The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) was the world's first professional body of accountants, receiving its Royal Charter in 1854. The Institute was the first to adopt the designation 'Chartered Accountant' and the letters 'CA' are still an exclusive privilege in the UK for its members.
The CA qualification provides a passport to top jobs in finance and management around the world. Over 2,000 members are currently working overseas with over 15,000 members located in England and Wales.
In addition to the 17,500 or so members, about 1,000 students commence CA training each year. Primarily graduates, ICAS students are recruited in to authorised training offices in public practices and increasingly in to industry and commerce throughout the UK.
ICAS students receive balanced, integrated training through classes, as well as structured work experience within their employer's organisation. The end result is professionals with specialist knowledge and all-round business skills.
This is why CA is recognised internationally as one of the leading professional accountancy qualifications.
ICAS is the fastest growing accountancy body in the UK in terms of worldwide student numbers with the latest figures (Source: Professional Oversight Board (POB) - Key Facts and Trends in the Accountancy Profession - July 2008) showing a student growth rate of 48.7% between 2002 and 2007. It is the only UK professional accountancy body to educate and examine all of its students. The CA qualification is known around the world for consistency and high standards and ICAS enjoys a widely recognised reputation for providing the 'gold standard' in accountancy education.
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