ACCA Exam Booking & Deferrals (2026): Your Admin Guide

Getting started with the ACCA qualification involves a number of essential admin steps, and it’s important to understand how everything fits together. How do you register as an ACCA student? How do you manage ACCA exam booking? What happens if you need to reschedule? When do the annual fees happen?

This guide answers all of those questions and more in one place. With clear steps and practical explanations, it provides a straightforward overview of the admin processes every ACCA student needs to deal with. 

So whether you’re just beginning your ACCA journey or simply want to double-check you’re doing things correctly, this guide has you covered.

Quick summary

• Registering as an ACCA student is the first step, done via ACCA’s global registration page, and gives you your ACCA ID within 1-3 working days.
• myACCA is your central hub for booking exams, paying subscriptions, managing exemptions, and tracking PER.
• Applied Knowledge exams are booked directly with CBE centres, not through myACCA. Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams are booked through myACCA during session windows.
• As of August 2026, ACCA runs two entry deadlines per session, standard and late, not three. There’s no discounted early-bird tier.
• The annual subscription fee (£140 in the UK) is due each January and must stay current to keep booking and sitting exams.

Who this guide is for

This guide is designed for ACCA students who want clear, reliable information on the administrative side of the qualification. It’s intended to be useful if you are:

• A new or prospective ACCA student looking to understand how the process works.
• A current student who wants to double-check they’re handling things correctly.
• Unfamiliar with myACCA and the different tasks you’ll use it for.
• Planning for exam bookings, annual subscription payments, or membership steps.

How to register as an ACCA student

Registering as an ACCA student is the first official step in your qualification journey. This creates your ACCA student account and gives you access to myACCA, which is the central hub through which you’ll manage most parts of the ACCA process.

This is important because nothing moves forward until you complete your registration. Once approved, you’ll receive your unique ACCA ID number, which you’ll use throughout your entire ACCA journey.

Registering for ACCA is pretty straightforward, but it helps to know exactly what ACCA expects so you can get set up quickly and avoid any unnecessary delays.

ACCA enrollment: step-by-step

1. Go to ACCA’s official global registration page.
2. Choose your route:
   • ACCA Qualification: the main professional qualification most students take.
   • Foundations (FIA): designed for students who don’t meet ACCA’s entry requirements. You can complete these exams and later progress into the full ACCA Qualification.
3. Enter your personal details.
4. Upload your documents:
   • A valid ID (passport or national ID)
   • Academic certificates/transcripts
   • Official English translations if needed
5. Pay the registration fee. Find out about ACCA exam fees and costs here.
6. Receive your ACCA ID (usually within 1–3 working days).

Tips to avoid delays

• Upload clear, uncropped scans; ACCAs automated checks are strict.
• Make sure your name matches your ID exactly (including middle names).
• If you don’t meet entry requirements, use the Foundations route. You can still progress to full ACCA later.

MyACCA: your central admin hub

Once your ACCA registration is approved, you’ll gain access to myACCA. This is your personal online account and the hub through which you’ll manage nearly every administrative task for your ACCA exams and beyond.

Think of myACCA as your main ACCA dashboard. You’ll probably find you use it regularly, so it’s worth getting familiar with it early on.

What you can do in myACCA

You’ll use your myACCA account to:

Every key stage of the ACCA qualification will involve myACCA in some way, so keeping your login details secure and your information up to date is essential.

Updating your personal details

Keeping your personal details up to date in myACCA is important, especially your email address and identification details, because ACCA uses this information for all official communication.

Most updates are quick and can be done directly in your myACCA account.

Aspect	You can update instantly	You cannot update instantly
Details	– Email address – Phone number – Home address – Employer details – Marketing preferences	– Your legal name – Identity documents
Requires approval/manual review	No	Yes
Requires supporting documents	No	Yes

For details that require manual review and supporting documents, allow a few days for ACCA to check and confirm your changes. Accepted documents include:

• Passport
• National ID card
• Marriage certificate
• Deed poll / legal name-change document

Why you should keep myACCA details updated

Up-to-date information ensures:

• You receive important ACCA emails (exam entry, subscription invoices, exam dockets, etc.)
• Your exam bookings reflect the correct name and ID
• Your membership certificate is issued accurately
• You avoid delays during exam ID checks

How to book ACCA exams

ACCA exams fall into two categories, and each has its own booking process. Knowing which type your exam belongs to will tell you exactly how to book it.

On-demand exams (Applied Knowledge)

These are computer-based exams (CBEs) and are available at any time of year. Importantly, you will need to book them directly with an ACCA-approved exam centre, not through myACCA.

This covers the three Applied Knowledge ACCA exams: 

1. Business and Technology (BT)
2. Management Accounting (MA)
3. Financial Accounting (FA)

As the name suggests, on-demand ACCA exams are flexible, so take them whenever you’re ready. You can choose a date and time that suits you.

