ICAEW
ICAEW Pathway: Your Route to ICAEW Membership
Turn your existing qualification and five or more years of experience into ICAEW membership. Explore eligibility, the Examination of Experience, submission windows, ICAEW’s fees and our independent consultation packages.
For experienced, qualified accountants
What is ICAEW Pathway?
ICAEW Pathways to Membership is a separate route for experienced, fully qualified members of eligible accountancy bodies, including ACCA. Instead of the ACA exams, you submit an Examination of Experience, backed by a sponsor and letters of good standing, in one of ICAEW’s submission windows. Roots Global offers independent consultation packages to help eligible applicants plan their membership journey.
- Awarding body
- ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)
- Who it is for
- Members of one of 15 eligible bodies with 5+ years’ full membership
- Assessment
- Examination of Experience in two parts, plus virtual verification
- Submission windows
- Three a year: January, May and September
ICAEWHow the route works
Four steps to an ICAEW Pathways application
Every element must be in place before the submission window closes. Your application is only valid once ICAEW’s submission fee is paid.
- 1
Check your eligibility
Confirm you meet every criterion before you start.
- Full member of an eligible body for at least five years
- Membership gained through the full education and training route
- CPD compliant and in good standing
- Use ICAEW’s online eligibility checker
- 2
Examination of Experience
ICAEW’s assessment of your skills and recent experience.
- Part one: professional skills, reflecting those tested in the ACA Strategic Case Study
- Part two: a summary of your experience over the past five years
- 3
Sponsor and letters of good standing
Independent confirmation that you are suitable for membership.
- Sponsor form, signed no earlier than three months before the deadline
- Letter of good standing from your own body
- Letter for your sponsor too, unless they are an ICAEW member
- 4
Submit and verify
Apply in a submission window and complete ICAEW’s checks.
- Register for Pathways at least a week before submitting
- Submit and pay the fee during the window
- Recorded virtual discussion with an ID check for you, and a discussion with your sponsor
If you need an ICAEW practising certificate or the UK Audit Qualification after a successful application, you declare this in your submission.
Your starting point
Select your current stage
Pathways is for qualified professionals rather than students. Choose the option that describes you to see whether it fits, or which route suits you better.
Qualified member · ACCA or another eligible body
Where you start
Pathways application, if you have five years’ full membership
If you became a full member of ACCA or another eligible body through its normal education and training route at least five years ago, and you are CPD compliant and in good standing, you can apply for ICAEW membership through Pathways.
Credit and audit rights
Pathways does not use exam credit: a successful Examination of Experience leads to an invitation to ICAEW membership. ACCA members who hold ACCA’s Audit Qualification can have it recognised; other applicants who want audit rights must gain the AQ separately.Your typical route
- 1
Check eligibility
Use ICAEW’s eligibility checker and confirm your membership history.
- 2
Find a sponsor
Usually a colleague who is a full member of a full IFAC member body.
- 3
Prepare your application
Draft your Examination of Experience and request letters of good standing.
- 4
Submit in a window
Register, submit and pay during the January, May or September window.
These scenarios are a guide. Pathways eligibility and the outcome of your application are decided by ICAEW.
Consultation packages
Choose Your ICAEW Pathways Consultation Package
Compare our independent consultation options and choose the support that best fits your ICAEW membership journey.
Basic
Explore your eligibility and membership options.
- Recommended
Advanced
Plan your application and documents.
Premium
Obtain comprehensive application-administration and career guidance.
| What's included | Basic | AdvancedRecommended | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-to-one consultation | Included | Included | Included |
| Initial eligibility assessment | Included | Included | Included |
| Review of professional qualifications | Included | Included | Included |
| ICAEW membership requirements overview | Included | Included | Included |
| Membership fees guidance | Included | Included | Included |
| Personalized application roadmap | Not included | Included | Included |
| Document checklist | Not included | Included | Included |
| Sponsor requirements guidance | Not included | Included | Included |
| Registration and application guidance | Not included | Included | Included |
| Examination of Experience requirements overview | Not included | Included | Included |
| Application readiness assessment | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Career development and ACA membership benefits | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Practising Certificate and Audit Qualification route overview | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Follow-up consultation support | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Personalized consultation summary | Not included | Included | Included |
Scroll sideways to compare all three packages.
