Exam Atlas

How to become a qualified accountant: CPA, ACCA or CMA

By The Exam Atlas Editorial Team · Verified 2026-05-31

Becoming a qualified accountant means choosing the right professional qualification for your country and the kind of work you want. The big three are the US CPA, the globally portable ACCA, and the management-focused CMA. Choosing well up front saves years in the wrong system — this path helps you pick and progress.

The path, step by step

  1. Decide your destination first

    Pick the qualification that matches where and how you want to work: CPA for US public accounting, ACCA for global and UK/European portability (and accessible without a degree), CMA for corporate and management accounting.

    Relevant exams: US CPA (AICPA), ACCA Qualification, CMA (IMA)

  2. Meet the entry requirements

    Check education and experience rules early. The US CPA usually needs 150 credit hours and is governed by state boards; ACCA has open routes without a degree plus exemptions; the CMA needs a degree and two years of experience.

  3. Work through the exams while gaining experience

    Most candidates study while working in an accounting role. Real experience is required for licensure or membership and makes the exam material far easier to absorb.

  4. Qualify and specialise

    Once qualified, specialise — audit, tax, financial reporting, or corporate finance — and maintain your status through continuing professional education.

There is no single route to becoming a qualified accountant — there are several, and the best one depends on your country and the work you want to do. Choosing the right qualification up front saves years of effort in the wrong system.

What kind of accountant do you want to be?

“Accountant” covers very different work. Public accounting (audit, assurance, tax) is the world of the CPA and ACCA. Management accounting and corporate finance — budgeting, analysis, decision support inside a company — is the world of the CMA. Financial reporting and controllership sit in between. Decide which work appeals before you choose a qualification, because each one points at a different career.

Choosing CPA vs ACCA vs CMA

  • US CPA — the licence to practise public accounting in the US. Required for US audit/tax, governed by state boards, usually needs 150 credit hours.
  • ACCA — globally portable, strong in the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia, open without a degree, studied while working. The best route for an international accounting career.
  • CMA — focused on management accounting and corporate finance; faster (two parts) and a strong fit for FP&A and controllership rather than audit.

Geography and the work you want should decide it, not which sounds most prestigious.

A realistic timeline

The CMA is often the quickest (under two years, two parts). The US CPA is typically one to two years once you meet the 150-hour eligibility. ACCA is a longer marathon (three to four years alongside work, fewer exams with exemptions). All three require qualifying experience for full membership or licensure, so plan to study while working.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing by prestige rather than by country and career.
  • Assuming an easy conversion between systems later — recognition is conditional.
  • Picking a public-accounting qualification (CPA/ACCA) when your interest is corporate finance (where the CMA fits better).
  • Underestimating the CPA’s 150-credit-hour education requirement — plan coursework early.

Qualify, then specialise

Once qualified, specialise — audit, tax, financial reporting, or corporate finance — and maintain your status through continuing professional education. Pick the destination first, confirm entry requirements early, study while gaining experience, and you have a durable, globally relevant career.

FAQ

CPA, ACCA or CMA — which should I choose?
CPA for US public accounting; ACCA for global portability and accessible entry without a degree; CMA for corporate and management accounting. Your country and target role decide it, not prestige.
Can I become an accountant without a degree?
With ACCA, often yes, thanks to its open entry routes. The US CPA and the CMA generally require a degree (and the CPA typically 150 credit hours of education).
How long does qualifying take?
Roughly one to two years for the US CPA after eligibility, three to four years for ACCA alongside work, and often under two years for the CMA. Experience requirements apply in each case.
Which is most internationally recognised?
ACCA is the most portable across the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia. The US CPA is most powerful inside the US system but respected globally. The CMA is US-originated but globally recognised in corporate finance.
Can I switch countries later?
Sometimes, via mutual-recognition arrangements and exemptions, but these are conditional and change. Do not bank on an easy conversion — pick the qualification for where you actually intend to work.
What does the work involve?
Depending on the path: audit and assurance, taxation, financial reporting, or management accounting and corporate finance. Public accounting (CPA/ACCA) leans toward audit/tax; the CMA leans toward internal decision support.

Sources