How to become Chartered Accountant (CA)

Candidate who wish to pursue Chartered Accountancy course can register for Foundation course after passing class 10th examination. This is the earliest time when a candidate can get registered for the course.

Candidate has to enroll with the Institute of chartered accountants of India (commonly known as ICAI). ICAI is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament viz. The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for regulating the profession of Chartered Accountancy in the country.

ICAI has a centralized Self Service portal to manage the process of registration and submit self-attested documents. Initial registration and subsequent administrative interactions throughout the life cycle of students covering Intermediate and Final courses are done through this portal and there is no need for personal visit or submission of physical documents.

Candidate has to visit https://www.icai.org/post/students-services for the process of registration and click on the link - Entry level forms [Foundation and Intermediate (Direct Entry)]. Student will need a valid email address and mobile number to complete the OTP based registration process and submit softcopies of documents. After successful submission of forms, the documents will be verified and registration will be confirmed by the ICAI.

A detail of fees for Indian students and foreign students is tabulated as under:

**Students from newly formed Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and North – East States need to pay only 2250/- if they register between 20 September, 2019 and 31 March, 2022. They need to upload the following self- attested documents at the time of registration (i) Domicile Certificate (ii) Proof of Identity – Aadhaar Card / Passport / Voter ID

1. Candidate shall be enrolled for Foundation Examination, if

   • He/she is registered on or before 1stJanuary/1st July for the examination to be held in the month of May/June/December respectively as decided by the Council and
   • He/she has appeared in Higher Secondary (10+2) examination conducted by an authorized examining body
2. Candidate shall pay Examination fees, as may be fixed by the Council for Foundation Examination.

A candidate is declared to have passed the Foundation examination, if he obtains at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers.

For Intermediate level, as discussed in initial diagram, admission can be availed in following ways:

• If a candidate qualifies foundation exam or
• If a candidate attains prescribed percentage in graduation/post-graduation exam or
• If a candidate has qualified for Intermediate exam of Institute of Cost Accountants of India/Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

Old course students can also enroll for the intermediate course after following prescribed procedure.

Candidates who are pursuing the Final Year of Graduation Course can also register for the Intermediate Course on provisional basis and their registration would be regularized only on submission of satisfactory proof of having passed the Graduation examination with the specified percentage of marks within six months from the date of appearance in the final year of graduation examination. During the provisional registration period, a student can undergo and complete ICITSS (Integrated course of Information Technology and Soft Skill). If such candidate fails to produce the proof within the aforesaid period, his provisional registration shall stand cancelled and the registration and other fees paid by him shall not be refunded/ adjusted and no credit shall be given for the theoretical education undergone.

ICAI has a centralized Self Service portal to manage the process of registration. Whole process is the same as mentioned under the Foundation course.

Candidates through Foundation Route can opt for registration for Group I or Group II or Both Groups of Intermediate while Direct Entry Route candidates have to register for both the groups only.

A detail of fees for Indian students and foreign students is tabulated as under:

* Students’ activity fees are to be paid once.

**Students from newly formed Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and North – East States need to pay only 4500/-for both groups and 3250/-for single group if they register between 20 September, 2019 and 31 March, 2022. They need to upload the following self- attested documents at the time of registration (i) Domicile Certificate (ii) Proof of Identity – Aadhaar Card / Passport / Voter ID.

1. Students shall be admitted to Intermediate Examination if:

   • He/she is enrolled for the relevant level(s) of the Intermediate Course;
   • He/she produces a certificate to the effect that he has undergone a study course, for a period not less than eight months as on the first day of the month in which the examination is held, if through Foundation Route; and has completed nine months of Practical Training on or before the last day of the month preceding the month in which the examination is to be held, if through direct entry route;
2. Students shall pay Examination fees, as may be fixed by the Council for Intermediate Examination
3. The subjects of Intermediate Course are classified into two groups. The students can study and appear in the Examination group-wise or both the groups together.