Booking process for on-demand ACCA exams

1. Find an ACCA-approved CBE centre.
   • Use ACCA’s official centre finder tool to find an on-demand exam centre close to you.
2. Contact the centre directly.
   • Check their available dates, fees, and booking procedure.
3. Choose your preferred date and time.
   • These exams are flexible and can be taken whenever you’re ready, so pick a slot that works for you.
4. Pay the centre’s exam fee.
   • Fees vary by country and exam centre.
5. Sit your exam at the scheduled time.
   • Exams are 2 hours each, and most centres recommend arriving around 30-60 minutes early to verify your identity, check in, and find your seat.

Session exams (Applied Skills & Strategic Professional)

These exams run four times a year in March, June, September and December. They must be booked through myACCA.

This covers ACCA exams at the Applied Skills and Strategic Professional levels. You’ll need to sit 10 exams in total (unless you have exemptions):

Applied Skills – 6 exams	Strategic Professional – 4 exams
1. Corporate & Business Law (LW)	1. Strategic Business Leader (SBL)
2. Performance Management (PM)	2. Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
3. Taxation (TX)	Then choose two from the following options:
4. Financial Reporting (FR)	1. Advanced Financial Management (AFM)
5. Audit & Assurance (AA)	2. Advanced Performance Management (APM)
6. Financial Management (FM)	3. Advanced Taxation (ATX)
	4. Advanced Audit & Assurance (AAA)

Booking process for session-based ACCA exams

1. Log in to myACCA
2. Go to Exam Entry
3. Select your exam(s)
4. Choose your delivery method (availability varies by country)
   • Most candidates will need centre-based CBE.
   • Some candidates may need remote CBE (see the ACCA remote exam availability section below).
5. Select your preferred exam centre
6. Pay the exam fee
7. Receive your booking confirmation by email
8. Attend your exam at the scheduled date and time.
   • As with on-demand exams, it’s usually recommended to arrive around 30-60 minutes prior to the exam start time.

When booking a session exam, you will select your preferred exam centre as part of the process (if you’re booking a centre-based CBE).

• ACCA aims to allocate you to your chosen exam centre where possible.
• In high-demand situations, you might be assigned a nearby alternative.
• It’s important to always check the details on your exam booking email carefully to confirm the actual location.

Booking windows (Session Exams only)

As of August 2026, ACCA runs two booking deadlines per session exam, not three: standard entry and late entry. There’s no discounted early-bird tier – the standard fee applies from the moment entry opens right up to the standard deadline, then the late fee kicks in for the final stretch. Booking before the standard deadline gives you a better choice of exam centre and time slot, especially in high-demand locations, and avoids a fee that can roughly double.

Here’s how the two deadlines compare, using the confirmed September 2026 session as an example:

Aspect	Standard entry	Late entry
When it opens	Roughly 4 months before the exam session	N/A – same entry window, higher fee applies after Standard entry closes closes
When it closes	Roughly 6 weeks before the exam session	About a week after the standard deadline, roughly 5 weeks before the exam session
Fee level	Standard fee	Roughly double the standard fee
Time/date availability	Full choice of centre and slot	Reduced choice, subject to availability

Not every session has a late entry option – June 2026, for example, has none. Exact dates shift slightly each session, so always check key ACCA exam dates before booking.

ACCA remote exam availability

ACCA is phasing out a lot of its remote exam provision to protect exam integrity. So if you are planning on taking exams remotely, this may affect how and where you can sit them.

• From the March 2026 exam session, all exams are centre-only, except in countries where ACCA has no exam centre provision.
• If your country has at least one ACCA exam centre, you must sit exams in person.

How to reschedule or defer an ACCA exam

Even if you have the best ACCA exam strategy in place, things can change. The good news is that there are a few options if you need to amend or cancel your ACCA exam booking. The process depends on whether you want to move your exam within the same session or withdraw entirely.

Here’s how it works.

Option 1: reschedule within the same ACCA exam session (Session Exams only)

If you simply want to change your exam date, time, or location within the same exam sitting (e.g. reschedule an exam in June to a different date in June), this is the easiest option.

This applies only to session exams (Applied Skills and Strategic Professional levels). On-demand exams have a different process (explained below).

How to reschedule a session exam

1. Log in to myACCA.
2. Select Exam Amendments.
3. Choose your new date, centre or delivery method.
4. Pay any difference in fees (if applicable).

As long as there’s availability for your new date, time, and location, this process is very simple. There are no penalties or extra admin fees. The biggest thing to watch out for is the amendment deadline.

The amendment deadline is the standard entry closing date for that exam session. This is the final date you can make changes in myACCA. After this point, amendments are not allowed, and you need to withdraw and rebook. You can find the amendment deadline in myACCA in the exam entry section.

