CA vs ACCA: What's Right for Your Career in 2025?
Among the professional accounting qualifications, CA (Chartered Accountant) and ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) are two of the most popular and known certificates. But the majority of students get confused between the two for a brighter future.
In this blog on CA vs ACCA, we’ll break down the differences in terms of salary, difficulty level, career prospects, and global opportunities to help you choose the course that suits you best.
What is CA?
Chartered Accountancy (CA) is India’s most popular and highly regarded professional accountancy qualification. It is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
CA professionals are tax experts, auditors, financial managers, and business law experts — especially in India. It is well known to have tough exams and a tough training process.
👉🏻Want to start your CA journey but don’t know how? Click here — this guide has it all!
What is ACCA?
ACCA is a world-renowned professional accountancy qualification offered by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK). ACCA focuses on global finance, accountancy, auditing, and management principles on an IFRS basis (International Financial Reporting Standards).
This course is most appropriate for students who want to pursue an international career in accounting and finance.
Eligibility for CA and ACCA
For CA, you must have passed your 12th standard (commerce stream preferred, but any stream will do).
To pursue ACCA study, you must have passed your 12th standard with 65% marks in English, Accounts/Mathematics, and 50% in the remaining subjects.
In the CA vs ACCA comparison, it’s important to note that both courses are also provided for graduates.
CA vs ACCA: Understanding the Course Structure of Both
Chartered Accountant:
- CA Foundation Papers:
Paper 1- Accounting
Paper 2- Business Laws
Paper 3- Quantitative Aptitude
- Business Mathematics
- Logical reasoning
- Statistics
Paper 4- Business Economics
- CA Intermediate Papers:
Group 1:
Paper 1- Advanced Accounting
Paper 2- Corporate & Other Laws
Paper 3- Taxation
Section A- Income Tax Law
Section B- Indirect Taxes
Group 2:
Paper 4- Cost and Management Accounting
Paper 5- Auditing and Ethics
Paper 6A- Financial Management
Paper 6B- Strategic Management
- CA Final Papers:
Group 1:
Paper 1- Financial Reporting
Paper 2- Advanced Financial Management
Paper 3- Advanced Auditing, Assurance and Professional Ethics
Group 2:
Paper 4- Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation
Paper 5- Indirect Tax Laws
Paper 6- Integrated Business Solutions
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants:
- Applied Knowledge (3 Papers) – Basic Accounting
- BT (Business & Technology)
- MA (Management Accounting)
- FA (Financial Accounting)
- Applied Skills (6 Papers) – Core Accounting & Finance
- LW (Corporate & Business Law)
- PM (Performance Management)
- TX (Taxation)
- FR (Financial Reporting)
- AA (Audit & Assurance)
- FM (Financial Management)
- Strategic Professional (4 Papers) – Advanced Level
Essentials (2 Papers):
- SBL (Strategic Business Leader) – Case Study
- SBR (Strategic Business Reporting)
Options (Choose 2 out of 4):
- AFM (Advanced Financial Management)
- APM (Advanced Performance Management)
- ATX (Advanced Taxation)
- AAA (Advanced Audit & Assurance)
CA and ACCA duration
CA is approximately 3.5 to 4 years if you clear all exams at once.
ACCA typically will take 2 to 3 years, depending on your exemptions and attempts at exams.
Difficulty Level: CA vs ACCA – Which One is Harder?
CA is one of the most difficult professional exams in the world, especially in India, with very low pass rates of between 10% and 15% at the Final level.
ACCA is relatively easier, with pass rates of 40% to 50%. Its modular exam structure and global syllabus give it greater flexibility for students.
When comparing the difficulty of CA vs ACCA, it’s evident that CA is more challenging than ACCA.
CA and ACCA Fees
The overall cost of CA in India ranges from ₹3 Lakhs to ₹3.5 Lakhs, including registration fees, coaching, books, and exam fees.
The overall cost of pursuing ACCA ranges from ₹2.5 Lakhs to ₹3.5 Lakhs, depending on your location, exam center, and exemptions.
Comparison of Salary in India
New CA professionals in India can receive ₹7 LPA to ₹9 LPA on average. Experienced ones can receive up to ₹12 LPA to ₹25+ LPA.
New ACCA professionals in India typically begin at ₹5 LPA to ₹7 LPA. Experienced ones can receive up to ₹10 LPA to ₹20+ LPA, especially in MNCs and Big 4 audit firms.
Exploring Career Scope in India: A CA vs ACCA Overview
CA professionals are highly in demand in India for careers in taxation, auditing, internal controls, corporate finance, and compliance. Most in-demand job roles are:
- Chartered Accountant
- Tax Consultant
- Auditor
- CFO
- Financial Controller
ACCA professionals are highly valued in MNCs, international finance operations, and IFRS-based businesses. Most in-demand job roles are
Global Recognition
CA is well-valued in India but has limited international recognition.
ACCA is recognized globally in more than 180 countries and is the most sought-after for international finance, audit, and management roles.
If you’re aiming for a global career, ACCA vs CA suggests that ACCA might be the better choice.
Which is Better for You: CA or ACCA?
If you wish to develop your career in India, like to deal with Indian tax laws, and want to secure top finance positions in Indian firms, CA is an apt choice.
If you want global exposure, mobility, and career development in MNCs or abroad, ACCA is appropriate.
To secure the brightest career paths in India and overseas, a few students decide to take on both CA and ACCA, a strategy often considered in the CA vs ACCA comparison.
Dreaming of becoming a CA after 12th? Don’t miss this guide — click to begin!
Final Verdict
In the CA vs ACCA comparison, both qualifications are excellent, but the right choice ultimately depends on your career aspirations.
Choose CA if you want a stable, lucrative career in India with specializations in tax, auditing, and corporate finance.
Choose ACCA if you would like global finance career opportunities, global career opportunities, and free-choice study procedures.
Important Tip: In the CA vs ACCA journey, if you have control over your time and financial resources, pursuing both qualifications can give you the best of both worlds—solid domestic recognition from CA and strong global mobility from ACCA.
Does ACCA add value to CA?
Yes, ACCA can add a lot of value to a CA qualification, especially for people who want to work abroad or get a wider range of skills. ACCA gives you recognition around the world, more job opportunities, and specialized knowledge in areas like tax and international accounting standards.
Who earns more, CA or ACCA in abroad?
In general, ACCA professionals make more money in international markets than CA. CAs are highly respected in India, but ACCA’s international recognition and global reach frequently result in higher earning potential overseas.
Is ACCA worth it after CA?
It can be very helpful to pursue ACCA after earning your CA (Chartered Accountant) degree, particularly if you want to improve your global accounting knowledge or pursue international career opportunities. ACCA gives you a more thorough grasp of accounting principles and practices while also building on your advanced knowledge.
ACCA or CA which is better in India?
In India, CA (Chartered Accountancy) is generally considered more advantageous for those primarily seeking careers within the Indian market and those interested in auditing, taxation, or specialized accounting roles. ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is more appropriate for people who seek international or multinational careers containing aspects of world accounting practices. c