Next Gen ACA, a refreshed future-fit ICAEW syllabus

A refreshed, future-fit ICAEW syllabus is being launched in September 2025. We went along to ask one of the key architects of the Next Generation ACA, ICAEW Managing Director, Education & Training, Will Holt (pictured), who talked us through the redefined qualification

Q: How has the launch of Next Generation ACA gone?

A: The Next Generation ACA has probably been the worst kept secret out there! Basically, we talked to so many people to ensure we got it right. The launch was some six weeks ago now and the positive reactions shows we are moving in the right direction. What triggered us to look at the qualification was the fact that so much is going on, and so much is going to happen during the working lives of our ACA students. So, we listened to all our stakeholders to ensure we made the right changes to future-proof the qualification. The ACA qualification is a passport to a wide-range of careers and we need to protect that strength and relevance. The Next Generation ACA will ensure our newly qualified members continue to add value to all the organisations they work for.

Q: Are there some key themes in the changes?

A: We need to ensure the trusted role of the ACA is maintained, that’s really important to us. So, we asked the question – what skills and knowledge will be needed for the future? In turn we need to ensure ICAEW members and future members are ready and can thrive in the job market of today and the future. It will be no surprise to hear the three key themes that came out are technology, ethics, and sustainability. There are brand-new core modules covering each of these, and we have gone further by embedding these competencies at each level of the syllabus and across the qualification.

Q: What about the fundamentals of accountancy?

A: It is important to say that the key pillars will remain. We heard clearly, that keeping a focus on the fundamentals is the key to the future. It comes back to the ‘trust’ element. The Sustainability and Ethics module at the beginning of the qualification will delve into the fundamental principles of these topics, and the Accounting Fundamentals module reinforces the ‘basics of accounting’. Being able to understand and use double-entry is still really important, for example. A key role of a chartered accountant is still to show that the information being produced is ‘real and reflective of reality’. I honestly believe that AI will be used to augment the role of chartered accountants rather than replace them.

Q: Qualification progression is important, how have you helped the process here?

A: The top – Advanced Level now has two case studies, and our aim is to make the journey to this final level a smoother gradient. The syllabus has been redesigned to enable a smooth, supportive, and attainable progression from Certificate to Advanced levels, providing more of a step-bystep journey. The Professional Level case study will help too, as a bridge to the next level. I am also passionate about the workplace and want our qualification to be more reflective of the real world. These three new case studies help to do just that.

Q: How are you supporting students moving forward?

A: The changes mean we are dropping from 15 to 14 exams. While the progression in levels are still there, we have made modules more integrated. The support we provide is also key. Question practice is the single most important thing students can do to increase their chances of passing professional exams. There is a longerterm project underway now to provide our students with more targeted question practice that focuses on the syllabus and core elements. I believe the updated syllabus will have a big impact on professional skills, such as developing critical thinking and helping to create the skill sets ICAEW Chartered Accountants will need to bring to organisations alongside technology.

Q: Work experience is still important, isn’t it?

A: Yes, it is one of the key components of the ACA qualification. Students will still need a minimum of 450 days professional work experience. In truth, students learn just as much from their workplace experience as they do through exams, and this element remains as important as ever. It is vital students are in the right training environment that helps makes this learning happen, and we work closely with our authorised training employers to provide the right conditions for workplace learning for all our students.

Q: Can you tell us a bit more about the specialised learning development element?

A: We understand that no two people are the same, and there will be a myriad of areas they will need to develop. We all have different aspirations, and while some might want to become a partner or CFO, others will want to become experts in their chosen field. The new skills development framework, which is available from September 2025, will create a suite of resources to enable early career specialisation. These resources will be sector specific, allow technical upskills, provide professional skills, and look at emerging topics. Students will need to complete a minimum of 30 units of specialised learning from the platform and these will not be assessed - we are definitely not creating 30 additional exams! It is like pre-CPD, giving students learning for the direction they want their careers to travel in. We will be providing digital badging too.

Q: Any final thoughts?

A: The changes you see in Next Generation ACA have been bubbling away for a long time, and show we have listened to the market and made the right changes. We understand that so much is going on, and so much is going to happen during the working lives of our ACA students. We need our future members to be ready for the change and embrace it, and Next Generation ACA will help them do that.