ACCA Professional Certificates

Structure

Every programme in this route.

Each certificate is a self-paced online course from ACCA with an online assessment at the end, usually one hour, and up to three attempts. HPS runs cohort-based tuition alongside them. Study time, assessment and modules for each certificate are as ACCA publishes them.

Online certificates

6 programmes

CertDACertificate in Data Analytics for Finance ProfessionalsHow finance professionals turn data into decisions: data science essentials, analysis techniques, financial analytics, visualisation and data governance.FormatCourse assessmentDuration1h · 20 marksHPS coursesOn request
CertSFCertificate in Sustainability for FinanceSustainability through a finance lens: climate risk and reporting, the Sustainable Development Goals, ESG performance and metrics, and sustainability analytics.FormatCourse assessmentStudy timeAbout 20 hoursHPS coursesOn request
CertIFRCertificate in International Financial ReportingA working knowledge of IFRS Accounting Standards for professionals who trained under other frameworks: revenue, assets, leases, financial instruments, liabilities, groups and disclosure.FormatCourse assessmentDuration1hHPS coursesOn request
CertIACertificate in International AuditingInternational Standards on Auditing in practice: planning, internal control and risk, evidence and sampling, specific items, using internal audit, and reporting.FormatCourse assessmentDuration1hHPS coursesOn request
CertIPSASCertificate in International Public Sector Accounting StandardsAccrual and cash-basis IPSAS for public sector accountants: presentation, performance, assets and liabilities, financial instruments, consolidation and first-time adoption.FormatCourse assessmentDuration1hHPS coursesOn request
CertPFMCertificate in Public Financial ManagementHow public money is planned, spent and accounted for: budgeting, budget execution, accounting and reporting, and audit, governance and oversight.FormatCourse assessmentDuration1hHPS coursesOn request

At HPS

What HPS provides for ACCA Certificates.

01Cohort delivery with live sessions and recordings
02Practical datasets, templates and case work
03Preparation for the ACCA online assessment where one applies
04Certificate and digital badge guidance
05Corporate cohorts through the Corporate Academy

Courses

ACCA Certificates programmes are scheduled on request.

Register interest

No course is published for this route yet. Register your interest and the programme office will tell you when the next one is confirmed.

Questions

Asked before enrolling.

Can I start ACCA without a degree?

Yes. If you do not yet meet ACCA's entry requirements, you can start with ACCA's Foundations in Accountancy route and move across. Graduates may be exempt from some Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams; ACCA's exemptions calculator shows what your qualification earns.

How is the ACCA qualification structured?

Up to 13 exams in three levels: Applied Knowledge (BT, MA, FA), Applied Skills (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM) and Strategic Professional (SBL and SBR plus two options). Levels are taken in order; within a level you can sit the exams in any order.

Which Strategic Professional options should I choose?

You take two of Advanced Financial Management, Advanced Performance Management, Advanced Taxation and Advanced Audit and Assurance. Choose the two closest to the work you do or want to do; HPS lecturers can talk the choice through with you.

When are the ACCA exam sessions?

Session exams run four times a year, in March, June, September and December. BT, MA, FA and the Global and English versions of LW are on demand, so you sit them when you are ready at a registered centre. The ACCA page on this site lists the dates ACCA has published.

How many ACCA exams can I sit in one session?

Up to four exams in a session and eight different exams in a calendar year. HPS recommends two papers per session for students working full time.

What is changing at ACCA in September 2027?

ACCA starts a new qualification. June 2027 is the last sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams, and from September 2027 students sit the new qualification's exams. Plan your remaining papers around that date; the transition page explains the options.

Can I get exemptions from Strategic Professional exams?

No. Prior qualifications can earn exemptions only from the nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams, each with an exemption fee payable to ACCA.

How long do I have to finish Strategic Professional?

All Strategic Professional exams must be passed within seven years of passing the first one.

All questions