ACA CTA Joint Programme

This new ACA CTA Joint Programme enables you to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser in three to four years providing you have met the criteria for membership, which includes undertaking relevant professional work experience.

It has been designed specifically for students who want to specialise in tax. The programme offers two routes through which you can either specialise in the tax affairs of FTSE 350 companies (or other large corporates), or in indirect tax, from the start of your training. This programme can be undertaken by both new ACA students and current students who have not yet completed the ACA Professional Level.

Study route

A typical study route to completing the ACA CTA Joint Programme is outlined in the diagram on the facing page. On completion of steps 1-5, all exam requirements for both qualifications will be satisfied.

The two routes

Taxation of Major Corporates

To achieve both the ACA and CTA qualifications, you must study and pass 14 of the 15 ACA modules as well as the other components of the ACA. You will not sit the Professional Level Business Planning: Taxation module. You will sit the new Taxation of Major Corporates Paper designed specifically for this Joint Programme. You will also sit one additional CIOT paper as detailed below:

One existing CTA Advisory paper (excluding Advanced Corporation Tax); or
The CTA Application and Interaction Case Study; or
An Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) Paper, either Paper II UK or Paper II USA.
And the Professional Responsibilities & Ethics E-Assessment.

Indirect Taxation

CTA Advisory Paper: VAT on UK Domestic Transactions, IPT & SDLT; and
CTA Advisory Paper: VAT on Cross-Border Transactions & Custom Duties.
Professional Responsibilities & Ethics E-Assessment.

Further information

You will continue to study for the ACA and CTA qualifications with your selected tuition provider. The Taxation of Major Corporates examination will be available to sit during the ACA Advanced Level exam sessions in July and November (starting from July 2014). The Taxation of Major Corporates paper will be sat at the same time as the ACA Advanced Level module exams. The CIOT papers, required for students to achieve the CTA qualification, can be sat at the CTA exam sittings in May and November. The ADIT Paper is sat in June and December.

Registration

You will need to register as an ACA student with ICAEW. When you have your ACA student number, you can register with the CIOT and become a student on the ACA CTA Joint Programme. You will be asked to submit your ACA student registration as confirmation of eligibility to the CIOT.