World Ranking Guide

Want to be a qualified accountant? There are different study routes to becoming an accountant. Students may follow the academic route (study for a degree in accounting/finance that will give you some exemptions from part of the professional examinations) or professional route (join one of the bodies and become student member). You can study full-time or part-time by correspondence, self study, or evening class at a college/university.

Following are some of the world's leading professional accountancy bodies:

• AICPA, America - the largest professional association in North America.
  
• ACCA, UK - the largest and fastest-growing international accounting body.
  
• AIA, UK - a Recognised Qualifying Body (RQB) for company auditors under the Companies Act 1989.
  
• CICA, Canada - incorporated in 1902 by an act of the Government of Canada.
  
• CGA, Canada - the fastest growing and second largest professional accounting designation in Canada.
  
• Chartered Institute of Cost & Management Accountants (CICMA) - the premier provider of Professional Training and Certification on Cost and Management Accounting in Nigeria.
  
• CIMA UK - the world's largest management accounting institute.
  
• CIPFA - with headquarters in Westminster, London, Robert Street.
  
• CPA Australia - the largest professional accounting body in Australia.
  
• German CPA Society (GCPAS)
  
• Guild of Industrial,Commercial and Institutional Accountants, Canada (ICIA)
  
• Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  
• ICAA Australia - constituted by Royal Charter in 1928.
  
• ICAEW, UK - the UK's premier accountancy body, and the largest in Europe.
  
• ICAI, Ireland - a professional accountancy body in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
  
• ICAI, India - the second largest accounting body in the whole world.
  
• ICAS, Scotland, UK - the world's first professional body of accountants, receiving its Royal Charter in 1854.
  
• ICMAP, Pakistan - established in 1951.
  
• IFA, UK - the largest professional body of its type in the world.
  
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) - founded in 1977.
  
• MIA, Malaysia
  
• NZICA, New Zealand
  
• Ordre des Experts Comptables de Tunisie
  
• Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  
• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
  
• The Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  

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