Every year, ICAN holds two professional examination diets — one in May and one in November — and the November 2026 diet is now close enough that the candidates who pass it have already started. If you are planning to sit, the questions on your mind are probably simple: when exactly is the exam, when does registration open and close, what will it cost, and how do I prepare from where I am today? This guide answers all four. ICAN's official timetable is the final authority, so treat everything here as your working plan until the Institute publishes the diet advert.
The fastest way to waste the next three months is to start studying without knowing where you stand. ilymi is built to fix exactly that: its free diagnostic scores your readiness per subject in about ten questions, its quiz engine tracks every topic you have cleared, and its flashcard deck holds the definitions and standards you can't afford to forget. Take the diagnostic now, then use the plan below.
When is the ICAN November 2026 diet?
ICAN sits its professional examinations twice a year, on three consecutive weekdays (Tuesday to Thursday), usually in the third week of the month. The last two diets follow this pattern exactly, which is why the November 2026 dates can be predicted with reasonable confidence — but the official timetable, published on icanig.org, remains the final word.
| Diet | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | 18–20 November 2025 (Tue–Thu) | Held |
| May 2026 | 19–21 May 2026 (Tue–Thu) | Held |
| November 2026 | Expected 17–19 November 2026 (Tue–Thu) | Awaiting official timetable |
ICAN typically publishes the diet advert and timetable about three months ahead — which, for November 2026, means the official dates should land in August 2026. Bookmark icanig.org and check weekly.
How to register for the November 2026 diet
- You must already be a registered ICAN student with your subscription up to date. If you're not, start with our ICAN registration guide.
- Registration opens on the student portal (icanportal.org) once the diet advert is out, and closes a few weeks before the first paper. There is no late window — miss it and you wait for the next diet.
- The steps: log in to the portal, select the diet, choose your papers, upload a recent passport photograph (JPEG, white background), pay per paper, and print your acknowledgement.
- Exam numbers and dockets appear on the portal a few days before the exam — for the May 2026 diet, exam numbers were posted two days before the first paper.
What does the November 2026 diet cost?
ICAN publishes its current fees in the diet advert and on the portal, and amounts are revised periodically, so always confirm before paying. Candidates typically budget for a per-paper examination fee plus their annual student subscription. Treat any figure you read on forums as indicative — the portal is the only source you should pay.
What will you sit? The 15-subject syllabus
November 2026 will be examined under ICAN's revised syllabus — 15 subjects across three levels — which has been in use since the November 2025 diet. (ATSWA is a separate technician route with its own calendar.)
| Level | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Foundation (4) | Business Environment, Corporate and Business Law, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting |
| Skills (6) | Audit, Assurance and Forensics; Financial Management; Financial Reporting; Performance Management; Public Sector Accounting & Finance; Taxation |
| Professional (5) | Advanced Audit, Assurance and Forensics; Advanced Taxation; Case Study; Strategic Business Reporting; Strategic Financial Management |
For a full breakdown of every subject and its key topics, see our ICAN syllabus guide.
A 100-day study plan for the November 2026 diet
From early August to the expected exam week is roughly one hundred days. Split them into three phases:
| Phase | Window | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Map | Days 1–14 | Print the syllabus; take a diagnostic; settle exemptions; set weekly hour targets per subject |
| Learn | Days 15–63 | Topic → 10–15 questions → instant grading → log misses → flashcards daily |
| Simulate | Days 64–100 | One full-length timed mock per week; classify every miss; taper in the final week |
In the Map phase, resist the urge to read chapters in order. Print the syllabus for every paper you're sitting, note the topic weightings, and let marks drive your time rather than enthusiasm. In Learn, the rule is simple: never study a topic without answering questions on it the same day. In Simulate, sit timed full-length papers before you feel ready — a mock is a rehearsal, not a verdict.
The week-by-week rhythm that keeps the middle phase honest — which days to quiz, re-quiz and mock — lives in our 90-day study plan.
Three mistakes November 2026 candidates make
- Waiting for the official dates before starting. You can prepare now. The syllabus doesn't change because the timetable isn't out.
- Registering late and losing the diet. There's no late window. Set a calendar reminder for the advert the moment you can.
- Reading instead of answering questions. For an objective-paper exam, questions are the curriculum. See why most ICAN candidates fail.
Where to find study material for November 2026
- Official study texts and "Insights". ICAN provides free soft copies to registered students — the single best source of syllabus-aligned material.
- Past questions and suggested solutions. Every diet's papers are published after results. Working through them tells you how marks are awarded, not just what the right answer is.
- The 15-subject syllabus. See our full breakdown so you study the current structure, not the old one.
- A question bank with instant explanations. This is where ilymi fits: per-subject quizzes that mirror the syllabus, a flashcard deck for the standards and definitions, and full-length timed mock papers for the final month.
Frequently asked questions
When is the ICAN November 2026 exam?
The Institute had not published the official timetable as of early August 2026. Based on the established pattern — Tuesday to Thursday in the third week of November — expect 17–19 November 2026. Confirm on icanig.org.
When does ICAN November 2026 registration close?
Registration typically closes a few weeks before the first exam day, with no late window. The exact date appears in the diet advert, expected in August 2026.
How many papers are in the November 2026 diet?
Fifteen across the three levels — 4 Foundation, 6 Skills and 5 Professional — plus ATSWA on its own calendar.
Where do I register for the ICAN November 2026 diet?
Online at icanportal.org. You must be a registered student with an up-to-date subscription.
What if I miss the ICAN registration deadline?
You wait for the next diet. There is no late registration window for ICAN examinations.
The plan above works with or without a paid tool — but it works dramatically faster when every session ends with a grade. Take the free ilymi diagnostic today, build your subject map, and start your 100-day countdown. The candidates who clear the November 2026 diet are the ones who started it in August.