How to Register for the ICAN Exam

How to Register for the ICAN Exam is a question many people who want to become accountants ask often.

In this article on FunNaija.com, you will get all you need to register for your ICAN to make your dreams come true!

The Institute of Chartered Accountants is one of the most respected accountant bodies in Nigeria. With a qualifying certificate from ICAN, accounting students and other interested candidates are revered and inducted into the noble body.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to register for the ICAN 2023, the registration requirements, and every other thing you need to know about ICAN registration.

Some Facts to Know About ICAN

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) is the biggest accounting body in Nigeria and it was established in 1965.

It is the Nigeria’s professional accounting body.

It is also one of two professional accounting associations in Nigeria with regulatory authority, the other being the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

Its initial objective was to determine the skills and knowledge required for anyone to become an accountant, as well as establish and maintain the registry of associates, fellows, and accountants.

Over the years, ICAN has grown into a large community of accountants that has certified over 38 thousand chartered accountants that are engaged in different sectors of the economy.

There are two types of exams offered by ICAN, and they are:

Professional examinations which are meant for holders of bachelor’s degrees or Higher National Diplomas in any discipline.
Holders of ICAN AAT qualification.

ICAN was established by Act of Parliament No. 15 of September 1, 1965, from existing accounting and auditing organizations, including the Association of Accountants in Nigeria (AAN).

Its mission statement states that it “produces world-class chartered accountants, regulates and continuously improves their ethical standards and technical competence in the public interest.”

Over the years, ICAN has become a large community of accountants that has certified more than 38,000 public accountants working in different sectors of the economy.

The institute was established to perform the following duties:

Determine what levels of knowledge and skill are required of those seeking to join the accounting profession, and raise those levels as circumstances allow.
Ensure, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the establishment and maintenance of registers of fellows, associates, and registered accountants entitled to practice as accountants and auditors, as well as the publication of a list of those persons on a regular basis;
Lastly, perform, through the Council of the Institute, all other functions conferred on it by the Act.

Who Is Eligible For ICAN Certification?

Every graduate is eligible for the ICAN certification, regardless of their class of degree. However, you must have the following documents in place before you apply for the ICAN:

Your degree certificate from a university or HND certificate from a polytechnic.
Your O’level result with credits in 5 subjects.
Passport photograph

ICAN Registration Requirements

If you are eligible for ICAN registration, then, you are to provide the following minimum entry requirements for the different exams:

For Professional students

University degree certificate or a Higher National Diploma of any Polytechnic accredited by the Council.

Any other qualification for the time being approved by the Council.

For ATSWA students

According to ICAN’s official website, ATSWA students are to tender the following:

Five (5) credit passes in any subject including English Language and Mathematics in the West Africa School Certificate Examination, General Certificate of Education or Senior School Certificate of Education, NECO equivalent not more than two sittings, or NABTEB.

Ordinary National Diploma of any Polytechnic recognized by the Council of the Institute

National Certificate in Education (NCE) from any College of Education.

Moving on, we’ll explain how to register for ICAN whether as a professional student or an ATSWA student.

How to Register For the ICAN Exam As A Professional Student: Step-By-Step Process

An applicant must have a qualification equivalent to a university degree or higher in order to register as a professional student with the Institute.

Here’s the step-by-step process of registering for ICAN as a professional student:

Pay a professional examination registration fee is ₦7000 (bank charges not included) by paying directly at any commercial bank in Nigeria, WEB-PAY, or QUICK-TELLER on the ICAN website.
After payment, use the transaction reference and receipt number to complete your form online on the ICAN website. Applicants can continue their registration by clicking on the link: http://icanig.org/RPlogin.php
Get a colored passport photograph of yourself. Scan it and add it to the registration form. Then click on submit after completing the form.
Print out the completed form and sign it.

Find a chartered accountant sponsor/referee to endorse & certify your application form and credentials on completion. Also, provide their name, membership number, and contact number.
Your application will not be complete without a copy of your WASC certificate, the PIN voucher, two certified passport photographs, three empty envelopes with your address and N50 stamp on each of them, a copy of your birth certificate, and the original of the bank teller.
To make the best out of the ICAN exam, you need to prepare for the exam using the ICAN past questions and answers.

ALSO READ: How To Check The ICAN Exam Result

Required documents for ICAN registration.

