How To Become A Chartered Accountant In Nigeria (2024)

This post will guide you with information on how to become a chartered accountant in Nigeria this 2024. As is the case with every other course or discipline studied in Nigerian universities, accounting or accountancy is not easy. You will need a lot of motivation and the mathematical prowess to go through the finish line.

Once you become a graduate in this field, you will also be required to take expensive professional courses to become chartered and this is where many accounting graduates fall short due to lack of motivation or the finance to become chartered but it is worth it in the end. Kindly note that in Nigeria, without being chartered, you are not a professional accountant and will be limited to the kind of jobs you get with just your university certificate.

One of the positives of being a chartered accountant is that you will be exposed to lucrative job offers and the opportunities to climb your career ladder up to the very pinnacle of success which you can attain professionally in the field of accounting or accountancy. When you have decided that this is the profession of your dreams, you will need to determine the area of this chosen field that you want to major in, whether it is financial accounting, forensics accounting, tax accounting, government accounting, management accounting, audit accounting, to mention but a few.

Having said all that, we will now look at what you need to do to become a chartered or professional accountant in Nigeria.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS ON HOW TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT IN NIGERIA 2024 

If you want to become a chartered accountant in Nigeria this 2024, you will need to take note of the following:

OBTAIN AN SSCE (SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE) 

First things first, your journey to becoming an accountant in the country starts with your secondary school education, that is after you must have completed your primary school education. Once you get to SS1, you are required to join the commercial class and if you are in schools where commercial and arts subjects are treated under one department, then being in the arts class should do. Take subjects like English Language, Mathematics, Account and Book Keeping, Commerce, and Economics very seriously and pass them comprehensively when you sit for WAEC and NECO exams.

These two bodies are responsible for organizing O’level exams in West Africa and Nigeria respectively and you are required to pass your O’level exams with at least 5 credits in your core subjects in at least two sitting. Passing at one sitting is even better. Once you scale through, you are awarded your SSCE certificate and your secondary school education ends here, meaning that your journey into the tertiary institution begins.

OBTAIN A UNIVERSITY OR POLYTECHNIC DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING

A degree in accounting from a tertiary institution in the country is what your next step should be once you are through with your secondary education. You are expected to take your course seriously and pass your exams very well so as to avoid any delays in your graduation. It takes at least four years to study accounting in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

OBTAIN A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

Once you are through with your tertiary education, the next step towards becoming chartered as an accountant is getting a professional certificate from any of the top certifying bodies in the country.

Some of the professional accounting certifications include the following:

• ICAN
• ACA
• ANAN
• ACCA and
• CIMA.

ICAN is the most popular accounting certification in Nigeria currently. It is also a professional accounting certifying body that shares its name with its certification. This professional body was founded in 1965. Its certification course is divided into:

Accounting Technician Scheme (ATS): Often held twice a year usually in March and September. It is in three stages; ATS 1, 2 and 3. If you have a degree in accounting/accountancy, you may be exempted from ATS 1 and ATS 2.

Professional Examination: This examination is in three stages. The Intermediate, P.E 1 and P.E 2. As is the case with ATS, the examinations take place twice a year, May and November. Once you pass this examination, you will be certified as a Chartered Accountant by ICAN.

HOW MANY YEARS DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT IN NIGERIA?

It takes at least three years to become a chartered accountant in Nigeria. Depending on the professional certification you are currently on.

UNIVERSITIES THAT OFFER ACCOUNTING IN NIGERIA: FULL LIST

Below is a list of all universities in the the country that offers accounting/accountancy currently.

• Abia State University, Uturu
• Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko
• Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
• American University of Nigeria, Yola
• Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State
• Benue State University, Makurdi
• Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Enugu
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli
• Cross Rivers University of Technology, Calabar
• Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
• Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
• Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State
• Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu
• Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State
• Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi
• Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State
• Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State
• Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State
• Igbinedion University, Okada, Benin City
• Imo State University, Owerri
• Lead City University, Ibadan
• Madonna University, Okija
• Mcpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State
• Nasarawa State University, Keffi
• Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island
• Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
• Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
• Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye
• Osun State University, Osogbo
• Plateau State University, Bokkos
• Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt
• University of Abuja
• University of Lagos, Akoka
• University of Maiduguri
• University of Mkar, Gboko
• University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
• University of Port-Harcourt, Choba
• University of Uyo
• Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
• Wellspring University, Irhihi/Ogbaneki, Benin City
• Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State

POLYTECHNICS THAT OFFER ACCOUNTING IN NIGERIA: FULL LIST

Below is a list of polytechnics that offer accounting/accountancy in the country currently:

• Abdul-Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Mafara, Zamfara State.
• Abia State Polytechnic, Aba
• Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State
• Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi
• Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola
• Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo
• Akwa Ibom State College of Arts and Science Nung, Ukim
• Akwa-Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot-Osurua
• Allover Central Polytechnic, Ota, Ogun
• Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
• Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science
• Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
• Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo
• College of Administrative and Business Studies, Potiskum, Yobe State
• College of Technology, Iresi, Osun State
• Covenant Polytechnic, Aba
• Crown Polytechnic, Odo Ado-Ekiti
• S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori
• Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku
• Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe
• Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro
• Dorben Polytechnic, Bwari-Garam Road, Fct-Abuja
• Eastern Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
• Edo State Institute of Technology and Management
• Federal Polytechnic Offa
• Federal Polytechnic, Bali
• Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi
• Federal Polytechnic, Bida
• Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu
• Federal Polytechnic, Ede
• Federal Polytechnic, Ida
• Federal Polytechnic, Kaura/Namoda
• Federal Polytechnic, Mubi
• Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa
• Federal Polytechnic, Nekede
• Federal Polytechnic, Oko
• Federal Polytechnic,Ilaro
• Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti
• Federal Polytechnic, Uka
• Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko
• Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State
• Grace Polytechnic, Lagos
• Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina
• Heritage Polytechnic, Ikot Udota
• Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure
• Igbajo Polytechnic
• Igbo-Owu Polytechnic, Kwara State
• Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Owerri
• Institute of Management And Technology, Enugu
• Interlink Polytechnic, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State
• Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse
• Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna
• Kalac Christal Polytechnic, Lekki, Lagos
• Kano State Polytechnic, Kano
• Kings Polytechnic, Ubiaja
• Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja
• Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State
• Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos State
• Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu
• Light House Polytechnic, Eubuobanosa, Edo State
• Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic, Geidam, Yobe State
• Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta
• Nacabs Polytechnic, Akwanga, Nasarawa State
• Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia
• Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru
• Nogak Polytechnic, Mile 2 Road, Ikom, Cross River State
• Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria
• Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, Ogun State
• Our Saviour Institute Of Science and Technology (Poly) Enugu, Enugu State
• Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin-Ladi
• Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri
• Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt
• Rivers State Poly, Bori
• Ronik Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos
• Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo
• Temple-Gate Polytechnic, Osisioma, Abia State
• Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State
• The Polytechnic, Ile-Ife, Osun State
• Uyo City Polytechnic, Uyo (Uyo-Citypoly) Uyo Akwa-Ibom State
• Valley View Polytecnic, Ohafia, Abia State
• Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi
• Wolex Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos
• Yaba College of Technology, Yaba