Hello
I would be grateful for some advice especially from people who have been in a similar situation with ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA.
I qualified with ICAS about 15 years ago but then left membership for personal reasons including my health and family bereavements. I also returned to university. A few years ago I had a stroke and am now permanently disabled on benefits. I have mobility issues as well as daily fatigue meaning I only manage one hour in the morning to read, study, work etc and another hour in the afternoon. I need to sleep a lot.
I re-applied to ICAS for membership but they insist I will only be given membership if I successfully re-sit the TPE case study which is 5.5 hours long. I have explained to them that my physical and mental disabilities mean that it's not possible as I can't travel to exams and would require about 12 hours to sit the TPE and I couldn't do it on one day or on consecutive days. There are other practical problems that make it impossible for me. They have refused to offer an alternative. They admit my CPD was good enough but they won't consider it as I was not in membership, even though this is what their own helpsheet advises.
Before anyone asks, I want membership because I worked hard to get it and don't mind paying a few hundred a year if it helps to get me some part time work of about 10 hours per week. I don't want a Practising Certificate. I am happy to do any short exams with disability support but don't want anything stressful due to high blood pressure but I am confident my knowledge is up to date.
Has anyone been through something similar?
Does anyone know someone who has re-sat TPE after a career break?
How many ICAS members know they might have to re-sit TPE if they take a career break as there is nothing in regulations about it?
Thanks in advance for comments.
Replies (7)
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Honestly, I doubt that in your circumstances membership is worth the subscription let alone the impact on your health & well being. Even if you don't appear on the member's register, you qualified and no-one can take that away from you. Consider that Fred Goodwin remains a CA to this day.
But why do you want ICAS membership?
If you want 10 hours a week work doing a bit of bookeeping, you really don't need ICAS membership to get that. In fact, if you operate as a sole trader (and I assume this is what you want) then you WOULD need PI and a practicing certificate.
If you just want 10 hours work a week as an employee, just be up front with any potential employer. You passed all the exams (proof) but didn't get membership. For the level of work you want, no one will give a hoot whether you are ICAS or not.
I think you actually need legal advice - it would appear on the face of it that this is a refusal to make a 'reasonable adjustment' for Equality Act purposes (however, it may be that the detail in their refusal letter covers why this is considered a reasonable - therefore allowable - PCP). Nevertheless, that places it squarely in the solicitors' domain. Many firms will give an initial free or low cost consultation, and Citizen's Advice may also be able to help you. I'm sorry this is happening. It really shouldn't in this day and age... sometimes I despair.
Your health and well being are far more important than membership of an organisation. Good luck with your attempts to rejoin, I hope they are forced to consider your circumstances but you know what you did, presumably you have a certificate of original membership so hang it on a wall for all to see. However, as the Rolling Stones sang 'you can't always have what you want', so if you don't succeed in your attempt to rejoin, let it go, it's not worth the grief.