Follow the Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship (Level 7) route and become a Chartered Accountant (CA)

The Level 7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship route to becoming an ICAS Chartered Accountant (CA) is a government-funded way for finance professionals working mostly in England to take their careers to another level.

This government-funded apprenticeship is ideal if you’re a finance professional currently employed more than 50% of your time in England.

As an apprentice studying with ICAS you’ll cover the same syllabus as students working towards their CA qualification through traditional routes. Consequently, you’ll qualify as a CA and achieve the L7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship Certificate.

The CA qualification is widely recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious accounting and business qualifications. Adding the CA letters to your name will put you on the career fast-track and open opportunities at the top of accounting, business and industry.

To begin the Level 7 Apprenticeship please speak to your employer or for further information:

What to expect

  • takes on average 3 years
  • ICAS-supported study and assessment
  • master’s-degree-level qualification
  • 450 days of work experience
  • a competitive salary

Three years’ supported study

The Level 7 Professional Apprenticeship route to becoming a CA takes, on average, three years to complete.

The qualification is rated at the same level as a master’s degree and organised to cover everything from the essentials to advanced principles of accounting, business and ethics.

We’ll provide support throughout your studies, offering high-quality information, advice and guidance.

After a minimum of 12 months, your employer will determine if you are ready for the end-point assessment. This is divided into two elements:

  • EPA1 – an examination based on a case study; designed to test the apprentice’s knowledge by applying it to a real-world situation.
  • EPA2 – a project report designed to evaluate skills and behaviours against the required standard.

Work experience

In order to qualify as a CA, you’ll also be required to complete 450 days of relevant workplace experience, the exact nature of which varies per employer.

ICAS and your employer will regularly work together to assess your performance and provide support where required. In addition, you’ll earn a competitive salary while you train.

What’s required

  • be employed mostly in England
  • entry requirements vary
  • Maths & English (L2) before final assessment
  • your employer’s agreement
  • government funded

England based

The Level 7 Apprenticeship is open to those who are currently working more than 50% of their time in England. A separate apprenticeship route is available for Scotland.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary per employer, but you must have Maths and English (at Level 2) before attempting the final assessment.

Government-funded

An apprenticeship offers employers a route to train their employees using government funding. The ICAS Level 7 Apprenticeship is funded through the government apprenticeship levy.

What’s next

Your first step to beginning the Level 7 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship is to speak to your employer. Alternatively, please get in touch and we’ll reply with all the info you need to get started.

Current L7 English Apprentices:

If you or your employer have an issue or dispute relating to the provision of the delivery of services provided by CA Education or our nominated provider, you should make the matter known to us by contacting students@icas.com and raising an “Apprenticeship query”.

CA Education will investigate the matter in accordance with its published policy. This can be found on ICAS.com. If you or your employer are dissatisfied with the processing of, or response received, in relation to any complaint submitted under this section, you or your employer have the right to escalate the complaint to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).  Any complaint, concerns or enquiries regarding the apprenticeship may be escalated to the ESFA via the apprenticeship helpline on 0800 015 0400, or by email.