Consultation fees vary by package. Select your preferred package and complete the form to receive a personalized quotation.
Independent advisory service
Roots Global Institute provides independent eligibility, membership-route, career and application-administration guidance. Applicants are responsible for preparing their own Examination of Experience responses. Roots Global Institute does not write, edit or review Examination of Experience answers, and its consultations do not constitute ICAEW endorsement.For ICAEW's own requirements and dates, see ICAEW’s official Pathways to Membership page(opens in a new tab).
Request your consultation quotation
Tell us which package you are interested in and a little about your background. Our admissions team will reply with a personalized quotation.
Entry requirements
Eligibility criteria for ICAEW Pathway
ICAEW requires you to meet every one of these criteria. Check the latest guidance, as the scheme is reviewed each year.
Eligible body
You must be a fully qualified member of one of the professional bodies ICAEW lists as eligible, such as ACCA.
Five years’ full membership
You need at least five years of full membership. Students and affiliates are not eligible.
Full education and training route
Membership gained through a reciprocal agreement, or through full or advanced credit or exemptions, does not qualify.
Good standing and CPD
You must be CPD compliant with a good disciplinary record, confirmed by a letter of good standing from your body.
Eligible sponsor
A full member of a full IFAC member body who knows you well. From 1 September 2026, sponsors can support two applicants per submission session.
Examination of Experience
You must pass ICAEW’s Examination of Experience and complete its verification checks.
Fee structure
ICAEW Pathway fees: what ICAEW charges
What ICAEW charges to submit a Pathways application and to join as a member. Our independent consultation is quoted separately.
Fees set by ICAEW, correct as of October 2026
ICAEW charges a submission fee with each Pathways application, then an admission fee and annual subscription when you join. Amounts are in GBP (£). Fees change regularly, so please check the ICAEW website for the latest.Submission fees
Payable with each submission and non-refundable.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First attempt | £365 (2026) / £376 (2027) | — |
| Resubmission | £182.50 (2026) / £188 (2027) | — |
Joining ICAEW
Admissions after 1 July are charged at half the annual rate and run to 31 December.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Admission fee, living outside the UK | £300 | — |
| Admission fee, living in the UK | £600 | — |
| Annual membership 2027, full rate | £499 | Income above £41,300. |
| Annual membership 2027, reduced rates | £249.50 / £62 | May apply if your income is lower because of redundancy, retirement or a career break. |
| Delayed membership | £1,000 | If you join 12 months or more after receiving your Pathways result, with extra references and an updated CV. |
Practising certificate and practice assurance fees apply only if you need them; see ICAEW’s fee page.
Roots Global consultation packages
ICAEW’s fees above are paid to ICAEW, not to us. Our consultation fees are separate and vary by package. Select your preferred package and complete the form to receive a personalized quotation.
Benefits
Why Consider ICAEW Pathway?
- A route to ICAEW membership that recognises your existing qualification and experience
- Join ICAEW without completing the full ACA qualification
- Complete your application in your own time, from anywhere
- Three submission windows each year
- Independent guidance on eligibility, your membership route and application administration
Outcomes
What Our Consultation Helps You Do
- Understand whether you meet ICAEW’s Pathways eligibility criteria
- Know what ICAEW requires, from registration and sponsor forms to letters of good standing, so you can prepare your own application
- Plan your submission window and work towards ICAEW membership, subject to ICAEW’s assessment
Study options
How We Can Help
Eligibility and membership route
An initial assessment of your professional qualifications against ICAEW’s published criteria, before you pay a submission fee.
Application administration
Guidance on registration, documents, sponsor requirements and submission windows. You prepare your own Examination of Experience responses.
Career guidance
Explore ACA membership benefits and the Practising Certificate and Audit Qualification routes.
Pathways is reviewed every year
ICAEW reviews the Pathways scheme annually, and its availability, eligibility criteria and dates can change. Check ICAEW’s latest guidance before you prepare your application. ICAEW Pathways to MembershipFAQs
ICAEW Pathway FAQs
Explore more
Explore Related Qualifications
Foundations in Accountancy (FIA)
ACCA Qualification
ICAEW ACA
Is ICAEW Pathway Right for You?
Choose a consultation package and share your professional body, membership history and questions. We will send you a personalized quotation.