Understanding the 7 year rule
Once you pass your first Strategic Professional exam, you’ll have seven years to complete the remaining exams and become an ACCA affiliate.
If you don’t complete all Strategic Professional exams within this time, any passes older than seven years will expire and will need to be re-taken.
Example:
If you passed Advanced Financial Management (AFM) in December 2020, it would expire in December 2027 unless you had completed all Strategic Professional exams by then.
Do other exam levels expire?
No. Passes from the following levels do not expire:
Foundations in Accountancy
Applied Knowledge
Applied Skills
Why does this rule matter?
The seven-year rule helps make sure your knowledge stays current and relevant in today’s fast-changing finance and business world. Completing your exams within this time-frame shows:
You’re aligned with the latest syllabus and professional standards
Your commitment and determination to employers
You’re progressing steadily towards ACCA membership and career success
Employers value students who show consistency and drive, and completing your exams within seven years demonstrates a strong professional mindset.
Who does the rule apply to?
This rule applies to all students sitting Strategic Professional exams.
If your first eligible exam session was December 2015 or earlier, you also have a 10-year overall time limit from your registration date. After this period, any Strategic Professional passes older than seven years will expire.
You can check your expiry dates anytime by logging into your MyACCA account.
What if the syllabus changed?
When the syllabus changed in September 2018, any existing results and exemptions were converted to the new Strategic Professional exams. These kept their original expiry dates.
If you passed both P1 and P3, you received a converted pass for Strategic Business Leader (SBL). The expiry date is based on the later of the two exams.
How can I stay on track?
To complete your exams within the seven-year window:
Plan ahead – exams are available in four sessions each year.
Use support resources – including the Tuition Provider directory and ACCA study materials
Set personal milestones – track your progress and celebrate each pass.
Check your MyACCA account regularly for expiry dates.
Taking a proactive approach will help you stay confident and motivated throughout your qualification journey.
Can I apply for an extension?
We understand that unexpected personal circumstances can affect your ability to complete exams on time.
You may apply for a one-year extension if you’ve experienced:
A critical illness
The death of an immediate family member
Extensions are only granted in exceptional cases, are limited to one year (four exam sessions), and are only allowed once per student.
Please note: Expired results and converted exemptions cannot be extended.
How do I request an extension?
You can apply during the extension request window, which opens on the results release day of the session before your exam is due to expire.
Your request must be submitted by the Standard Entry Deadline of the session in which your exam expires.
Example:
If your SBL exam expires in December 2025:
You can apply from the day September 2025 results are released
You must submit your request by the December 2025 Standard Entry Deadline
When applying:
Use the option below to get in touch with our team
Provide all required supporting documents
We’ll review your request and respond as soon as we can
In summary
You have seven years to complete all Strategic Professional exams
Passes older than seven years will expire unless all exams are completed
Some students also have a 10-year overall time limit (depending on your registration date)
Extensions are rare, limited to one year, and only for exceptional circumstances
Stay in control of your progress, check your expiry dates regularly through MyACCA and make use of the study resources available to keep your journey on track.
You can visit ACCA Global for everything you need to know about exam expiry dates and extensions.
Contact us
If you have any further questions or need extra support, please use the Contact us option below to get in touch with our team.