The objective of the Final Admitting Examination (FAE) is to assess candidates’ total competency.  With the cumulative principle, the FAE education programme is designed to integrate the knowledge, skills and values derived from earlier studies and the work environment.

FAE is broken down into two elements known as FAE Core and FAE Elective. With the cumulative principle, what you learned at CAP1 and CAP2 will be expanded in FAE.

The following course completion criteria are applicable for the 2019/2020 academic year:
“All the seven integrated case study workshops within FAE Core education programme are deemed mandatory lectures with full attendance expected. The specific workshops are: Boyne, Claddagh, Finn, Lagan, Lee, Liffey and Shannon”.

Students who are absent from more than two of the above workshops will be deemed to have not successfully completed the FAE Programme and consequently become ineligible to sit the FAE examination in the 2019/2020 academic cycle.

FAE is broken down into two elements known as FAE Core and FAE Elective.

Institute of Banking membership for the Financial Services Elective

As part of our partnership with the Institute of Banking, students on our Financial Services Elective are automatically enrolled as a member of the Institute of Banking for one year from 1 January to 31 December. This fee is paid by Chartered Accountants Ireland for the first year.

Students who would like to continue their membership with the Institute of Banking must pay their membership directly thereafter, which is an annual fee of €40. The Institute of Banking will have been in touch with all students when registration was processed and will be in touch again when membership is due. Any queries on this, please email membership@iob.ie or call 01 6116500 and ask to speak with the membership team. Membership of the Institute of Banking is optional and has no impact on the Chartered Accountants Ireland qualification or designation.

When students complete the Financial Services Elective, they are also eligible to become an “Accredited Funds Professional” with the Institute of Banking. This is designed to provide lifelong learning to the international investment funds sector. This designation is awarded by the Institute of Banking for a fee – further details available at https://iob.ie/programme/accredited-funds-professional.

FAE runs in Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Waterford/Kilkenny and Dublin centres.  There are also distance programmes in Belfast, Galway and Dublin.  Timetables can be viewed on the student portal.

Within FAE Core, the traditional education programme gives students a blend of single and multidisciplinary case based teaching. This will continue with the distance programme; however there will be a greater focus on integrated casework in contact sessions. Single discipline and technical content will primarily be delivered online.

Distance learning is a good way for students to organise their studies around their work, social or family commitments in a structured, supported environment. Chartered Accountants Ireland is committed to ensuring students achieve success by providing comprehensive materials, online resources, and ensuring that individual support is available. Students who have proven themselves to be self-motivated, disciplined and committed enough to take responsibility for their own learning will benefit most from this course.

Integrated case study workshops provide an environment for students to hone their skills of analysis and application which are critical to success in the FAE examination.

The FAE examination is very different to exams previously sat. The case studies give no specific requirements, there are no specific mark allocations and subjects are not examined in the single discipline. FAE assumes your knowledge and tests your understanding and application of that knowledge in a real business-type scenario. FAE expects students to think like a professional, in an integrated manner, and give the professional analysis and advice expected of a chartered accountant.

The FAE exam contains two elements:

FAE Core: Comprises of FAE core comprehensive and FAE simulations

FAE Elective: One of the electives detailed below must be completed.

• Advanced Auditing and Assurance
• Advanced Taxation (ROI/NI)
• Advisory previously know as Advanced Performance Management (APM)
• Financial Services 
• Public Sector 

Completion of the Advanced Auditing and Assurance elective is a pre-requisite for gaining an audit qualification. Electives are also available for completion post-FAE, as CPD.