ACCA proposing to change the 10 year limit

Hi Guys, I have a question. I registered in 2008 but could not take up even one exam up to now. However if I start off now, I’m left only with 3 years to complete. The ACCA live chat advised that there will be changes to the 10 year rule and said “we will no longer deny students the opportunity to complete the examinations if they fail to complete within a timeframe” , but did not specify the exact change.

I’m not removed from the register- but only suspended. They advised me to re-register and start up. However I’m hesitant because I’m not very sure if the change of rule applies in my case as well since I have to start from scratch.

Can someone please advise?

@esoluyemo said:
A welcome and very good idea. Thank you ACCA

It’s a good idea

I wondered what happen after 10 years, mine expires in 2017. I left the course in the middle due to some family issues, The new proposal sounds good to me.

This is very unfair rule and I am amazed a lot of you actually agree? really? If you do not ask qualified accountant who took the exam years ago to retake the exam why you should remove current students pass achievement and put them back to beginning again?

Not everyone in the same situation, I have personally battled with illness, my children’s health issues and operation on my hands and arm which I couldn’t attend the exams since I have passed my most P papers 7 years ago only 1 paper remain, I couldn’t do it because I working full time with heavy responsibility and also I have a lot of health issue to recover before I am fit enough to do the exam again, 7 year rule clearly not fair for people like me. Study shouldn’t have time limit, it may take someone bit longer to achieve the pass but it still should be recognised. Really sick of such unfair and unethical rule imposed by one professional body!

@qian said:
This is very unfair rule and I am amazed a lot of you actually agree? really? If you do not ask qualified accountant who took the exam years ago to retake the exam why you should remove current students pass achievement and put them back to beginning again?

To be a member of a profession you must demonstrate up to date knowledge gained through training and continuous professional development.

Students demonstrate their knowledge by passing a series of exams within a defined period of time and members keep their knowledge current through CPD. While it’s true that members don’t have to retake exams, they do have to complete a set amount of CPD which you as a student don’t have to.

Allowing unlimited time and unlimited attempts at the exams would devalue the profession. The current rules means you must sit all the P exams within a 7 year period, so it is not starting at the beginning again as you can keep all your passes/exemptions for the F papers. The maximum number of exams you could have to resit is 4.

While I sympathise with your personal situation, it’s important to the profession that all members have up to date knowledge and you need to demonstrate that by passing all your P papers within 7 years just like everyone else.