How To Become A Chartered Accountant in Nigeria: Process & Requirements (2024)

Becoming a professional accountant in Nigeria is not as easy as it seems. If it were that easy, everyone that graduates from the department after studying accountancy would end up becoming one. In fact, a large number of the accounting graduates are not chartered accountants as they don’t have any professional certification to back their claim.

If you want to become an accountant in Nigeria, read this article as it is prepared specifically for you. However, note that accounting as a professional course is very wide and lucrative.

Even if you are a graduate of accountancy in the university, you would still need to take professional courses to become chartered. The finance to undertake this professional courses might be expensive,  but would aid you at the end in getting a high paying job.

If you wish not to be a chartered professional accountant after you graduate, you can still get a good job with your university certificate, but won’t be on same salary scale as one who is a pro accountant.

One primary advantage of being a chartered accountant is that you get employment in top firms as lucrative job offers, opportunities to grow your career in the field of accounting.

You need to make decision regarding the type of accounting you want to specialize it. These includes; Forensic Accounting, Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Government Accounting, Management Accounting, Auditing, Tax Accounting, etc.

Steps To Becoming An Accountant In Nigeria

To become a professional accountant in Nigeria, you would need to do the following:

Step 1: Obtain Valid Secondary School Education Certificate (SSCE)

To become an accountant, one need to have gone through secondary school. In secondary school, you are expected to be in the commercial class.

However, not all school have commercial classes so being in the art class will suffix. Regardless of the class, you are expected to pass your O’Level with a minimum requirement of 5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Economics and any of the following – Commerce, Government or Book Keeping and Accounts in no more than 2 seating.

Step 2: Obtain Tertiary Educational Degree in Accounting From A Recognized University

After meeting the above requirement, you need to further your education. This could be either in a university or polytechnic.

Here, you are expected to study accounting as a course in the university. However, even if you never studied this course during your university/polytechnic days, you can still become an accountant through passing their professional exams.

Though, this would mean spending more years compared to those that studied accounting in school. Check below for the list of universities and polytechnics that offers accounting in the country.

Step 3: Obtain A Professional Accountancy Certificate

This is where many people’s dream of becoming certified accountants end. Before you can become a professional accountant, you need to be certified.

The certification is gotten from professional accountancy body. Some of the Professional Certifications includes ICAN, ANAN, ACCA and CIMA. The most popular one is the ICAN

Step 4: Attend Institute Of Chartered Accountants In Nigeria (ICAN)

ICAN is an accountancy professional body established in 1965. The certification of this body is the most popular in the country. This has divisions such as;

• Accounting Technician Scheme (ATS): This is help twice a year usually in March and March. It has 3 stages; ATS 1, 2 and 3. You may be exempted from ATS 1 and ATS 2 if you have a degree in Accounting.
• Professional Examination: This examination is in three stages. The Intermediate, P.E 1 and P.E 2. Examinations holds twice a year during March and March. After passing this examination, you will be certified as a Chartered Accountant.

How Long Does It take To Be A Chartered Accountant in Nigeria

To become a chartered accountant, it would take at least three years after completing some series of professional exams such as the ACA, which is a professional qualification that requires students to complete and ICAN exams also.

Full List Of Universities Offering Accounting In Nigeria

1. Abia State University, Uturu
2. Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko
3. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
4. American University of Nigeria, Yola
5. Anambra State University, Uli
6. Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State
7. Benue State University, Makurdi
8. Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Enugu
9. Cross Rivers University of Technology, Calabar
10. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
11. Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
12. Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State
13. Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu
14. Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State
15. Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi
16. Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State
17. Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State
18. Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State
19. Igbinedion University, Okada, Benin City
20. Imo State University, Owerri
21. Lead City University, Ibadan
22. Madonna University, Okija
23. Mcpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State
24. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
25. Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island
26. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
27. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
28. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye
29. Osun State University, Osogbo
30. Plateau State University, Bokkos
31. Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt
32. University of Abuja
33. University of Lagos
34. University of Maiduguri
35. University of Mkar, Gboko
36. University of Nigeria Nsukka
37. University of Port-Harcourt
38. University of Uyo
39. Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto
40. Wellspring University, Irhihi/Ogbaneki, Benin City
41. Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State

Full List Of Polytechnics Offering Accounting

1. Abdul-Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Mafara
2. Abia State Polytechnic, Aba
3. Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State
4. Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi
5. Adamawa State Poly, Yola
6. Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo
7. Akwa Ibom State College of Arts and Science Nung, Ukim
8. Akwa-Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot-Osurua
9. Allover Central Polytechnic, Ota, Ogun
10. Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
11. Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science
12. Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
13. Benue State Poly, Ugbokolo
14. College of Administrative and Business Studies, Potiskum, Yobe State
15. College of Technology, Iresi, Osun State
16. Covenant Polytechnic, Aba
17. Crown Polytechnics, Odo Ado-Ekiti
18. S. Adegbenro Ict Polytechnic, Itori
19. Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku
20. Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe
21. Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro
22. Dorben Polytechnic, Bwari-Garam Road, Fct-Abuja
23. Eastern Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
24. Edo State Institute of Technology and Management
25. Federal Polytechnic Offa
26. Federal Polytechnic, Bali
27. Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi
28. Federal Polytechnic, Bida
29. Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu
30. Federal Polytechnic, Ede
31. Federal Polytechnic, Ida
32. Federal Polytechnic, Kaura/Namoda
33. Federal Polytechnic, Mubi
34. Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa
35. Federal Polytechnic, Nekede
36. Federal Polytechnic, Oko
37. Federal Polytechnic,Ilaro
38. Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti
39. Federal Polytechnic, Uka
40. Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko
41. Gateway Ict Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State
42. Grace Polytechnic, Lagos
43. Hassan Usman Katsina Poly, Katsina
44. Heritage Polytechnic, Ikot Udota
45. Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure
46. Igbajo Polytechnic
47. Igbo-Owu Polytechnic, Kwara State
48. Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Owerri
49. Of Mgt. And Tech, Enugu
50. Interlink Polytechnic, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State
51. Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse
52. Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna
53. Kalac Christal Polytechnic, Lekki, Lagos
54. Kano State Polytechnic, Kano
55. Kings Polytechnic, Ubiaja
56. Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja
57. Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State
58. Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos State
59. Lagos State Poly, Ikorodu
60. Light House Polytechnic, Eubuobanosa, Edo State
61. Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic, Geidam, Yobe State
62. Moshood Abiola Poly, Abeokuta
63. Nacabs Polytechnic, Akwanga, Nasarawa State
64. Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia
65. Niger State Poly, Zungeru
66. Nogak Polytechnic, Mile 2 Road, Ikom, Cross River State
67. Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic,Zaria
68. Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, Ogun State
69. Our Saviour Inst. Of Sci and Tech (Poly) Enugu, Enugu State
70. Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin-Ladi
71. Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri
72. Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt
73. Rivers State Poly, Bori
74. Ronik Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos
75. Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo
76. Temple-Gate Polytechnic, Osisioma, Abia State
77. Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State
78. The Polytechnic, Ile-Ife, Osun State
79. Uyo City Polytechnic, Uyo (Uyo-Citypoly) Uyo Akwa-Ibom State
80. Valley View Polytecnic, Ohafia, Abia State
81. Waziri Umaru Fed. Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi
82. Wolex Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos
83. Yaba College of Tech, Yaba