How to gain CIMA as an apprentice
Learn how to gain CIMA qualifications through an apprenticeship.
Accountancy is a highly skilled profession where formal qualifications play a vital role in how your career will progress. It is commonly mistaken that the only route into an accountancy career is an academic one, but you can in fact qualify as an accountant through an apprenticeship.
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants professional qualification can develop the critical knowledge and skills needed by all accountants to succeed in modern business. This is an internationally recognised qualification that can give you the skills to work in various business and finance roles, and is not limited to accountancy.
CIMA qualifications are some of the most respected amongst the accounting and finance community – and you can achieve them through a practical, on-the-job apprenticeship. Here’s how.
Who can do an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are available to anyone who has viable training need, whether this is a school leaver or someone that already works in an organisation. Apprenticeships allow people to gain a professional qualification while working and earning a salary. In fact, they can even be a fast-track way to becoming a chartered accountant.
Employers can choose to hire an apprentice, and they can fund their apprenticeship by utilising the Apprenticeship Levy. They can also choose to enrol an employee they already have onto an apprenticeship to upskill them. They could even take a student from an existing qualification route, such as CIMA students, and allow them to complete their qualification.
Apprenticeships generally work as follows:
New Recruits:
School leavers can enter an apprenticeship at Level 4
Graduate level students can go onto a Level 7 apprenticeship
Existing Staff:
Upskill and provide further opportunities for the current work force increasing retention. Open to any age for individuals who want to develop their career
Existing CIMA students:
Transfer existing students from existing qualification route, via our multiple entry points
Differences between apprenticeships and academic route
You can achieve your CIMA qualifications both via the academic route and through an apprenticeship. The academic route involves completing GCSEs and A Levels, before taking an undergraduate degree. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a degree in a related subject, so any graduate can join a CIMA programme.
In relation to apprenticeships, there are multiple entry points that can lead onto a CIMA course. There are various entry points onto an apprenticeship with CIMA and BPP. This depends on the previous level of study and desired outcome for any would-be apprentice. The Level 4 Professional Accounting/ Taxation Technician is the equivalent of the CIMA Certificate Level, whereas the Level 7 Accountancy / Taxation Professional is the equivalent of the full CIMA Qualification. BPP works with employers to determine which level is the best starting point for their employees. Additionally, we’ll also advise on how long each programme will take to complete.
The CIMA qualification completely aligns with the apprenticeship standard. All students will be in the same classes as traditional students who are working towards a professional qualification. This is accompanied with the additional Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the apprenticeship standard, which provides employees with the practical skills they need as a modern-day accountant.
How can firms move an employee part way through their CIMA qualification?
As mentioned above, the BPP apprenticeship journey offers a number of entry points for learners who are currently studying for their CIMA credentials. Employers are able to transfer any existing students onto the apprenticeship route, regardless of how they progress through the CIMA programme.
On selected programmes, the apprenticeship structure aligns with current CIMA levels. This enables four entry options depending on the number of CIMA papers which a student has completed. These are as follows:
36 Month Route – CIMA BA1-BA4
30 Month Route – CIMA Operational Level
24 Month Route – CIMA Management Level
18 Month Route – CIMA Strategic Level
Are CIMA apprenticeships funded?
If your PAYE bill is greater than £3m, your company will be paying into the levy fund. This can be utilised to upskill new or existing staff via our various apprenticeship programmes. If your PAYE bill is less than £3m you will not pay into the Levy fund – but you will still be able to access funding, with 90% of your employee training costs being covered by the levy.
If you would like to find out more about BPP’s Accountancy and Tax apprenticeship programmes please visit Level 4 Professional Accounting/ Taxation Technician and Level 7 Accountancy / Taxation Professional.
