Brexit impact on the recognition of EEA professional qualifications

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020 and entered a period of transition which ended on 31 December 2020. As a result, the eligibility for membership requirements have been updated to reflect the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU on the recognition of EEA professional qualifications.

ACCA has published new Membership Regulations which set out the amended requirements in Regulations 3(b) and 3(e)(i). The changes preserve the direct membership route for EEA professionals and maintain compliance with the relevant UK Statutory Instrument.

For the purposes of Regulation 3(b)(i), although Switzerland is not an EEA country, Swiss qualifications are included in the scope of the amended 2015 Regulations and are now dealt with on the same basis as EEA qualifications.

The new regulations were implemented on 1 April 2021.