The Chartered Accountancy (CA) course in India is a professional course that is offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It is a three-tier course that includes the Common Proficiency Test (CPT), Intermediate (Integrated Professional Competence) Examination, and the Final Examination. The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a chartered accountant in India. The course covers subjects such as accounting, auditing, tax laws, and other financial laws. To become a Chartered Accountant, a candidate must successfully complete the course and pass the ICAI’s examinations.
What is CA Course?
CA is the abbreviation of Chartered Accountant. CA is a highly professional practice of accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial assessment practice for an individual or business firm. ICAI (Indian Chartered Accountants Institute) conducts CA course exams twice a year.
What is ICAI in CA? The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body, formed in the year 1949 through the Act of Parliament and, since then it conducts CA exams in India. It has branches in different states of India, so you can enroll by approaching the branch of your state or, you can enroll online.
Candidates need to pass three levels of ICAI tests.
- CA Foundation exam
- CA Intermediate exam
3. CA Final
What is CA Foundation?
It is the first level exam of CA.
What is the CA Intermediate Course?
It is the big level or second level exam of CA.
What is CA Final Course?
It is the last or the third level exam of CA.
What does a CA do?
- Their work profile includes filling tax returns, keeping investment records, reviewing financial reports or documents, monitoring the financial statements, etc.
- Other than this, they also do company work, Insolvency Professional, Investigation, Cost Accountancy, Directorship, Secretarial work, Management Accountancy, Management Consultancy, etc.
- They can be in charge of any specific department or an entire department.
- They can work in business or industry as a sales manager, business analysts, accountants, corporate leaders, etc.
- Even they opt to work as Consultants or Freelancers to grow and work with different projects.
What is the duration of this course?
After class 12th – The minimum duration is 4.5 years if you apply for it directly after 12th. After the 12th, you can opt for this course through CPT.
After Graduation – The minimum duration is 3 years if you apply for it after the Graduation, through the Direct Entry Scheme.
CA Course Eligibility Criteria:
To become a professional in CA, Certification in CA and professional training are mandatory.
Irrespective of the stream, your score must be 50% in 10+2 examination or equivalent from a recognized board to be eligible for the CA course.
| After Class 12thCA Foundation RouteTo be eligible for the CA Foundation exam, the candidate must have passed class 12th with 50% minimum marks.Also, complete this mandatory 4- months of study period before appearing in CA Foundation Exam.Students can register for CA Foundation after completing 10th class ( as per the provisional registration announcement). But you can appear for exams only after passing the 12th class.You can register yourself for the CA Foundation exam irrespective of the stream. | After GraduationCA Direct Entry RouteThe candidate must score at least 50% in graduation or post-graduation from the commerce field.To study subjects like Accounting, Mercantile Laws, Taxation, Costing, Economics, Business Administration, Management Accounting, Auditing, etc, is necessary.For graduates or post-graduates from non-commerce backgrounds, 60% marks are essential to be eligible for this course. |
Steps to complete CA after 12th through CPT Route:
After the 12th, you can apply for the CA course through CPT Exam.
- This exam is held twice a year, in June and Dec.
- The last date to fill out the forms for the CPT exam is in April or October.
- Once you pass the CPT exam, you need to register for the CA Intermediate course.
- After a 9-month study period and registering for the CA Intermediate course, a CA Student would be eligible to appear for the CA Intermediate Exams.
- Intermediate Exams are conducted twice a year, in May and November.
- After passing the CA Intermediate exam, you need to register for CA Final.
- CA Final Exams are also held twice every year, in May and November.
- On clearing CA Final Exams, ICAI awards its successful candidates a Chartered Accountancy Degree.
Steps to complete CA after Graduation through Direct Entry Scheme:
- There’s one benefit of applying for a CA course after Graduation through the Direct Entry Scheme is the exemption from the CPT exam and can directly start their articleship and appear for the CA Intermediate Exams after 9 months.
- Before starting an articleship, a person would be required to complete 100 hours of ITT and 35 hours of Orientation Program.
