How to Become a Chartered Accountant in Nigeria (ICAN)
To become a chartered accountant in Nigeria, you register as an ICAN student, pass the Institute’s three-level professional examinations — 15 papers across Foundation, Skills and Professional — complete the required practical work experience, and get inducted as an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA). Graduates and HND holders can skip papers through exemptions; school leavers can start via the Accounting Technicians Scheme. Start to finish, most candidates qualify in three to five years. This guide maps the whole journey and links every step in detail.
The ICAN journey at a glance
| Stage | What happens | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Register | Enrol as an ICAN student and submit credentials | ICAN registration guide |
| 2. Claim exemptions | Skip papers your qualification already covers | ICAN exemptions |
| 3. Sit the exams | 15 papers over three levels, two diets a year | Exam timetable & diets |
| 4. Check results | Released a few weeks after each diet | Check your result |
| 5. Get inducted | Complete experience and become an ACA | See membership below |
Who can register, and how to enter
Your starting point depends on what you already hold:
- Graduates and HND holders register directly as professional students and usually claim exemptions — an accredited accounting degree often clears the entire Foundation level. See how ICAN exemptions work.
- School leavers and non-graduates can begin with the Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) and its ATSWA examinations, then progress into the professional programme.
The full eligibility rules sit in the students’ regulations and examination syllabus. Begin the process with our step-by-step registration guide.
The three levels: 15 papers
ICAN’s professional syllabus runs across three levels — four Foundation papers, six Skills papers and five Professional papers. You clear them in order, level by level.
| Level | Papers | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 4 — Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Business Environment, Corporate & Business Law | Foundation syllabus |
| Skills | 6 — Financial Reporting, Taxation, Performance Management, Audit Assurance & Forensic, Public Sector Accounting & Finance, Financial Management | Skills syllabus |
| Professional | 5 — Strategic Business Reporting, Advanced Taxation, Strategic Financial Management, Advanced Audit & Assurance, Case Study | See regulations |
Sitting the exams
ICAN runs professional examinations twice a year — a May diet and a November diet — over three consecutive days. The exact dates, the full session-by-session timetable, and the registration deadlines are in our ICAN exam timetable guide. To prepare, work through past questions and suggested solutions: every diet’s ICAN Pathfinder is free to download here.
Results and membership
Results land a few weeks after each diet — how to check your ICAN result. Once you pass the Professional level and meet the practical-experience requirement, ICAN inducts you as a chartered accountant. From there you join the Institute’s professional community through your district society and events like the Annual Accountants’ Conference. Members must also keep their dues current and stay in good standing — falling behind can lead to delisting or suspension.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
Plan for three to five years, depending on how many exemptions you claim and your pass rate. Costs come in layers — one-time registration, an annual student subscription, a per-paper exam fee, and a fee for each exempted paper. Amounts are revised periodically, so confirm the current schedule on the official ICAN portal rather than relying on older figures. The registration guide walks through the fee structure.
ICAN, ACCA or ANAN?
ICAN is the default for a Nigeria-based career, but it is not the only chartered route. If you are still weighing your options, compare the three side by side in ICAN vs ACCA vs ANAN, or read up specifically on becoming ACCA-certified in Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
How many papers are in the ICAN exam?
Fifteen, across three levels: four at Foundation, six at Skills and five at Professional (including the Case Study).
How long does it take to become an ICAN chartered accountant?
Typically three to five years, depending on your exemptions and pass rate, plus the required practical work experience.
Can I join ICAN without a degree?
Yes. School leavers can start through the Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) and progress to the professional exams. Graduates and HND holders register directly and usually claim exemptions.
How often are ICAN exams held?
Twice a year — a May diet and a November diet, each running over three consecutive days. See the timetable guide for dates and deadlines.
What qualification do I earn?
You become an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA), and later a Fellow (FCA) with experience — the designations most Nigerian employers mean by “chartered accountant.”
Start here: Register with ICAN · Claim exemptions · Exam timetable · Download Pathfinder past questions