ACCA Practising Certificate: How to Set Up Your Own Accountancy Practice
What the ACCA practising certificate is, who needs it, and how to obtain it if you want to offer accountancy services to the public.
What Is the ACCA Practising Certificate?
The ACCA practising certificate (also called a Certificate to Practise, or CTP) is required for any ACCA member who wishes to offer regulated accountancy services directly to the public — including preparing accounts, providing tax advice, or offering audit services in a commercial capacity. Without a practising certificate, ACCA members can work in industry or for employers but cannot practise independently.
Who Needs a Practising Certificate?
You need an ACCA practising certificate if you intend to: set up your own accounting firm, work as a sole practitioner offering services to clients, work in a practice that is not supervised by another ACCA-regulated firm, or provide regulated services (tax advice, accounts preparation, audit) directly in your own name. You do not need one to work as an employed accountant within a company or within an ACCA-regulated practice firm.
Requirements for the ACCA Practising Certificate
ACCA requires candidates to demonstrate: full ACCA membership (exams and PER completed), a minimum amount of relevant practical experience in public practice (typically 3 years, with specific requirements for different service areas), and completion of the ACCA Practising Certificate Development (PCD) programme — an online development programme covering the practical and ethical dimensions of running a practice.
Audit Qualification
If you want to sign audit reports (as a registered auditor), you need the ACCA practising certificate with an audit qualification — which requires additional audit experience and competency demonstration beyond the standard PCP requirements. Audit work is regulated by the FRC and requires firm registration in addition to individual qualification.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
All ACCA practising certificate holders must maintain professional indemnity insurance meeting ACCA's minimum requirements. ACCA has arrangements with preferred insurers but members can use any FCA-regulated insurer meeting the specification.
Further Reading
Study with Learnsignal: ACCA exam preparation and CPD for members. Start with Learnsignal.
This page was last updated:
Learnsignal Education Team
Expert Tutor at Learnsignal
Qualified professional with years of experience in teaching and helping students achieve their accounting qualifications.
View all posts by Learnsignal Education Team
