ACCA is redesigning its qualification, with the first exams under the new structure beginning in July 2027.
The redesigned qualification will include new level names, updated exams and mandatory employability modules covering business, technology, AI, sustainability and ethics.
If you are already studying ACCA, you will not need to start again or repeat the progress you have made. ACCA will recognise completed elements according to its transition rules.
Depending on what you complete before the transition, you may receive credit for:
- An exam in the redesigned qualification
- A new Essential Employability Module
- A completed level of the qualification
This means there can still be a significant benefit to completing a current exam, even when it does not have a direct exam equivalent under the new structure.
What is changing?
The three levels of the ACCA Qualification will be renamed:
- Applied Knowledge will become Knowledge
- Applied Skills will become Expertise
- Strategic Professional will remain Strategic Professional
Exams will also be numbered to show ACCA’s recommended study order:
- Knowledge: K1 to K3
- Expertise: E1 to E5
- Strategic Professional: S1, S2 and one Options exam
A new Foundations level will also provide an entry route for students who do not meet the minimum requirements to begin at Knowledge level.
New Essential Employability Modules
Each level of the redesigned qualification will include a mandatory Essential Employability Module:
- Responsible Business Management at Knowledge level
- Digital Tech and Innovation at Expertise level
- Ethical, Sustainable Leadership at Strategic Professional level
Students will need to complete the relevant exams and employability module before progressing to the next level.
Current students may not need to complete all these modules. The credit they receive will depend on which exams and modules they complete before the transition.
When will the changes take effect?
June 2027
This will be the final sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional session exams.
July 2027
The new Foundations and Knowledge exams will become available.
The on-demand LW English and Global variants will have a slightly later completion deadline in July 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed.
September 2027
The first Expertise and Strategic Professional exams under the redesigned qualification will take place.
What happens to your completed exams?
Your completed exams will be recognised under ACCA’s transition rules, but not every current exam transfers in the same way.
Some exams provide credit for a new exam:
- Financial Accounting provides credit for K1 Financial Accounting
- Management Accounting provides credit for K2 Management Accounting
- Corporate and Business Law provides credit for K3 Business Law
- Taxation provides credit for E1 Taxation
- Financial Reporting provides credit for E2 Financial Reporting
- Audit and Assurance provides credit for E3 Audit, Risk and Control
- Financial Management provides credit for E4 Finance and Investment
- Performance Management provides credit for E5 Performance with Data Analysis
Other completed elements provide credit for one of the new employability modules:
- Business and Technology provides credit for Responsible Business Management
- Completing every Applied Skills exam, including Corporate and Business Law, means you will not need to complete Digital Tech and Innovation
- Completing EPSM means you will not need to complete Ethical, Sustainable Leadership
What should Applied Knowledge students prioritise?
Applied Knowledge students should continue working towards completing Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Business and Technology. Financial Accounting and Management Accounting provide credit for the new K1 and K2 exams.
Business and Technology does not transfer directly to another exam. Instead, passing BT provides credit for the new Responsible Business Management module. Students who do not complete BT before the transition will need to purchase and complete Responsible Business Management, which is expected to take approximately 60 hours. Completing BT before the transition could therefore save you both time and additional fees.
Once you have completed Applied Knowledge, you should also consider prioritising Corporate and Business Law. Passing LW will provide credit for K3 Business Law under the redesigned qualification.
What should Applied Skills students prioritise?
Applied Skills students have the greatest opportunity to reduce the time and cost added by the transition.
Each completed Applied Skills exam will provide credit for its corresponding exam at Expertise level. However, completing the full Applied Skills level provides an additional benefit.
If you complete all six Applied Skills exams before the transition, including Corporate and Business Law, you will not need to complete the new Digital Tech and Innovation module.
If you transition with any Applied Skills exams still outstanding, you will receive credit for the individual exams you have passed, but you will also need to complete Digital Tech and Innovation.
This module is expected to take approximately 100 hours, and will need to be completed before you can enter for Strategic Professional exams.
Applied Skills students should try aim to complete the entire level before the transition if possible.
What should Strategic Professional students prioritise?
Under the current qualification, Strategic Professional students must complete:
- Strategic Business Reporting
- Strategic Business Leader
- Two Options exams
Under the redesigned qualification, students will need to complete:
- S1 Business and Sustainability Reporting
- S2 Strategic Business Leader
- One Options exam
- Ethical, Sustainable Leadership
Current Strategic Professional exams will provide credit as follows:
- SBR provides credit for S1
- SBL provides credit for S2
- AAA provides credit for SAA
- AFM provides credit for SCF
- ATX provides credit for STA
- APM provides credit for SPI
A new Data Science Professional option will also be introduced.
Because the redesigned qualification only requires one Options exam, students who have already passed one Option will not need to pass a second Option after the transition.
Students who want to complete the current Strategic Professional qualification before the transition must still meet the current requirement of two Options exams. If you have already passed one Option but still need to complete SBR or SBL, prioritising the remaining core exams may provide a faster route through the transition.
Why should students complete EPSM?
The Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) does not transfer to another exam. Instead, completing EPSM provides credit for the new Ethical, Sustainable Leadership module.
EPSM currently takes approximately 20 hours to complete, while the new Ethical, Sustainable Leadership is expected to take approximately 60 hours. This could save approximately 40 hours of additional study, as well as the cost of the new module.
What should you do now?
You will not lose the progress you have already made, but the timing of your remaining exams matters.
Depending on your current level, completing certain modules before the transition could help you:
- Avoid additional modules
- Reduce your remaining study time
- Complete your current level before the qualification changes
- Progress more smoothly into the next level
- Reach ACCA affiliate or membership status sooner
The best study plan will depend on the exams and modules you have already completed.
Let us help you plan your next step
Our student advisors can review your current ACCA progress, explain the credit you are likely to receive and help you plan the most efficient route through the 2027 transition.
Complete the form below to book a call with an IBTC student advisor and let us help you take the next step.
