Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA/ the Institute) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) (New MRA) (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2028)
HKICPA members applying for ACCA membership
Q1. What are the criteria for the HKICPA members to become ACCA members under the new MRA?
HKICPA members in good standing, who wish to apply for ACCA membership under the new MRA, must meet the following criteria:
Registered as HKICPA QP student in Hong Kong; Completed the HKICPA’s qualification programme (QP) in full; Have at least three years of practical experience in accountancy gained under an Authorized Employer or Supervisor (AE/AS) complying with the HKICPA’s practical experience framework; and Meet other standard membership application requirements of ACCA, e.g. be fit and proper and not subject to any adverse disciplinary findings or pending complaint or investigation
In other words, a HKICPA member who qualified through the QP is exempted from the examination and practical experience requirements for ACCA membership.
Q2. I am a QP student. Do I need to register as an ACCA student in order to take advantage of the new MRA?
No, you are not required to register as an ACCA student. After you have completed the QP, met the experience requirement under the Institute’s practical experience framework, and acquired HKICPA membership, you are eligible to apply for ACCA membership under the new MRA.
Q3. I registered as a QP student by virtue of the agreement on the mutual examination paper exemptions for mainland and Hong Kong accountants and have been granted exemptions on two/three modules. Can I apply for ACCA membership under the new MRA?
No, the new MRA is not applicable to you. It is applicable only to HKICPA members who have completed the full QP.
Q4. Do I need to maintain my HKICPA membership if I obtain ACCA membership under the MRA?
HKICPA members should retain their HKICPA membership after attaining ACCA membership.
Q5. I have completed the HKSA/ACCA joint examination scheme (JES) and have not enrolled in the QP. Can I apply for ACCA membership under the new MRA?
No, you are not covered by the new MRA. Under the JES, both HKICPA and ACCA deem completion of the joint scheme examination as having satisfied the professional examination requirement of each body for membership admission. After satisfying ACCA’s experience and other standard membership application requirements of ACCA, e.g. be fit and proper and not subject to any adverse disciplinary findings or pending complaint or investigation, you may apply for registration as an ACCA member with ACCA.
ACCA members applying for HKICPA membership
Q6. Do I need to maintain my ACCA membership if I obtain HKICPA membership under the MRA?
ACCA members should retain their ACCA membership after attaining HKICPA membership.
Q7. What are the criteria for ACCA members to become HKICPA members under the new MRA?
ACCA members who registered as ACCA students in the United Kingdom or Hong Kong on or after 16 August 2004 and wish to apply for HKICPA membership must meet all conditions in the new MRA and submit their membership application to HKICPA on or before 30 June 2028 for processing.
Please click HERE for the detailed conditions.
Recognition of academic qualification
Q8. How can I demonstrate that my qualification is at Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) Level 4 or above?
Q9. I am an ACCA member. Do I need to hold a degree in order to take advantage of the new MRA?
Under the new MRA, ACCA members have to attain an academic qualification of at least higher diploma/ associate degree at Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) Level 4 or above (or equivalent) from an institution recognised by the Institute. If you possess a non-Hong Kong sub-degree qualification, such qualification must have attained the equivalent standard of HKQF Level 4 or above as assessed by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ).
Q10. I have been exempted by ACCA from sitting some of the papers of the ACCA professional examination. Have I met the requirement of having passed the ACCA professional examination under the new MRA?
Applicant who has been exempted by ACCA from sitting Corporate and Business Law and/or any of the two compulsory papers of the ACCA professional examination will be assessed by HKICPA on a case-by-case basis, which may levy an overseas assessment fee, to determine if HKICPA’s full competency requirements have been satisfied. Any competency inadequacy identified by HKICPA may be bridged by the applicant sitting and passing the relevant examination of the ACCA professional examination or module of the Institute’s Qualification Programme.
For ACCA members who do not have a bachelor’s degree at HKQF Level 5 or above (or equivalent) from an institution recognised by the Institute, they must have passed the ACCA professional examination in the United Kingdom or Hong Kong (and not in any other place) which must include the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills modules (or equivalent examinations from previous syllabus).
Q11. When and how should I apply for assessment of my academic qualification and the exemption(s) I have obtained from the ACCA professional examination?
You should complete and return a preliminary assessment form to the HKICPA for processing. After the preliminary assessment, if you are eligible to apply for HKICPA membership under the new MRA, you will be asked to register as a student of the Qualification Programme (QP) to take the Capstone. You should then apply for assessment of your academic qualification and paper exemption(s) of the ACCA professional examination at the time you submit your QP student registration application to HKICPA. You are required to submit copy of your academic qualification certificate, transcript and the ACCA professional examination result report for assessment, with an assessment fee to be charged.
Q12. I have completed the ACCA professional examination already, but it does not include all of the compulsory examinations required by the new MRA. Do I qualify for HKICPA membership under the new MRA?