How to reschedule an on-demand exam

On-demand exams (BT, MA, FA) are not booked through myACCA, so you cannot reschedule them there. However, the process is still usually straightforward.

To change an on-demand exam booking:

1. You must contact the exam centre directly.
2. Each centre has its own policy (some allow changes, some charge a fee, some require a full rebooking).

Option 2: withdraw and rebook later

If you can’t sit your exam in the current session, you can withdraw your booking. This removes you from the exam but does not provide a refund, and you’ll need to pay again when booking for a future session.

How to withdraw from a session exam

1. Log in to myACCA
2. Go to Exam Entry
3. Select the exam you want to withdraw from
4. Choose the Withdraw option
5. Confirm the withdrawal when prompted

After withdrawing, the exam will disappear from your docket, and you can rebook it once entry opens again.

How to withdraw from an on-demand exam

On-demand exams (BT, MA, FA) are booked directly with exam centres, so the withdrawal must also be handled with the centre.

1. Contact your exam centre directly
2. Ask to cancel or change your booking
3. Follow their cancellation policy (fees may apply, and some centres require a full rebooking)

Just like booking and rescheduling, ACCA does not manage on-demand exam withdrawals through myACCA.

What withdrawing means

• Withdrawing means you are no longer registered for the exam.
• Withdrawals are irreversible; once you withdraw, you can’t then re-add the exam for the same session.
• You must be certain you want to withdraw before going down this route. 

No refunds are given for withdrawals unless approved under the Exam Support Service, so any fees you’ve already paid will be lost. You can then rebook the exam for any future session using the standard process once booking opens again.

Option 3: apply for ACCA’s Exam Support Service (for emergencies)

If something serious prevents you from sitting an exam, ACCA may offer support.

You may be eligible if you experience:

• A serious medical issue
• Bereavement of a close family member
• A major, unavoidable emergency

You’ll need to provide supporting evidence (e.g. a medical certificate).

What ACCA may offer

In genuine emergencies, ACCA will aim to provide a fair solution that works for you. This could be a deferral to the next available exam session, or a credit towards rebooking if you need to cancel and reschedule (so you don’t have to pay twice).

This service is only for legitimate, unavoidable emergencies outside of your control. Situations like poor preparation or forgetting the exam date do not qualify.

Tips for managing ACCA exam changes

• Act early, because you must make changes before the amendment deadline, particularly for session exams.
• Download your exam attendance docket as soon as it’s available to confirm the location, date and time of your exam, and the ID requirements. Check that everything is correct so you can rebook if needed.
• Avoid late entry if possible because availability is often limited, and it will cost you more.
• Keep relevant documentation or evidence to hand if you think you may need to apply for emergency support.

Annual ACCA subscription fee

Every ACCA student must pay an annual subscription fee to keep their account active. This is separate from exam fees and is usually billed in January each year.

In the UK, the annual student subscription fee is £140, but this differs between countries.

Why the ACCA subscription fee is important

If you don’t pay it:

• You cannot book exams
• Your myACCA account may become inactive or restricted
• ACCA may mark your status as “lapsed”

Once lapsed, you’ll need to pay all outstanding fees and sometimes a reinstatement charge before you can continue.

How to pay your annual subscription

Paying your ACCA subscription fee is actually pretty easy. Here’s how:

1. Log in to myACCA
2. Go to “Payments”
3. Select Annual Subscription
4. Pay the fee by card or through approved payment methods

Payment is immediate, and your account will usually update as soon as the transaction completes.

When the subscription is due

In most cases, the invoice appears in your account in January. ACCA will email you reminders before payment is due so you don’t miss it. 

You can also pay early if the invoice shows in your account before January. It’s worth adding a reminder to your calendar to make the payment if you don’t pay immediately, to ensure you don’t forget.

If you do miss subscription deadlines, try not to let it stress you out too much. Once you clear overdue fees, you’ll be able to get back on track with your ACCA exams.

Moving from student to full ACCA member

Once you’re close to finishing your exams, you might wonder what exactly you need to do before you can officially become an ACCA member. The good news is that the requirements are straightforward, and ACCA will guide you when you’re near the end.

Here’s what you need to complete.

1. Pass all required ACCA exams

You must have passed (or been exempt from):

• 3 Applied Knowledge exams (BT, MA, FA)
• 6 Applied Skills exams (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM)
• 4 Strategic Professional exams (SBL, SBR + 2 Options)

This totals 13 exams under current format (reducing to 11 in 2027). Once you pass your final exam, ACCA will automatically update your status in your myACCA account.

2. Complete the Ethics & Professional Skills Module (EPSM)

EPSM is an online module designed to build your ethical judgement and workplace skills. As of August 2026, ACCA states it takes approximately 20 hours to complete, and it can be done at any time during your studies.

Your EPSM completion must be recorded in myACCA before you can apply for membership.

