Chartered accountants
Anyone in the UK can call themselves an accountant — the title is not protected. Chartered accountant is reserved for ICAEW, ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland. Chartered certified accountant is reserved for ACCA. Check the claim on that body’s free public register, and treat a practising certificate as a separate question from membership letters.
Is a chartered accountant better than a non-chartered one?
Chartered or chartered-certified membership tells you the accountant passed demanding exams, completed supervised practical experience, and follows a code of ethics. In public practice they should also hold a practising certificate, professional indemnity insurance, and AML supervision. It is a floor of assurance, not a guarantee of good service or fair fees.
Non-chartered does not mean unqualified or unsuitable. Many excellent practitioners are AAT-qualified accounting technicians, tax specialists, or experienced bookkeepers — and for straightforward compliance work they can be the right, cheaper fit. What matters is that the qualification matches your needs and that you can verify whatever is claimed.
Read more: chartered vs non-chartered accountants and what is a chartered accountant?
Which bodies issue these qualifications in the UK?
Five membership bodies you will see most often — each runs a free public register. The protected title is not the same for every row:
| Body | Protected title | Public register |
|---|---|---|
| ICAEWACA / FCAInstitute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales | Chartered Accountant | find.icaew.com |
| ICASCAInstitute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland | Chartered Accountant | icas.com/find-a-ca |
| CAIACA / FCAChartered Accountants Ireland | Chartered Accountant | charteredaccountants.ie — find a firm |
| ACCAACCA / FCCAAssociation of Chartered Certified Accountants | Chartered Certified Accountant | accaglobal.com — find an accountant |
| AATMAAT / FMAATAssociation of Accounting Technicians | Accounting Technician | aat.org.uk/find-an-accountant |
AAT is the accounting-technician body — a respected, regulated qualification, but its members are not chartered accountants or chartered certified accountants. CIMA members are chartered management accountants and typically work inside businesses rather than in public-practice compliance. See ICAEW, ICAS, ACCA and AAT explained.
How do I check if an accountant is chartered?
- 1Ask the firm which body its principals belong to, and for a membership number.
- 2Search the body's public register (linked above) for the individual or firm name.
- 3Check the listing is current and, where relevant, that a practising certificate is held.
How do I find a chartered accountant near me?
Search the ICAEW, ICAS or CAI register for a chartered accountant, or ACCA for a chartered certified accountant, then confirm the person on the body’s own site. Nearby is still a filter — match sector and fee, then read the engagement letter.
Firm profiles here show qualification badges where we could verify them at listing or review time. Verification is point-in-time; memberships lapse, so treat badges as a starting point and always check the register before engaging. See the accountant near me guide, the directory, or compare firms side by side. How we verify is in our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chartered accountant better than a non-chartered one?▼
Not automatically — but chartered status is independently verifiable. Members pass professional exams, complete supervised experience, follow a code of ethics, and — when in public practice — hold a practising certificate, professional indemnity insurance and AML supervision. You can complain to their body if things go wrong. Many non-chartered accountants, including AAT-qualified technicians, handle straightforward compliance work very well. Match the qualification to the complexity of your needs.
Can anyone call themselves an accountant?▼
Yes. "Accountant" is not a protected title in the UK — anyone may use it. "Chartered accountant" is protected and may be used only by members of ICAEW, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. ACCA members use a different protected title: chartered certified accountant. Always check membership on the body's public register before relying on the label.
Is an ACCA accountant a chartered accountant?▼
No. ACCA members are chartered certified accountants — a protected title of similar professional standing for public practice, but it is not the title "chartered accountant". That designation is reserved for ICAEW, ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland. Many capable UK practices are ACCA-regulated. Ask which title they actually hold, then check that body's register and whether a practising certificate is current.
How do I check an accountant is chartered?▼
Ask which body they belong to and for a membership number, then search that body's free public register for the named individual. For a chartered accountant that is ICAEW, ICAS or CAI; for a chartered certified accountant it is ACCA. Confirm the listing is current and, for anyone taking public clients, that a practising certificate is held.
Does Pick My Accountant verify qualifications?▼
We show every verified membership on the record and never invent one. Empty Companies House listings still expose ICAEW, ICAS, CAI, ACCA and AAT find-a-member tools so you can search the name yourself. We do not verify practising certificates, AML supervision or professional indemnity on the register import. Badges are point-in-time — memberships lapse.
Information only — not tax, accountancy, or financial advice. Register links go to the official bodies; Pick My Accountant is not affiliated with ICAEW, ICAS, CAI, ACCA or AAT. Last reviewed 17 July 2026. Sources: ICAEW register, ICAS register, CAI register, ACCA register, AAT register.