Gain your letters with the ICAS qualification

Studying for your ICAS qualification with BPP gives you a unique opportunity to improve your career prospects and maximise your professional success. We are the only training provider of ICAS courses in England, as part of an exclusive joint venture with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland – the world's first professional accountancy body – which received its Royal Charter in 1854.

The ICAS qualification is highly regarded throughout the world, and the initials 'CA' are an exclusive privilege for UK members. Moreover, 'CA' provides you with a passport to the top jobs in management and finance, all over the world. You'll have the chance to advance your career as far as you want to take it, and make the most of your abilities.

ICAS teaching and tutors

ICAS enjoys a widely-recognised reputation as the 'gold standard' in accountancy education provision. BPP offers you the most extensive network of training centres in the UK, and our unrivalled quality of service and outstanding reputation for delivering Chartered Accountancy education means that we continue to provide you with first-class teaching and knowledge.

All our ICAS courses are taught by highly-experienced tutors who are experts in their particular field. We have an exemplary record in ensuring success for our students, as a result of our exam-focused courses.

Becoming a Chartered Accountant

In order to become a Chartered Accountant you need to obtain a three-year training contract with an ICAS authorised employer and study the ICAS qualification at the same time.

There are a diverse range of organisations to obtain a training contract with – from public practice to business and industry, from multinationals to smaller companies and firms. Contact the ICAS to view the latest ICAS training contracts.

As an ICAS student with BPP, you can look forward to receiving balanced, integrated training through a combination of classes and structured work experience within your employer's organisation. Ultimately, you'll gain specialist knowledge and all-round business skills that will make you an expert in your chosen profession.

Dates and prices will be available soon.

Course structure

The BPP ICAS qualification consists of three levels: the Test of Competence (TC), Test of Professional Skills (TPS) and Test of Professional Expertise (TPE).

These levels break down as follows:

Test of Competence (TC)

Test of Competence is the first level of ICAS and provides students with basic concepts, knowledge and skills in core areas. The TC course last eight weeks and leads up to your exam in week nine. You will cover the following five subjects during this period:

• Financial Accounting
• Principles of Auditing and Reporting
• Business Management
• Business Law 
• Finance

To help you prepare for your exams we provide opportunities to test your knowledge with Progress Tests and Mock exams before sitting the real thing.

• Progress Test One – Financial Accounting is a two hour exam, all other subjects are one hour 
• Progress Test Two – two hour exam per subject 
• Mock Exam – two hour exam per subject 

Your Progress Test Two and Mock Exam will replicate the exact format of your real exam. Each Exam (except FA) will consist of 20 multiple-choice questions and two compulsory questions. The FA Exam will consist of 16 multiple-choice questions and one case study.

Study Materials

Test of Competence Materials

We are committed in getting you through your exams and you will receive the following material on the first day of the TC course: 

• Study modules per subject
• Study thumbnails per subject
• Work shop exercises and solutions per subject
• Revision pack per subject 
• Business ethics pack
• Two Progress tests per subject 
• One Mock exam per subject 

Test of Professional Skills Materials

We are committed in getting you through your exams and you will receive the following material on the first day of the TPS course: 

• Study modules
• Study thumbnails
• Workshop exercises
• Revision pack (including the last two exam papers) 
• IFRS open-text book
• Auditing and reporting open-text book 
• Tolley tax legislation 
• 'Butterworths Company Law Handbook' 
• Code of ethics
• TPS supplementary material (including formula sheets, tax tables, UK accounting standards & announcements, and Auditing Pronouncements) 
• Four Mock exams 

Test of Professional Expertise Materials

We are committed in getting you through your exams and you will receive the following material on the first day of the TPE course: 

• Ten case studies with solutions and mark plans  
• Slide thumbnails plus exercises for four case-study skills sessions
• 14 open-learning modules including technical updates 
• Three mock exams 
• Four revision case studies with solutions and mark plans 
• Business Ethics pack

Exam-focused courses

BPP is proud of the success of our ICAS students. They consistently achieve outstanding pass rates at all levels – and receive prizes and commendations.

You will benefit from intensive courses for TC and TPS, with the revision phase leading right up to the exams. During the final stage TPE courses you will attend two one and a half week sessions over a period of six months.

Our approach to tutor training and course presentation means that your learning will be consistent regardless of the course you choose or the centre you attend.

• A degree from a recognized UK or International institution, or
• Hold the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Professional Accounting Qualification

Study locations

You can study for the BPP ICAS qualification at a number of BPP study centres across the UK, including:

• BPP Birmingham
• BPP Bristol
• BPP Cambridge
• BPP Leeds
• BPP London
• BPP Manchester
• BPP Nottingham
• BPP Reading