ICAEW and the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) have created the ACA CTA joint programme which enables you to specialise in tax from the start of your accountancy career. Discover more here. It's open to school leavers, graduates or as a Level 7 apprenticeship.

You will complete the professional development, ethics and practical work experience components of the standard ACA and CTA qualifications, including the CIOT’s Professional Responsibilities & Ethics exam.

You will also undertake 14 of the 15 ACA modules (this excludes the Business Planning module). 

The final element of the course will be related to the area of tax you choose to specialise in. The three options available are:

• Tax of Larger Companies & Groups;
• Taxation of Owner-Managed Businesses; or
• Indirect Taxation.

Designed for those who want to specialise in the tax affairs of FTSE 350 companies or other large corporates, this specialism prepares you to deal with the tax affairs of the likes of Cineworld, Rolls Royce, or even Coca Cola.

Alongside completing the standard elements of the ACA CTA Joint Programme you will also complete the CIOT Advanced Technical examination on Tax of Larger Companies & Groups, and one of the following CIOT exams:

• An additional CTA Advanced Technical paper

• A CTA Application and Professional Skills Case Study; or
• An ADIT (Advanced Diploma in International Taxation) examination (either UK Paper 2.09 or USA Paper 2.10).

You must sit the Tax of Larger Companies & Groups paper before the ACA Case Study. Beyond this it is for your employer and you to decide the best order of exams.

Designed for students specialising in the tax affairs of owner-managed or private businesses, this specialism prepares you to deal with the tax affairs of a wide range of clients, from local family businesses through to limited liability partnerships operating overseas.

Alongside completing the standard elements of the ACA CTA Joint Programme you will also undertake the CTA Advanced Technical examination: 'Taxation of Owner-Managed Businesses'.

You will also need to complete one of the following CIOT exams:

• An additional CTA Advanced Technical paper (excluding Owner-Managed Businesses)

• A CTA Application and Professional Skills Case Study; or
• An ADIT (Advanced Diploma in International Taxation) examination (either UK Paper 2.09 or USA Paper 2.10).

You must sit the Taxation of Owner-Managed Businesses paper before the ACA Case Study. Beyond this it is for your employer and you to decide the best order of the exams.

Indirect taxation is the tax of goods and services rather than income or profits, and if you choose this route you’ll advise businesses on VAT and other indirect taxes, including international trade issues linked to Customs and Excise Duties.

Alongside the standard elements of the ACA CTA joint programme you will have to complete two CTA Advanced Technical examinations:

• Domestic Indirect Taxation; and
• Cross-Border Indirect Taxation.

You must sit the Domestic Indirect Taxation paper before you complete the ACA Case Study.

Beyond this it is for your employer and you to decide the best order of exams.

You need to register as an ACA student with ICAEW and when you have received your ACA student number you can register with CIOT and become a student on the ACA CTA joint programme.

Don't forget that you will need to secure a training agreement with an ICAEW authorised training provider to meet the work experiences requirements of the programme.

• Secure a training agreement with an ICAEW authorised training employer
• Register as an ACA student

• Register as a student with CIOT (You will be asked for your ACA student number)