ACCA Annual Subscription and Membership Fees 2026

ACCA charges more than exam fees. Once you register, you also pay a one-off registration fee and an annual subscription, and the amount changes as you move from student to affiliate to member. This guide sets out the 2026 rates published by ACCA, what each one is for, what happens if you miss a payment, and the other charges that apply later in your career. If you want the exam side of the cost, our guide to ACCA fees in 2026 covers entry fees by paper.

All figures below are ACCA's published 2026 rates in pounds sterling, checked against ACCA's own pages on 17 October 2026. ACCA reviews its fees each year, so treat these as the 2026 rate and confirm the current figure on ACCA's website before you pay.

The short version: ACCA subscription rates for 2026

The subscription is due on 1 January each year. ACCA does not publish a separate subscription figure for the FCCA designation, so check ACCA's current fees page for the rate that applies to Fellows.

Registration and exemption fees

When you first register as a student you pay a one-off registration fee of £89. You pay it once, not every year. If you already hold a qualification that earns exemptions, ACCA's UK fees page lists a fee per exemption: £98 for each Applied Knowledge paper and £123 for each Applied Skills paper. ACCA's general fees page shows £86 and £114, so the amount depends on your location. ACCA's pages for AAT Level 4 holders say they pay no exemption fees, so check the fee that applies to you when ACCA assesses your application. Exemptions save you the cost and time of sitting the exam, so factor any fee into your route. Our guide to ACCA membership requirements explains how the stages of membership fit together.

How the subscription changes as you progress

Your subscription follows your status. While you are working through the exams you pay the student rate. After the exams, you move on to a route towards full membership, which ACCA describes as passing the exams, completing the Ethics and Professional Skills module (EPSM), and gaining 36 months of relevant practical experience signed off by a supervisor. Our EPSM guide covers the module in detail.

Affiliates are people who have passed the exams but have not yet finished the experience and ethics requirements. The affiliate rate of £163 applies for up to three years. After that, affiliates move to £326. Once you become a member the standard rate applies. Fellowship, the FCCA designation, requires five years of continuous membership, and there is no separate published fee for it.

Reduced rates: who might qualify

ACCA offers two reduced rates, £73 for members taking extended leave and £163 under its subscription assistance scheme. ACCA says these apply in certain circumstances and that you need to apply each year. We have not listed the eligibility rules here because they are set by ACCA and can change. If your income has dropped or you are on a career break, read the current rules on ACCA's website or contact ACCA directly before assuming you qualify.

What happens if you do not pay

If your subscription is unpaid, ACCA's rules provide for you to be removed from the register after three months, and the ACCA Council may also suspend you. Removal means you can no longer use the designation. You can apply to be readmitted, but it costs money: the readmission fee is £326, or £163 if you are readmitted in the same year you were removed or you qualify for a reduced rate. On top of that you pay the current year's subscription, make your CPD declaration and clear any sums you owe ACCA. Paying on time is almost always cheaper than being removed and coming back.

Retirement

Permanently retired Fellows can commute their ongoing subscription into lifetime membership by paying a single £326 fee. This is a one-off payment, not an annual one, and it is specific to Fellows who have permanently retired.

Practising certificate and firm fees

If you plan to work in public practice, there are further charges. ACCA lists a practising certificate at £648 for the application and £619 for each renewal. A firm audit certificate is £648 to apply for and £619 to renew, and registering a firm costs £524. ACCA's page for the firm registration fee does not state the year, so confirm that figure before you budget. For a full explanation of what the certificate allows, see our practising certificate guide.

A realistic budget from student to member

Adding it up, a student pays the £89 registration fee once, then £140 each year while registered, plus any exemption fees and exam entries. After the exams the cost depends on your route: affiliates pay £163 for up to three years, and members pay £326 a year. These totals are our own arithmetic on ACCA's published figures, not a number from ACCA, and your own total will depend on how many years you take and whether you qualify for a reduced rate.

How to avoid surprises

Put the 1 January deadline in your calendar, check whether you meet the criteria for a reduced rate before the new year, and keep your CPD declaration up to date, because ACCA ties readmission to it. Check the current rate on ACCA's site each year, since figures can change from one year to the next.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the ACCA annual subscription in 2026?

For members it is £326, for affiliates £163 for up to three years and then £326, and for students £140, according to ACCA's 2026 rates.

When is the subscription due?

ACCA's subscription is due on 1 January each year.

Is there a separate fee for becoming an FCCA?

ACCA does not publish one. Fellowship needs five years of continuous membership, but check ACCA's fees page for what Fellows pay.

What happens if I stop paying?

ACCA's rules allow removal from the register after three months of non-payment. Readmission costs £326, or £163 in some cases, plus the current year's subscription.

Ready to start your ACCA studies? Take a look at Learnsignal's ACCA courses to see how you can prepare for each paper.