During the early 1980’s a need was perceived by the country’s four main Professional Accounting and Secretarial Institutes for a relevant course of study, examinations and membership body for persons who carry out an accounting function at a level below that of a fully qualified accountant. It had been ascertained that many hundreds of workers in the country were engaged in financial/accounting duties but that for many of them there existed no formal qualification which would indicate their accounting abilities, special skills or general business and administrative knowledge.

Applicants may register as students of the Association for the main examination structure provided that they have obtained at least two (2) ‘A’ level passes and five passes in any one to the examinations detailed in Clauses 2.1.1., 2.1.2., 2.1.3 and 2.1.4. below. It should be noted that the passes must be in 5 distinct subjects and include one numerate subject (e.g. Mathematics, Accountancy or Statistics.), English Language and any other three subjects provided that not more than one of them is a craft subject.