A Chartered Accountant (CA) is a professional who handles various aspects of financial analysis and reporting such as accounting, auditing, taxation, and related advisory services.
ICAI, which stands for ‘Institute of Chartered Accountants of India’, is the statutory body in India authorized to recognize Chartered Accountants. It also acts as a regulatory body in managing the CA profession in the country. An individual must complete the course designed by ICAI to become a member of ICAI.
The CA course has three levels:
In addition to these exams, a student is required to complete 2 years of practical training, also known as ‘Articleship’.
The CA course typically lasts 42 months including articleship training. However, because of the direct entry program, students who enroll in the CA course have a shorter timeline after graduating.
If any student fails to clear any of the CA exams, an additional 6 months will be added to the overall duration.
Let's understand the CA course duration with the help of an example. Vidhi plans to embark on her journey to become a Chartered Accountant in 2024. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of her path.
CA Foundation
Study Period: If Vidhi gets herself registered for the CA Foundation on or before 1st Feb 2024, she'll be eligible to appear in the June 2024 exams. She will need to dedicate herself to studying for the CA Foundation course for at least 4 months, from Feb to June 2024.
CA Foundation Exam: She will take the CA Foundation exam in June 2024.
Result Waiting Period: CA Foundation results are usually released about 2 months after the exam, so that she will get her result around August 2024.
CA Intermediate
Study Period: Having successfully cleared the CA Foundation exam, Vidhi will need to devote around 8 months of studying for the CA Intermediate course.
Exams and Results Period: If Vidhi takes her CA Intermediate exams in May 2025. After the exams, she'll have to wait for the results, which are typically announced around 2 months later.
Articleship Training
Duration: With the Intermediate stage behind her, Vidhi can focus on her articleship training. This training lasts for 2 years as per the new scheme.
CA Final Exam
Study Period: After completing her articleship, Vidhi will be ready to start preparing for the CA Final exams, which require 6 months of focused effort.
Exam & Result Waiting Period: Assuming Vidhi sits for her CA Final exams in May 2028, she will get her final CA results in the next 2 months.
Therefore, by July 2028, Vidhi will be able to finish her CA journey and will likely receive her final CA qualification.
Foundation Course:
The total fee for the CA Foundation Course is Rs.9,200. There is another optional fee of Rs.600 for the subscription of journals. The fee structure is as follows:
Intermediate Course:
The total fee for the Intermediate Course is Rs.18,000 for two groups and Rs.13,000 for a single group. The fee structure is as follows:
Registration Fees
Student’s Activity Fees – Rs.2,000
Note: This needs to be paid only once. When a student is registering for the second group, this need not be paid again.
Registration Fees for Articleship – Rs.2,000
Final Course:
The Fee for the Final Course is Rs.22,000.
Exam Fee: INR 3,300 (both groups), INR 1,800 (single group)
Training Programs:
AICITSS Training: INR 7,500 (IT), INR 7,000 (soft skills).
Students can visit icai.org to register for the Foundation Course. They can also click the following link and follow the instructions: ICAI Login
Important dates for registration under the CA New Scheme have been published by ICAI as follows:
The first step for a student to become a Chartered Accountant is to enroll for the Foundation Course with the Board of Studies (BoS) after clearing the Class X examination. Foundation Examination is conducted thrice a year in January, June and September.
The registration process is through ICAI’s Self Service Portal
Students can attempt the Foundation exams in the month of May immediately after their class XII exams. In case they fail to meet the eligibility, criteria mentioned above after their class XII results are out, their Foundation registration will be cancelled, and Foundation exam results invalidated.
Each subject in CA Foundation is tested for 100 marks and the subjects in the syllabus are:
To clear the CA Foundation, a student must get a minimum of 40 marks in each subject and an average of 50% across all papers. Also, the MCQs carry negative marks. If the student does not clear either of the marks-based criteria, the student may take the exam again 6 months later and attempt to clear the level.
Study Period: Foundation Route students need to complete 8 months of study period as decided by the Council to take the intermediate examination
The CA registration is valid for 5 years instead of 4 years. Students must pay the required fees to revalidate their registration once.
Once the student clears even one group of CA Intermediate, he/she is eligible to enroll for the mandatory articleship training for two years. Students are required to undergo a four-week Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (ICITSS) before starting articleship training.
Group 1
Group 2
CA Final Group 1 New Syllabus
CA Final Group 2 New Syllabus
Self-Paced Module
CA Final Course Passing Criteria
The path of clearing all three levels is called the Foundation Course route, and the most taken by CA aspirants. However, there is another route called the Direct Entry Route that is preferred by students who wish to take up CA after completing graduation.
The direct entry route is mainly intended for students who have completed certain educational qualifications and have relevant work experience. This option allows them to skip the Foundation level and begin the CA course at an advanced point. Here are the key points of the Direct Entry Route:
Eligibility: Students must fulfill one of the following requirements to be eligible for the Direct Entry Route:
Study Period: The eligibility criteria for the CA Intermediate Course remain the same as before. However, direct entry applicants must now undergo 8 months of studying to sit for the examinations. Articleship can be commenced only after passing both groups of CA Inter. Previously, before appearing for the CA Intermediate exams, direct entry students must complete nine months of practical training.
For better understanding of how to appear through the direct route, see the pictorial representation below
How do I start on my CA journey?
Simply put, start with registration. Get the material, Study with a diligent and focused approach. Enroll & start your journey!
Why CA Course?
The average compensation for a CA at the beginning of his career is around 7-8 lakh INR per annum. This is higher compared to most other professional courses. There is a single regulatory body certifying an individual as CA compared to other courses which are offered by many institutes thereby reducing disparities among CAs, unlike students who pursue other courses from various colleges.
Is CA a difficult course?
Becoming a CA is not tough as long as the applicants are committed, diligent, and sincere. This course requires a good amount of effort from the student. Long study hours and concentration are key when preparing for the CA examinations.
Can I enroll in the CA Course after class 12?
Yes. Students who have passed class 10 under legally recognised board in India or an equivalent exam recognised by the Central or State Government can signup for the CA Foundation Course.
Can I do CA after graduation?
Graduate students can very certainly become CAs. They are not, however, required to take the CA foundation exam. After undergoing an eight-month study period, these applicants are qualified to take the CA intermediate exam.
Is CA an expensive course?
It’s not as expensive as a professional finance degree like MBA. The whole cost of the CA course in India, including ICAI fees, books, study materials, coaching, and tuition costs, doesn’t exceed Rs. 4 lakh.
What is the CA New Syllabus?
The CA New Syllabus is an up-to-date curriculum created to meet the changing demands of the financial and business worlds. In a nutshell, it includes a shorter articleship duration, a new syllabus, and a higher stipend. As an aspiring professional, you should stay current with these changes and plan your CA career to succeed in this demanding but rewarding field. You can glance the new syllabus on our Course Guides.
How to prepare for CA?
To prepare for CA exams online, start with a structured study plan. Utilize reputable online resources, join virtual study groups, practice mock tests, and seek guidance from experienced mentors. Stay disciplined and focused to excel in your exams.
Online classes aid CA preparation by offering flexible schedules, access to expert instructors, interactive learning resources, and peer support. They facilitate comprehensive coverage of the syllabus and self-paced study.