No, in order to qualify to apply for HKICPA membership under the new MRA, you should either:
(a) sit and pass the required examination(s) of the ACCA professional examination in the United Kingdom or Hong Kong; or
(b) complete and pass the corresponding Qualification Programme (QP) Module(s) as follows: -
ACCA Qualification offered before September 2018 ACCA Qualification effective from September 2018 HKICPA corresponding QP Module(s) or equivalent Module in previous version
i
P7 – Advanced Audit and Assurance or equivalent examination in previous syllabus AAA – Advanced Audit and Assurance Module 13, Business Assurance – workshop and examination or equivalent Module in previous version of HKICPA QP
ii
P6 (HKG) – Advanced Taxation (Hong Kong) or equivalent examination in previous syllabus ATX (HKG) – Advanced Taxation (Hong Kong) Module 14, Taxation – workshop only or equivalent Module in previous version of HKICPA QP
Q13. I am an ACCA member and a QP student who have already passed one QP module. Can the module result be transferred for satisfying one of the new MRA requirements?
Yes, your module result can be used for satisfying the workshop requirement and/or the compulsory ACCA examination requirement, if applicable.
Q14. Can I apply for QP student registration before completion of the ACCA professional examinations?
No, you must be an ACCA member or affiliate and have attained an academic qualification from an institution recognised by HKICPA before you are eligible to apply for QP student registration.
Q15. I have attended some workshops offered by ACCA. Have I fulfilled the workshop requirement for the Capstone?
No, you must complete and pass the Capstone, which includes workshops, of the current QP.
Q16. Do I need to register as a HKICPA student before I enrol in the Capstone?
Yes, you must register as a HKICPA student and hence, shall be subject to the standard enrolment procedures applicable to QP students. You will also be obliged to pay module and the Capstone enrolment fees, and the initial and annual student subscription fees charged by HKICPA.
Q17. I am an ACCA Affiliate. Can I sit the Capstone?
Yes, you can sit the Capstone provided that 24 months have passed from the date :(a) (b)
Q18. What is "three years of practical experience in accountancy" required for registration as a HKICPA member?
You must have gained at least three years of relevant accounting experience under an Authorized Employer or Supervisor (AE/AS) complying with the requirements of the Institute’s Practical Experience Framework. Please click HERE for details of the practical experience time and competence requirements for membership admission.
Q19. Will my experience acquired before my registration as an ACCA student, and not under the HKICPA Authorized Employer or Supervisor (AE/AS), be counted for membership admission under the new MRA?
No, your practical experience acquired on and after 1 July 2005, irrespective of your registration date as an ACCA student, has to be obtained under an AE/AS.
Q20. My current employer is an ACCA accredited employer but is not an HKICPA Authorized Employer or Supervisor (AE/AS). Will such experience be counted for HKICPA membership admission?
No, your employer or supervisor must register as an AE/AS before your working experience can be counted for HKICPA membership admission purpose. Details of the AE/AS registration requirements can be found HERE .
ACCA Students and members
Q21. I registered as a full ACCA member on 1 August 2004. What agreement is applicable to me?
You may apply for HKICPA membership under the transitional arrangements of the former mutual recognition agreement which expired on 30 June 2005 (old MRA), if you registered as an ACCA student before 16 August 2004 and passed the ACCA professional examination before the specified deadline below:
Academic qualification Deadline for completion of
Accounting graduates
30 June 2007
Non-accounting graduates
30 June 2008
Non-degree holders
30 June 2009
In addition to the above, you must:
(1) have gained all the 3 to 5 years of practical experience (as required on the basis of your latest academic qualification) under HKICPA AE or AS;
(2) be an ACCA member in good standing when applying; and
(3) be a fit and proper person to be registered as a certified public accountant with HKICPA.
Q22. If I registered as an ACCA student before 16 August 2004 but failed to pass the ACCA professional examination by the specified deadline, what should I do?
The new MRA will apply to you and you must fulfil all requirements under the new MRA which have not been imposed under the transitional arrangements of the old MRA (e.g., ACCA students registered in Hong Kong or the United Kingdom, academic qualification requirements, assessment fee for ACCA paper exemptions, compulsory ACCA papers, registration as a HKICPA student and pass the Capstone of the QP, and practical experience requirements, etc.). Please submit a preliminary assessment to HKICPA for consideration.
Q23. I am a full ACCA member qualified by passing some of the examinations held in Mainland China and some in Hong Kong. Can I apply for HKICPA membership through the new MRA?
No, under the new MRA, you must have passed the ACCA professional examination in the United Kingdom or Hong Kong and not in any other place.
Q24. Am I (ACCA member) eligible for any exemption from the PRC CPA Uniform Examination under the mutual examination paper exemptions (MEPE) agreement for mainland and Hong Kong accountants after I have been admitted as a HKICPA member through the new MRA?
No, only members who were admitted to HKICPA on or before 29 July 2008 can enjoy exemption from four out of seven papers of the PRC CPA Uniform Examination. HKICPA members admitted on or after 30 July 2008 need to have qualified through completion of the QP in full in order to enjoy the exemption under the MEPE agreement.
