Chartered Certified Accountant
Chartered Certified Accountant (designatory letters ACCA or FCCA) is a protected designation awarded by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The Association is UK based, and is now a global body for finance professionals with more than 210,000 qualified members allowed to use the ACCA or FCCA designations and 503,000 students globally. Support offices/centres exist in over 100 countries. Overview. The term "Chartered Certified Accountant" was introduced in 1996. Prior to that date, ACCA members were known as "Certified Accountant." It is still permissible for an ACCA member to use this term. Members of ACCA  with post-qualification experience of more than five years and have completed the required continued professional development are designated Fellows, and use the designatory letters FCCA in place of ACCA. The term "Chartered" refers to the Royal Charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Chartered Certified Accountants work in all fields of business and finance. Some are engaged in public practice work, others work in the private sector and some are employed by government bodies. Since "Chartered Certified Accountant" is a legally protected term, individuals who describe themselves as such must be members of ACCA . If they carry out public practice engagements, they must comply with additional regulations such as holding a practising certificate, being insured against any possible liability claims and submitting to inspections. Syllabus. The current syllabus is made up of 13 examinations, although some exemptions are available. The papers are split into two levels: