Approved Training Organisations

 

An Approved Training Organisation (ATO) is an organisation that has been approved by the Institute as capable of offering the type of work experience that fulfils the practical experience requirements for admission to the College of Chartered Accountants or College of Associate Chartered Accountants.

 

The ATO system ensures that practical experience is planned, supervised, relevant, and gained in a quality environment with high ethical and professional standards. The ATO's function is to provide an environment in which a trainee can develop the necessary skills and attributes to become a competent Chartered Accountant or Associate Chartered Accountant.

 

Organisations of all sizes and representing all sectors can become ATOs. The application process to become an ATO is not onerous, but your organisation will need to demonstrate how it can deliver a suitable programme of practical experience for trainees. More specifically, to meet the requirements for approval as an ATO an organisation must:

 

• Offer appropriate practical experience in accounting
• Have processes to regularly plan, monitor and review a trainee's progress
• Provide resources to assist staff development
• Provide access to suitable people to act as mentors to trainees within or outside your organisation
• Support the trainee through the Institute's professional competence programme

 

As an ATO, your organisation will enjoy:

 

• The ability to attract high-quality graduates with the required academic knowledge who are motivated to fully develop their knowledge, skills and abilities
• Being an 'employer of choice' for future Chartered Accountants or Associate Chartered Accountants
• The loyalty of existing staff who aim to become Chartered Accountants or Associate Chartered Accountants

 

To find out more about ATOs, read the FAQs or download the Training Guidelines for Employers.

Search for an Approved Training Organisation.

Approved Training Organisations, ATO, "approved training organisation", find an ATO

Practical Experience Requirements
Applying for ATO status
ATO Report
About the new CA-ACA Training Log
Transition to the new CA-ACA Training Log and Training Guidelines for Employers