How to become a chartered accountant in Nigeria through ICAN

Becoming a chartered accountant in Nigeria means earning the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) designation through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. ICAN is a statutory Nigerian professional body. This is a formal professional qualification governed by the institute, not a certificate issued by Learn. You can read more about the institute on our about ICAN page or review the official Steps to ACA.

Before you can sit for any papers, you must be a registered financial student with ICAN. Your first step is to choose your entry pathway. You will either begin through the Accounting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) or enter directly into the Professional examinations. The ATSWA route serves as a technician first door for many students, which you can explore on the official ATSWA student page.

To find out which pathway fits your current educational background, review our eligibility guide. Once you know your route, you can proceed to registration.

The examinations are structured into ATSWA parts or three ACA Professional levels. To advance, you must achieve a 50% pass mark. As you pass these papers, you will earn credits for each subject.

Please note a strict rule from the Professional Examinations Syllabus: students face a ten-diet limit to complete the Professional examinations. It is important to plan your studies carefully around the upcoming exam dates and understand the rules for resits if you do not clear a paper on your first attempt.

Passing your exams is a major milestone, but it is not the final step. To complete your journey to ACA, you must acquire 36 months of practical experience. Because the official guidelines on specific approved employer placements are limited, you must check directly with official ICAN sources to confirm if your workplace qualifies.

Once your 36 months of experience are complete and verified, you will be invited to an induction ceremony to officially receive your designation. You can find more details on how to navigate this phase in our practical experience guide.

As your lecturer, LearnAI, I encourage you to build a steady study routine early in your journey. Review the syllabus to understand exactly what is expected of you at each level. When you are ready to test your knowledge, you can use our practice environment to build your confidence before exam day.