CA FOUNDATION Syllabus and Marking Scheme:
| Principles and Practices of AccountingBusiness Law and Business Correspondence and ReportingBusiness LawBusiness Correspondence and ReportingBusiness Mathematics,Logical Reasoning and Statistics.Business MathematicsLogical ReasoningStatisticsBusiness Economics and Business Commercial KnowledgeBusiness Economics Business and Commercial Knowledge | 100 marks100 marks(60 marks)(40 marks)100 marks(40 marks)(20 marks)(40 marks) 100 marks(60 marks)(40 marks) |
CA Intermediate Syllabus and Marking Scheme:
Group 1:
| Accounting Corporate and Other LawsCorporate LawsOther LawsCost and Management AccountingTaxation Income Tax Laws Indirect Tax Laws | 100 marks 100 marks(60 marks)(40 marks) 100 marks 100 marks(60 marks)(40 marks) |
Group 2:
| Advanced AccountingAuditing and AssuranceInformation System and Strategic ManagementEnterprise Information System Strategic ManagementFinancial Management & Economics for Finance Financial Management Economics for Finance | 100 marks100 marks100 marks(50 marks)(50 marks) 100 marks(40 marks)(60 marks) |
CA Final Exam Syllabus and Marking Scheme:
Group 1:
| Financial ReportingStrategic Financial ManagementAdvanced Auditing and Professional Ethics Corporate and Economic Laws Corporate LawsEconomic Laws | 100 marks100 marks100 marks100 marks(70 marks)(30 marks) |
Group 2:
| Strategic Cost Management Electives (choose one)Risk ManagementFinancial Services and Capital MarketsInternational TaxationEconomic LawsGlobal Financial Reporting StandardsMulti-Disciplinary Case StudyDirect Tax Laws and International TaxationDirect Laws International Taxation Indirect Tax LawsGoods and Services Tax Customs | 100 marks100 marks 100 marks(70 marks)(30 marks)100 marks(75 marks)(25 marks) |
How to get admission to C.A. Course?
Every Institute/college follows its admission procedure. Even different selection methods are adopted for each level of the CA course.
THROUGH CPT ROUTE ( AFTER THE 12TH) in detail:
1. CA Foundation Course:
- Selection Procedure for CA Foundation course :
- You can register for the CA Foundation course even after completing 10th class.
- Be careful with the dates. Register on or before 1st July or 1st January to be eligible.
- After completing the first level test i.e. CA Foundation, then students can start their articleship while practicing CA.
- After completing the training for three years, they must clear CA final exams side by side.
- Also, complete computer-related training, Orientation courses, etc, to improve technical skills and knowledge.
- CA Foundation Course Fee Structure:
Registration Fees – ranges between Rs.9,000 – Rs.10,000.
- Validity Period in CA Foundation Period :
The registration in CA Foundation is valid only for 3 years.
Also, after that, you can re-validate the registration for further 3 years by paying fees amounting to Rs.300.
- Examination Criteria of CA Foundation Course :
After filling out the registration form, you are required to fill out the examination form to appear in the exam. The fee for this examination form is Rs.1500. Examination forms are available online, for may attempts – between Feb-March, for November attempt – between August – September.
- Passing Criteria for CA Foundation Exam:
You must score:
- 40% marks individually on every paper
- 50% aggregate marks of all papers
You will pass this exam only if both the conditions are fulfilled.
- Result date:
The result is expected to be declared in July, for the exams conducted in Ma
The result is expected to be declared in January, for the exams conducted in November.
CA Intermediate Course
.
- Study Period:
- After registering for the CA Intermediate course, you have to complete an 8-months study period.
- Selection Procedure for CA Intermediate course:
- You need to complete a study period of 8-months after registering for this course.
- Pass one or both Groups of CA Intermediate exams. Complete four weeks of Integrated Course of IT and Soft Skills.
- And, then register for 3 years of Practical Training (Articleship). And, till then, if you also pass group 2 exams then you are eligible to register for CA final exams.
- During the last two years of the course, complete the Advanced Integrated Course of IT & Soft Skills which is of 4 weeks.
- After completing Practical Training of 2.5 years, you can appear for CA final exams.
- Passing Criteria:
You must score –
- 40% marks individually on every paper
- 50% marks altogether combining group 1 and group 2.
You will pass this exam only if both the conditions are fulfilled.
3. CA Final :
- Eligibility Criteria –
- Pass both groups of CA Intermediate exams
- After completing 4 weeks of basic IT training and Soft Skills, you can register for the CA Final exams
- If you pass both groups of CA Final and complete 3 years of Practical Training then you are eligible to become a member of CA (ICAI).
- Registration validity –
The validity period for registration for the CA final course is 5 years.
To re-validate, you have to pay Rs.500 for further 5 years.
- Eligibility for examination;
After the last 6 months of articleship, i.e. after completing 2.5 years of Articleship and 4 weeks of basic IT training and Soft Skills, you can appear for CA Final exam.
- Passing Criteria –
You must score –
- 40% marks individually on every paper
- 50% marks altogether combining group 1 and group 2.