Eligible applicants must attach the following documents to their applications and submit hard copies to any ICAN office near them:

The original pay direct receipt/transaction reference
Photocopies of your credentials and educational qualifications, as well as any of the following: (NYSC discharged certificate, call-up letter, or students’ academic transcripts). Transcripts should be addressed to the Institute’s Registrar/Chief Executive.
Two passport photos with certification.
Three blank envelopes with your address and an N50 stamp on each.
After this, your registration will then be complete. You can also check your Exam/Financial Status on the page by clicking here.

If you have any questions or problems, you can send an e-mail to professionalexams@ican.org.ng .

How To Register For ICAN As An ASTWA Student

The Accounting Technicians Scheme of West Africa {ATSWA} curriculum is divided into three sections, each of which contains four (4) subjects. After passing the ATSWA examinations, ICAN awards the AAT certificate.

Furthermore, the examination of the three levels takes at least 15 months for those with an ordinary level certificate and 6 to 12 months for those with a higher certificate but not a degree certificate. The exam, however, is held twice a year, in March and September.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to register for the ICAN as an ASTWA student:

The ATSWA registration fee is ₦6000 (bank charges not included) and can be paid directly at any commercial bank in Nigeria, or via WEB-PAY or QUICK-TELLER on the ICAN website.
To generate your PIN and SERIAL NUMBER, enter the transaction reference and receipt number.
Make a colored passport photo of yourself. Scan it and enter the information into the registration form. After you’ve finished filling out the form, click the submit button.
Print and sign the completed form.

Locate a chartered accountant or an Associate Accounting Technician (AAT) sponsor/referee to endorse and certify your completed application form and credentials.

Please include their name, membership number, and contact information as well.

Required documents To Register For ICAN As An ASTWA Student

Eligible candidates are to attach the following documents:

You are expected to attach the documents below and return hard copies to any of their offices.
The original pay direct receipt/transaction reference.
Certified photocopies of your credentials, if applicable (NECO, WASCE, NABTEB, OND, NCE)
A duplicate of your birth certificate.
Two passport photos with certification.
Three blank envelopes with your address and an N50 stamp on each.

How to Register to Become A Member OF ICAN

To become an ACA, you must first register as an ICAN Professional Student and then sit for and pass all of the required examinations.

Furthermore, after passing the exams, you must have at least 36 months of work experience before applying for induction as a new member.

Here’s how to register to become a member of ICAN:

Visit any commercial bank in Nigeria and pay the Induction fee of N100,000.
Get a receipt for your payment and go to the ICAN website through the link: http://www.icanonline-ngr.com/paydirect to start the registration.
Fill in the required fields with your deposit slip and receipt numbers to generate your PIN and serial numbers.
Enter your Student Registration Number, serial number, and PIN on the registration page.
Fill out the form and upload a passport-sized photo of yourself then submit your application.
When you’re done, print the form and have your referees sign it.
Please attach the documents found at this link.
Send the completed form and proof of payment to ICAN, Plot 16, Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, or any ICAN office near you.

Registration Procedure For The ICAN Examination

From the above, it is obvious that two kinds of people can take the ICAN examination; those who are accounting students and those who are not.

The registration procedure is the same for the two groups with little variations regarding the cost of the program, duration, and number of courses to be taken. But everyone going for ICAN must enroll as follows:

Visit any branch of Zenith or Fidelity Bank or other banks as stipulated on the ICAN website and pay the required fees to obtain your PIN
Log onto the website and click on Students Professional Registration
Fill the form that pops up
Scan a colored passport photograph of yourself unto the system and attach to the form
Click the submit button twice
Print a copy of the application form and sign it as required
Insert the membership number, name, and phone number of your referee or sponsor who must be a chartered accountant
Photocopy your credentials and take it along with the form you had earlier printed to your referee or sponsor and give them to him for certification
Attach the original copy of the pin you obtained at the bank along with two copies of your signed passport photographs and original copy of your bank teller to the certified form
Go to ICAN’s head office in Lagos and submit your compilation

Upon your application being granted, you will receive a student registration number. You can proceed to print your registration certificate and also do not forget your registration number as it is also your login details.

While students entering the course as accounting graduates take a total of nine courses in the ICAN examination, non-accounting graduates take a total of sixteen courses.

The examination pace depends entirely on you and must be taken within ten years of your enrollment in the program. They are taken in May and November of every year.

The ICAN program can last one year for accounting graduates and one year and six months for non-accounting graduates in the normal case.

The ICAN examinations hold so much value because it is globally recognized and also equip you to be self-employed. So, if you would like to enroll, then go for it.

Recognized ICAN Tuition Centres | Tutorial Centres

ICAN tuition centers are available to assist you in preparing for your exams. They will teach you ICAN’s dos and don’ts, registration, examinations, and how to answer questions at these ICAN tutorial centers.

