accountancy routes for a future mature student

jonevin

Hi all, I Hope this is the right thread, I am a 26 year old girl hoping to return to education this year as a mature student. I am hoping to become an accountant.
I had considered going to CIT two nights a week to do a two year accounting technician course but i get the feeling that there might be another way. I like the idea of trainee accountant but do you need experience for this??
Can anyone register with ACA or do you have to have a degree??
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kinetic^

jonevin wrote: »

Hi all, I Hope this is the right thread, I am a 26 year old girl hoping to return to education this year as a mature student. I am hoping to become an accountant.
I had considered going to CIT two nights a week to do a two year accounting technician course but i get the feeling that there might be another way. I like the idea of trainee accountant but do you need experience for this??
Can anyone register with ACA or do you have to have a degree??
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

For ACA you would need a degree or the IATI qualification. You could apply for the ACCA straight out. Not sure about CPA or CIMA.

shewasoctober

You can enter as a mature student with the ACA (http://www.icai.ie/careers/how.cfm#d), ACCA (http://www.accaglobal.com/students/study_exams/qualifications/acca_choose/acca/overview/entry_requirements/entry_route), or CPA (http://www.cpaireland.ie/displaycontent.aspx?node=118&groupID=118&parentID=1).

All except mature students, thought the age differs; however, at 26 years of age, you are above all. None require you to have a degree. As a mature student, they see you as mature and responsible, so you do not have to complete any Accounting Technician program. You would start like a non-business graduate. Please see the links given above.

You can look for a trainee accountant position. The bigger firms looks for someone with a degree, but if you look at the smaller ones, you shouldn't have too much of a problem securing a position. Most firms will pay for your registration, exams, course, and so on. It will take a minimum of 4 years to become qualified. However, if are in Dublin and would prefer school first, Griffith College Dublin offers a full-time ACCA course where you would take your F1 & F2 exams at the end of the first semester and your F3 & F4 exams at the end of your second semester. Also, the ACA provides the option to register and pay the fees yourself, where you can take CAP I without working and become part-qualified: Pre-Contract Registration (http://www.icai.ie/careers/what.cfm). And the CPA, you can register for courses after registration as well, the ACCA too. The thing to remember is, all 3 require 3 years of on the job training, so you will eventually have to get the contract.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away. Also, the people at the ACA have always been very friendly to me. I would consider going in and talking to someone. Good luck!

Cheers!

kikililly

Hi
I was in a very similar position to you. I did the 2yr IATI in galway and my degree had nothing to do with business or accountancy. Since I finished IATI I started ACCA and had 2 exemptions and have done 3 exams this term through home study.
If your background is not in accountancy and you have no other experience of it I would suggest IATI even for 1 year it gave me a great basis for the ones i've done so far and the ones coming up in December. You shouldn't have any problems finding a junior position in a company with no experience if they know that your heading for a few exams. Good luck with it!!

jonevin

thank you to everyone who replied your advice was much needed.
I think I will apply for the accounting technician course in CIT and also keep an eye out for a trainee position.