You will pass this exam only if both the conditions are fulfilled.
- FEE Structure
Registration Fees – Rs.22,000
Examination Fees
For a Single group – Rs.1800
For both groups – Rs.3300
THROUGH DIRECT ENTRY ROUTE ( AFTER GRADUATION ) in detail:
After you register through the direct entry route you don’t need to give CA Foundation exams. Directly, you can register for CA Intermediate exams.
- CA Intermediate:
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Score at least 55% marks in class 12th, if you are from a commerce background.
- You need to score 60% marks in class 12th if you are a non-commerce student.
- If you pass CS Executive exams or Cost and Management Accounting Intermediate exams, then you are eligible.
- Study Period:
Before appearing for CA Intermediate exams (through direct entry route), first complete 4 weeks of IT Skills & Soft Skills, along with 9-months of Practical Training.
- Validity Period in CA Intermediate Course :
The validity period for registration for the CA Intermediate course is 4 years.
To re-validate it for further 4 years, the charge is Rs.400.
- Passing Criteria:
You must score –
- 40% marks individually on every paper
- 50% marks altogether combining group 1 and group 2.
You will pass this exam only if both the conditions are fulfilled.
- Exemption – if you score 60% marks in any subject and as a group, you are failing in the exam, then there is no need to give that exam in the next attempt.
The exemption is only valid for 3 attempts. After 3 attempts you have to give that exam again in the next attempt.
- Selection Procedure:
- Graduates and Post Graduates from the commerce stream must score 55% aggregate marks, then only you are eligible to register through the direct entry route.
- Graduates and Post Graduates from the non-commerce stream must score 60% aggregate marks, then only you are eligible to register through the direct entry route.
- If you have passed Company Secretary Intermediate or Cost and Management Accounting Intermediate, then you are eligible for this.
- After registering for the CA Intermediate course, immediately you need to complete 4 weeks of Integrated Course of IT & Soft Skills, then join 9-months of Practical Training (Articleship), before appearing for CA Intermediate exams.
Direct Entry Route for CS/CMA Intermediate Pass Students:
- Selection Procedure:
- If you have passed CS/CMA Intermediate exam, and you want to pursue a CA course, then first you need to register for the CA Intermediate course.
- Complete study period of 8-monthS. Side by side, complete an Integrated Course of IT and Soft Skills for four weeks.
- Pass one or both Groups of CA Intermediate exams.
- Register for 3 years of Practical Training (Articleship).
- During the last two years of the course, complete the Advanced Integrated Course of IT & Soft Skills which is of 4 weeks.
- After completing Articleship of 2.5 years, you can appear for CA Final Exams.
- Passing Criteria:
You must score –
- 40% marks individually on every paper
- 50% marks altogether combining group 1 and group 2.
You will pass this exam only if both the conditions are fulfilled.
CA Course Fee Structure
Registration Fees –
For a single group – Rs.13,000
For both groups – Rs.18,000
Examination Fees –
For a Single group- Rs.1500
For both groups – Rs.2700
- Result date:
Results are declared between July – August or January to February, depending upon the attempt. There can be a delay in the declaration of the results of the CA Intermediate exams.
From where to do these 4 weeks of Articleship?
ICAI has its designated centers in different states from where you can complete this training. For this, visit their website and apply.
Top CA Colleges/ Universities in India:
| Colleges/Universities: |
| Indian Institute of Finance and Accounts, Pune |
| EduPristine, Mumbai |
| Coimbatore Branch of S.I.R.C. of I.C.A.I |
| Loyola College |
| Mangalore Branch of S.I.R.C of I.C.AI. |
| Finplan – International Institute of Management |
| Pearl CA College, Kochi |
| Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar College of Commerce |
| Academy of Commerce, Noida |
Career after completing CA Test and salary offered:
Generally the salary offered ranges between 5 – 8 lakh per year. With the knowledge and experience pay scale per year can also extend to Rs.30,00,000 per year.
CA can find employment opportunities in the following fields-
- Taxation and Auditing
- Insurance Sector
- Law Firms
- Corporate Houses
- Project Finance or Financial Advisory
- Tax Advisory Firms
- Cost Accountant
- Outsourcing
- Chartered Accounting Firms
- Investment Banking Firms
- Banking and Financial Services
Average salary of the Chartered Accountants (of some positions):
Finance Manager 9 lakh per annum (approx.)
Tax Editor 45 lakh per annum (approx.)
Financial Director 35 lakh per annum (approx)
Tax Manager 12 lakh per annum (approx.)
Certified Public Accountant 6 lakh per annum (approx.)
