ATHE and the Institute of Financial Accountants provide IFA Direct route to membership.
ATHE and the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) are working together to provide learners with a route to membership with the IFA through the IFA Direct education programme.
IFA Direct supports learners in:
- achieving IFA membership
- gaining an IFA practising certificate (UK members only)
- investing in professional development
ATHE’s range of Accounting qualifications cater for learners with different levels of knowledge, experience and ability in the accountancy sector. ATHE’s Level 4, 5 and 7 Extended Diplomas in Accounting provide progression routes to both IFA membership and top-up bachelor’s and master’s degrees with universities. The ATHE Level 3 Diploma in Accounting provides an initial pathway to these progression routes.
For further information on the range of ATHE Accounting qualifications, please click here.
To view the IFA Direct Brochure, please click here.
ATHE recognised centres interested in finding out more about joining the IFA Direct initiative as a delivery partner should contact Denise Weir, Head of Business Development at denise.w@athe.co.uk.
About IFA Membership
The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) is a full member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), who are a global accounting standard-setter and regulator. Membership delivers the enhanced professional recognition and career prospects. In addition, as a Member of the IFA you will receive dual membership of the Institute of Public Accountants (Australia) and be able to use the designatory letters IFA AIPA, or AFA MIPA dependent upon your eligibility.
Membership brings access to a community of like-minded professionals who benefit from supportive IFA regional networking events, expert technical materials and inspiring events and CPD workshops. For more information on the IFA regional networking events, please click here.
About the IFA Direct Programme
Fast-track route to IFA membership
If learners already hold an accounting or associated degree or have completed or part-completed a professional accounting qualification, they may not need to study all the units required to gain membership (see Routes to Membership below). The units you need to complete to achieve Intermediate, Associate or Associate Tax Adviser status will be dependent on the units that form part of your previous qualifications.
Exemptions will be awarded based upon previous relevant qualifications i.e., if you have part-qualified with a professional body such as ACCA or AAT or have taken modules within a bachelors or masters degree which are equivalent to the units provided within IFA Direct.
A route tailored for you
Once IFA receive your application form together with your certified qualification transcripts and certificates, IFA will provide you with a tailored route to membership based upon your requirements and advise you of any exemptions you are eligible for.
Gain a practising certificate (UK Members Only)
For UK-based members, holding an IFA practising certificate means you can offer accountancy services to the general public, with a greater range of activities than many other associations and professional bodies enable. You will also be able to undertake charity independent examinations and ATOL/Civil Aviation Authority work.
Continuing professional development
Investing in relevant and regular CPD is an important way to stay abreast of new developments and best practice in a fast-changing environment. It can boost motivation and improve the quality of members’ work and the services they provide.
Seamless learning
The units within the ATHE qualifications provide challenging and relevant learning, with flexible delivery of assessment allowing tutors to select the most appropriate method for their learners.
Each unit is studied one at a time over a 4-6 week period and as they run continuously learners can roll off one unit straight on to another, meaning they never have to wait before starting a new subject. The whole programme can be undertaken in as little as 18 months or should learners decide they want to take a study break this can be easily arranged with the ATHE centre.
Support throughout studies
IFA Direct is designed so learners can easily study around other commitments. The programme provides the full support of an expert academic adviser and online materials which are available 24/7. Learners’ chosen ATHE centre will provide a bespoke learning plan along with support and guidance throughout their studies.
Tutorial support
Leaners will receive online tutorial support from their selected ATHE centre. The number of hours of tuition is dependent upon the credit value and guided learning hours (GLH) for each individual unit (see tables below).
Each unit incorporates:
- online lectures
- online resources for example, ebooks, presentations, recorded webinars, handouts, case studies, quizzes, and articles
- personalised learning plans
- e-books and presentations
- tests to prepare you for the assessment
- supervised independent learning
- unit certification on successful completion
Independent learning
Throughout each unit learners will also need to undertake some independent study. The number of hours devoted to self-study is dependent on the credit value of each individual unit – on average leaners need to devote 7-14 hours per week. As everyone learns at a different rate there may be a variation in the actual time taken to complete a unit and the number of hours detailed per unit is only a guide.
Ethical practice
Ethics is embedded within the syllabus to develop the high ethical standards intrinsic to IFA membership.
Access to IFA resources
Learners will also have access to:
- A downloadable PDF of Financial Accountant the IFA’s magazine – six times a year.
- Access to events to help you keep up to date with important issues in the accounting world and the opportunity to network with other professionals.
- Member-only technical resources area of the IFA website.
14 units, three routes to membership
| Institute designation | Institute grade | IPA designation | IPA membership grade | Access to PC (UK only) | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFA | Intermediate Financial Accountant | AIPA | Associate | Not eligible | Accounting technicians/junior and intermediate accountants |
| AFA | Associate | MIPA | Member | For eligible members only | Members in practice/senior accountants |
| ATA | Associate Tax Adviser | – | – | For eligible members only | Tax advisers |
Intermediate Financial Accountant IFA AIPA route
| Level | Unit | Credit value | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Financial Accounting 1 | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Financial Accounting 2 | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Budgetary Control | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Cost and Management Accounting | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Personal Taxation | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Business Environment | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Law for Accounting | 15 | 60 |
Associate AFA/MIPA route
| Level | Unit | Credit Value | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Financial Accounting 1 | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Financial Accounting 2 | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Budgetary Control | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Cost and Management Accounting | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Personal Taxation | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Business Environment | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Law for Accounting | 15 | 60 |
| 5 | Financial Reporting | 30 | 120 |
| 5 | Financial Management | 30 | 120 |
| 5 | Financial and Management Control | 30 | 120 |
| 5 | Business Taxation | 15 | 60 |
| 5 | Assurance | 15 | 60 |
| 7 | Corporate Reporting for Strategic Business – Advanced | 20 | 60 |
| 7 | UK Taxation for Business and Individuals | 20 | 60 |
Tax Adviser ATA/AIPA route
| Level | Unit | Credit Value | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Financial Accounting 1 | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Financial Accounting 2 | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Personal Taxation | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Business Environment | 15 | 60 |
| 4 | Law for Accounting | 15 | 60 |
| 5 | Business Taxation | 15 | 60 |
| 7 | UK Taxation for Business and Individuals | 20 | 60 |
Detailed information on each unit’s aims, learning outcomes and assessment criteria is available in the relevant ATHE qualification specifications at by visiting our ATHE Accounting qualifications page.
Credit value
This is the number of credits that will be awarded to a learner who has achieved each unit. The credits that learners achieve accumulate and can be used towards completion of the full ATHE Accounting qualifications or can be transferred towards additional study, for example a top-up degree.
Guided learning hours (GLH)
This is an estimate of the amount of guided learning, on average, required to achieve a unit to the appropriate standard.
Applying for the IFA Direct programme
Individuals not currently enrolled with an ATHE recognised centre should download and complete the IFA Direct application form and send with copies of all relevant education transcripts and certificates to the education team at education@ifa.org.uk. The team will assess the documents and be in touch with a recommended route tailored to individual requirements and advise on any exemptions that apply.
Learners currently enrolled with ATHE recognised centres who wish to progress to IFA membership should discuss this in the first instance with their centre contact, who may refer to the relevant ATHE Accounting qualifications page or contact info@athe.co.uk.