3. Complete your Practical Experience Requirement (PER)

PER is ACCA’s work experience requirement. It involves:

• 36 months of relevant, supervised work experience
• Completing 9 performance objectives
• Recording everything in the myExperience section of myACCA
• Having your supervisor(s) sign off on your experience

You can complete PER before, during or after your exams. But it must be finished before you can become a member.

4. Apply for ACCA membership

Once you have met all the ACCA requirements, you can apply for full membership. Here’s how the process works:

1. ACCA will notify you that you’re eligible to apply.
2. You complete the online membership application in myACCA.
3. Pay the one-time Admission to Membership fee. This is £326 in the UK as of August 2026, but ACCA sets this by region, so check the fees and charges for the latest amount for your country.
4. Once approved, you’ll receive your ACCA membership certificate.

Congratulations, at this stage you are officially allowed to use the “ACCA” letters after your name and are ready to start the next phase of your ACCA career path.

Membership renewal (for qualified members)

Once you become an ACCA member, you’ll need to renew your membership every year. This keeps your ACCA status active and allows you to continue using the ACCA designation after your name.

Membership renewal is simple, but it’s important not to miss the deadlines.

What you need to do each year

To remain an active ACCA member, you must:

1. Pay the annual membership subscription

• This fee becomes due each year (usually in January).
• You’ll find the invoice in myACCA, and ACCA will email you reminders.
• This is usually the same as the initial admission to membership cost.

2. Submit your CPD declaration

• All members must complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Each year, you’ll need to confirm that you’ve met ACCA’s CPD requirements by submitting a short declaration through your myACCA account.
• ACCA doesn’t ask for evidence at the point of submission, but you should keep records in case they request them later.

What happens if you don’t renew?

Missing your renewal obligations may result in:

• Your membership status becoming inactive.
• Losing the right to use the ACCA designation.
• Being removed from the ACCA member directory.

So if ACCA membership is required for your job role, or one you’re applying for, it’s important to ensure you keep it active. If it lapses, you’ll need to pay any outstanding fees before reinstatement, along with possible extra reinstatement fees (depending on how long your membership has lapsed).

In some roles, you may find your employer covers your membership fees and reminds you to submit your CPD declaration. However, this isn’t always the case, so it’s worth checking so that you don’t miss your renewal.

Common ACCA admin mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Even the most organised students slip up on the admin side from time to time, especially when focusing hard on studying for exams.

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make with managing their ACCA journey, and how to stay clear of them.

Mistake	Why it’s a problem	How to avoid it
1. Leaving exam booking too late.	Booking during the late entry window means fewer exam centre options, fewer choices of date/time, and higher fees.	Book during standard entry, or earlier if you want the best availability.
2. Forgetting to pay your annual subscription.	If your subscription is overdue, you can’t book or sit exams.	Set a calendar reminder for January each year and clear the invoice as soon as it appears in myACCA.
3. Using incorrect or outdated personal details.	Old email addresses, inaccurate name details or outdated IDs can lead to missed exam notices or problems during exam check-in.	Check your details in myACCA, especially if there are changes to your email, address or name. Ensure everything is up to date and matches your official documents.
4. Missing prerequisites before booking exams.	Some students attempt to book Strategic Professional exams before completing the Applied Skills level, or forget about completing EPSM before applying for membership.	Check your exam status, exemptions and eligibility in myACCA before choosing your next exams.
5. Uploading unclear documents during registration.	Blurry or cropped scans often get rejected, slowing down or blocking your registration.	Upload clear, uncropped scans with all document edges visible, and ensure your name matches your ID exactly.
6. Expecting free deferrals without meeting the criteria.	Free exam deferrals are only granted for genuine emergencies, not for lack of preparation or schedule conflicts.	If you need more time, reschedule within the same session (if still available) or withdraw and rebook.
7. Forgetting to download your exam attendance docket.	This document contains essential details like your exam centre, time and ID requirements. Missing or ignoring it can lead to last-minute surprises, and in the worst-case scenario, could mean you miss your exam.	Download your exam attendance docket as soon as it becomes available in myACCA and double-check every detail.

FAQs

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Becoming familiar with the admin basics should make managing your ACCA exams more manageable, so use this guide for reference if you’re unsure about something now or in the future. Here are some other guides you might find useful:

• ACCA Exam Dates (2026): Sessions, Deadlines & Results
• ACCA Exam Fees & Costs: Complete 2026 Breakdown
• ACCA Requirements: Entry Criteria Explained
• ACCA Exemptions: A Big Perk You Should Know
• ACCA Exam Day Checklist: What To Bring & Expect
• ACCA Career Paths: An Honest Guide To Roles & Salary
• AAT Vs ACCA: Where’s Best To Start Your Accounting Career?
• ACCA Vs ACA (ICAEW): Which Is Best In 2026?