As an institute, they are in charge of the recognition/re-recognition process, which involves evaluating the facilities and quality of tuition delivery at all recognized tuition centers and new ones.

Click on the link below to find a list of recognized tuition centers near you, as well as their address, email, and other contact information:

ICAN-recognised tuition centers

Visit ICAN’s official website to learn more about ICAN’s recognition/re-recognition exercise.

How much does ICAN cost in Nigeria?

ICAN exam is the exam that allows you to become a chartered accountant in Nigeria.

You can even say; it’s your license to practice accountancy at the highest level. ‘However, before you can sit for the ICAN exams, you will need to fulfill one of the important requirements which is paying the registration fee.

There are different fees individuals have to pay for their ICAN exams all depending on the level they are taking an exam.

Levels			Rates
	1 paper	2 papers	3 papers	4 papers	5 papers
Foundation	22,500.00	28,700.00	34,900.00	41,100.00	47,300.00
Skills	31,700.00	41,700.00	51,700.00	61,700.00	71,700.00
Professional	34,450.00	45,700.00	56,950.00	68,200.00	79,450.00

Source: Starry Gold Academy

Does ICAN provide tuition aid to students?

ICAN provides tuition aid to students who are finding it difficult to cater for tuition either in form of grants or loans.

To access the grants, you need to fill out the ICAN application form for grants and submit it. If you wish to opt for the loan, you can do so by filling out the ICAN application loan form.

Are there available scholarships for ICAN graduates and students?

The Institute of Chartered Accountants has put in place a strategy that will make the accountancy profession more attractive to the brightest youths from any academic discipline by introducing a scholarship scheme for outstanding students of Institutions whose Accounting/Accountancy programs are accredited by ICAN.

The scholarship covers examination fees, the provision of study packs, and tuition fees to the tune of N60,000.00. It shall subsist as long as the student does not completely fail any level of the examination.

Types of scholarships available

DIAMOND

The Diamond Scholarship is for First Class/Distinction graduates of ICAN-Accredited Institutions, irrespective of the discipline or course of study to write the Professional Examinations of the Institute.

GOLD:

The Gold scholarship is for the Best Graduating Student of an ICAN accredited Accounting/Accountancy program for the professional examination level.

SILVER:

The Silver Scholarship is for the following category of students

Best student in year one of any ICAN-accredited Accounting/Accountancy program in tertiary institutions to write the Accounting Technicians Scheme for West Africa (ATSWA) Examination.

The best overall student in the final level of ATSWA proceeding to the Professional level.

To qualify for the scheme, you have to:

Be a registered student of the Institute (ATSWA or Professional) and Claim necessary exemption

Requirements for the application are:

Application letter
Recommendation letter from your school
Recommendation letter from ICAN District Society
B.Sc./HND result

ICAN Website

For more information on ICAN, registration, requirements, membership, fee renewal, management team, offices, upcoming programs, and conferences, visit the link below: here

Professional students, click: http://icanig.org/new/students/professional-students

ATSWA students, click: http://icanig.org/new/students/atswa-students

Click here for the members portal: https://icanportal.org/members

FAQs On ICAN

How do I find my ICAN registration number?

After you have finished the registration, visit the ICAN official website to check your registration number, or click on this link http://icanig.org/new/ and follow the prompts to check it directly.

What does ICAN mean?

The acronym ICAN stands for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria is Nigeria’s professional accounting body.

It is also one of two professional accounting associations in Nigeria with regulatory authority, the other being the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

How much does it cost to register for ICAN as a professional student?

To register for ICAN as a professional student, you need to pay a professional examination registration fee is ₦7000 (bank charges not included) by paying directly at any commercial bank in Nigeria, WEB-PAY, or QUICK-TELLER on the ICAN website.

When was ICAN established?

ICAN was established by Act of Parliament No. 15 of September 1, 1965.

Conclusion

The Chartered Accountancy qualification opens up a world of exciting career opportunities in every sector of business and finance, both in Nigeria and around the world.

Chartered Accountants are in high demand both at home and abroad, and are known for their technical expertise, professional standards, and veracity. It gives you a competitive advantage when looking for jobs in Nigeria.

References

icanig.org – ICAN official website

icanpathfinder.com – Ican Registration 2022

Recommendation

ICAN Past Questions And Answers 2023 | Updated

How To Start IELTS Coaching Center In 2023 | All You Should Know

What Is A Good GMAT Score? Expert Advice

When Is JAMB 2023 Exam Starting?