems.

The advanced level gives the successful candidate the required skill and attribute set in order to undertake a wide range of roles within the accounting department but also gives the candidate the broader capability to formally manage and control the output of others in a supervisory capacity.

Plus 2 options from

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)

ELC has chosen to offer the ACCA programme as it is the largest and fastest growing international accountancy body, with over 300,000 students and members spread throughout 160 countries world-wide. ACCA is becoming a truly global qualification and recently received accreditation from the United Nations. ACCA equips students with an in-depth knowledge of both accounting and management to enable them to work in any area of accounting and finance.

Achieving ACCA Qualifications
In order to become an associate of ACCA, in addition to passing the exams, you must demonstrate practical experience by providing evidence of three years of supervised relevant work experience in any type of organisation and in any country which can take place before, during or after studying for the ACCA exams. There is no time limit for this to take place. Students often choose to fulfil this requirement once they have passed their examinations and many do this upon return to their home country.

Entry Routes

• Professional Examination Route
• Mature Student Entry Route
• Certified Accounting Technician

The minimum entry requirements under the Professional Examination Route (PER) are as follows; students must be at least 18 years old and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• 2 A levels and 3 GCSEs (5 separate subjects including English and Maths)
• CAT Level B (complete)
• AAT (UK) Intermediate (complete)
• BTEC National Certificate (any subjects)
• Advanced GNVQ (any subject)
• NVQ Level 3 or 4 (any subject)
• Degree (from a recognised institution in any subject)
• ACCA Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance (complete)

For those who are unable to enter via the PER, there are two other methods of entry. Firstly, for those over the age of 21, the Mature Student Entry Route (MSER) is the first option. For entry to ACCA’s Professional qualification via the MSER you must be over 21 years old. You must also pass papers 1.1 and 1.2 within 2 years from the date of your first eligible exam session.

The second route, is via Certified Accounting Technician (CAT).
This is ACCA’s vocational, open entry introduction to accounting. Applicants who are 16 years or older can complete ACCA’s CAT qualification and will be eligible for direct entry to Part 2 of ACCA’s professional exams, in other words, will be exempt from Part 1 examinations. An exemption fee will be payable for each paper awarded.
 

Entry Requirements for ACCA

• Applicants aged 18 years or above require 3 GCSE/GCE/CSE (or equivalent) - two of which must be English and Maths – and 2 A levels.
• Applicants aged 21 years or above without these qualifications are assessed on an individual basis.
• For international students, British Council IELTS test score of 6.5 or above is essential. Similar English Language proficiency tests will be considered.

Exemptions
Business or Accounting degree holders may qualify for exemptions from some or all of Part 1 & 2 exams. Holders of the final level of the CAT qualification will be exempt from Part 1. For further information on exemptions, please visit ACCA website at www.accaglobal.com or ask us for assistance.

Professional scheme students
You will need to:

• Gain a minimum of three years' supervised, relevant practical experience
• Satisfy the minimum competence requirements for membership
• Record your experience in your personal Student Training Record (STR).

Once these requirements have been met you can apply for full membership. If you are a full ACCA member and wish to work as an accountant offering your own services direct to the public, you will be required to hold an appropriate practising certificate. This requires further training within public practice, after being admitted to membership.


Certified Accounting Technician scheme students

You will need to:

• Gain a minimum of one years' supervised, relevant practical experience
• Satisfy the minimum competence requirements for membership
• record your experience in your personal Technician Training Record (TTR).

ACCA modules are grouped into three parts. Each part focuses on a key area of knowledge. In total there are 14 exams: