How Much Does ACCA Cost? The Complete 2026 Fee Breakdown
ACCA is one of the best investments you can make in your finance career — but it's worth knowing what you're getting into financially before you start. Here's every cost broken down clearly, from your first registration fee to your last strategic-level exam.
How Much Does ACCA Cost?
The honest answer is that the total cost of ACCA ranges from around £3,000 to £7,000+ depending on how many resits you need, how you study, and whether your employer contributes.
ACCA Registration Fee
When you first join ACCA, you pay a one-off initial registration fee of £89. After that, you pay an annual subscription of £140 per year to keep your registration active.
ACCA Exam Fees by Level (2026)
Applied Knowledge (BT, MA, FA)
Exam fee per paper: approximately £98. Total for all 3 papers: approximately £294.
Applied Skills (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM)
Exam fee per paper: approximately £123. Total for all 6 papers: approximately £738.
Strategic Professional (4 papers)
Exam fee per paper: approximately £185–£260. Total for all 4 papers: approximately £740–£1,040.
Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM)
Costs approximately £81 and takes around 40 hours to complete online.
ACCA Exemption Fees
If you're entitled to exemptions (through a relevant degree or AAT Level 4), you still pay an exemption fee per paper waived: Applied Knowledge: approximately £98 per paper; Applied Skills: approximately £123 per paper. If you claim all nine exemptions, you'd pay around £1,032 in exemption fees but save years of study time.
Study Materials and Course Fees
Textbooks from BPP or Kaplan cost around £30–£50 per book. Budget around £600–£1,200 for textbooks across all 13 papers. Online course providers start from around £50–£150 per paper for self-study packages. At learnsignal, our ACCA courses give you structured video content, practice questions, and expert tutor support at a fair price.
Total Cost of ACCA
| Scenario | Estimated Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Best case — pass everything first time, self-study materials only | ~£3,000–£4,000 |
| Realistic — mostly first-time passes, online course for harder papers | ~£4,500–£6,000 |
| With resits — a few resits, online course | ~£6,000–£8,000+ |
How to Keep ACCA Costs Down
- Always register for exams at standard entry — late fees are expensive
- Claim all exemptions you're entitled to
- Ask your employer about sponsorship — many employers fund exam fees and study leave
- Buy textbooks second-hand where possible
- Invest in quality prep for the harder papers to avoid resits
- Stay on top of your annual subscription to avoid re-registration costs
Is ACCA Worth the Cost?
A newly qualified ACCA professional in the UK typically earns £40,000–£55,000. Five years post-qualification, £60,000–£80,000 is realistic. Over a career, the salary premium far outweighs the cost of the qualification. Explore learnsignal's ACCA courses — structured, affordable, and built around helping you pass.
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Learnsignal
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