ICAN Statistics: Members, Pass Mark and Exam Numbers
ICAN has 69,903 members as of November 2025, admits roughly 3,500–4,000 new chartered accountants a year across its twice-yearly inductions, and sets a pass mark of 50 per cent in every professional examination paper. This page collects the verifiable numbers behind the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria — membership, inductions, students, examination structure and its changes since 2011 — each with its source and date. We keep it updated as ICAN publishes new figures.
ICAN membership: 69,903
ICAN’s membership stood at 69,903 chartered accountants when the Institute inducted its November 2025 cohort — the figure announced at the ceremony at the ICAN Centre, Lagos on 28 November 2025 (source: induction coverage of the 28 Nov 2025 ceremony). That makes ICAN the largest professional accountancy body in West Africa, ahead of Nigeria’s other chartered accountancy body, ANAN — see our ICAN vs ACCA vs ANAN comparison.
New members per year: roughly 3,500–4,000
ICAN holds an induction ceremony after each examination cycle. The recent pattern:
| Ceremony | Date | Inducted |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 induction | 28 Nov 2025 | 2,000+ |
| 74th induction | 5 Dec 2024 | 1,785 |
At two ceremonies a year, ICAN is admitting roughly 3,500–4,000 new chartered accountants annually. For the technicians scheme, the 63rd AATWA induction in December 2025 admitted 1,600 new accounting technicians — the highest intake in the scheme’s history (source: Guardian Nigeria, Dec 2025).
Student pipeline: about 120,000
ICAN reported around 120,000 registered students preparing for its examinations as of the 74th induction in December 2024. Set against roughly 3,500–4,000 inductees a year, the pipeline is many times larger than the annual output — most candidates take several diets to clear all three levels.
The pass mark: 50 per cent per paper
Every subject in the ICAN professional examination has a pass mark of 50 per cent, and a candidate must complete all subjects at one level before moving to the next (source: ICAN Professional Examinations Syllabus & Regulations). There is no grading curve and no compensation between papers: 49 in one subject is a resit, whatever you scored elsewhere.
Does ICAN publish pass rates?
No. ICAN does not publish overall pass rates per diet — unlike, say, India’s ICAI, which announces percentage passes with every result release. What ICAN does publish is the outcome of the pipeline: induction numbers (above) and, in each Pathfinder, examiners’ reports describing how candidates performed paper by paper. Any specific “ICAN pass rate” percentage you see quoted online is an estimate, not an official figure.
Examination structure, 2011–2026
The examination has been restructured four times in the span covered by our past-questions archive — verified against the Institute’s own Pathfinder publications for each era:
| In force | Structure | Papers | Signature feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to May 2014 | 4 tiers: Foundation, Intermediate, P.E. I, P.E. II | 15 | Two separate Professional Examination stages |
| Nov 2014 – May 2019 | 3 levels (5 + 6 + 5) | 16 | Quantitative Techniques in Business at Foundation |
| Nov 2019 – May 2021 | 3 levels (5 + 5 + 5) | 15 | Taxation examined at Foundation level |
| Nov 2021 – May 2025 | 3 levels (4 + 5/6 + 6/5) | 15 | Taxation moved to Skills, where it remains |
| Since Nov 2025 | 3 levels (4 + 6 + 5) | 15 | Financial Management added at Skills; papers renamed |
Full subject lists per era are on each diet’s page — start from the past-questions archive or the current syllabus guides.
Examination cadence
- Professional examination: two diets a year, May and November, three days each (Tuesday–Thursday, usually the third week) — see the exam timetable.
- ATSWA (technicians): two diets a year, March and September, across ATS 1–3 — past papers in the Insight archive.
- Results: typically released about five to six weeks after each diet — see how to check your result.
The Institute itself
- Established by Act of Parliament No. 15 of 1965 — Nigeria’s first professional accountancy body.
- 96 district societies as of 2026 — 89 in Nigeria and 7 in the diaspora.
- Its 62nd (and current) president, Sofuratu Seghosime, was inaugurated on 2 June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many members does ICAN have?
69,903 as announced at the November 2025 induction — growing by roughly 3,500–4,000 new members a year across two induction ceremonies.
What is the ICAN pass mark?
50 per cent in each subject. All subjects at a level must be completed before progressing to the next level.
What is the official ICAN pass rate?
ICAN does not publish one. Induction numbers are the closest official output figure; per-paper performance commentary appears in each diet’s Pathfinder examiners’ reports.
How many students are preparing for ICAN exams?
About 120,000 registered students as of late 2024, per the Institute’s own remarks at the 74th induction.
How often is this page updated?
After each induction ceremony and whenever ICAN publishes new figures. Numbers above carry their source and date; if a figure cannot be verified from a primary or reputable secondary source, we do not list it.