Examination fees are as under:

Candidates of Foundation Route and the candidates who have cleared Intermediate level examination of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India or the Institute of Company Secretaries of India who registers for Intermediate Course on or before 1^st March/1^st September of the year would be eligible to appear in the Intermediate Examination to be held in the following November/May.

Graduate/Post Graduate route students who register under Direct Entry Scheme in the respective decentralized office for the Course and Commence practical training on or before 1^st February/1^st August shall be eligible for November/May examinations on completion of 9 months of practical training.

A student may appear in both the groups simultaneously or in one group in one examination and in the remaining group at any subsequent examination. A student is declared to have passed the Intermediate examination, if he/she passes both the groups.

1. A student shall ordinarily be declared to have passed in both the groups simultaneously, if he/she...

   • Secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of each of the groups and minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate in each of the groups; or
   • Secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of both the groups and minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of both the groups taken together.
2. A student shall be declared to have passed in a group if he/she secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of the group and minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of that group.

A student who appeared in all the papers comprised in a Group/unit and fails in one or more papers comprised in that Group/Unit but secures a minimum of 60% of the marks in any paper(s) of that Group/Unit shall be eligible for exemption in that paper(s) in the next three following examinations.

He/she shall be declared to have passed in that Group/Unit if he/she secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each of the papers of that Group/Unit and a minimum of 50% of the total marks of all the papers of that Group/Unit including the paper(s) in which he/she had secured a minimum of 60% marks in the earlier examination. He/she shall not be eligible for any further exemptions in the remaining paper(s) of that Group/Unit until he/she has exhausted the exemptions already granted to him/her in that Group/Unit.

Further, the Council of the ICAI has decided to grant the exemptions under new syllabus in respect of Intermediate Examination for existing students in respect of the group/paper qualified by them under the old scheme.

After successfully passing Intermediate Examination, a student enters into the last leg of the Chartered Accountancy Course i.e. the Final Course. The Final Course consists of two Groups - Group I and Group II. Group I consists of Four Core papers and Group II consists of Three Core Papers along with One Elective Paper. Students at the time of registration for Final Course have to opt for one out of the six options available in the Elective Paper.

**Students from newly formed Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and North – East States need to pay only 5500/- if they register between 20 September, 2019 and 31 March, 2022. They need to upload the following self- attested documents at the time of registration (i) Domicile Certificate (ii) Proof of Identity – Aadhaar Card / Passport / Voter ID.

** Paper 6D Economic Laws and Paper 6F Multi-disciplinary Case Study are excluded from syllabus by way of study guidelines.

1. Students shall be admitted to Final Examination if,

   • He is registered for the Final Course;
   • Has completed the Practical Training on or before the last day of the month preceding the month in which the examination is to be held or has been serving the last six months of practical training, including excess leave, if any, on the first the month in which the examination is to be held and
   • Has successfully completed Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (Adv. IT & MCS)
2. Students shall pay Examination fees, as may be fixed by the Council for Final Examination
3. The subjects of Final Course are classified into two groups. The students can study and appear in the Examination group-wise or both the groups together.

Examination fees are as under:

A candidate may appear in both the groups simultaneously or in one group in one examination and in the remaining group at any subsequent examination. He is declared to have passed the Final examination, if he passes both the groups.

1. A candidate shall ordinarily be declared to have passed in both the groups simultaneously, if he,

   • Secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of each of the groups and minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of each of the groups; or
   • Secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of both the groups and minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of both the groups taken together
2. A candidate shall be declared to have passed in a group if she/he secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of the group and a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of that group.

A candidate who appears in all the papers of a Group and fails in one or more paper(s) of that Group but secures a minimum of 60% of the marks in any paper(s) of that Group shall be eligible for exemption in that paper(s) in the next following three examinations.

He/she shall be declared to have passed in that Group if he/she secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each of the papers of that Group and a minimum of 50% of the total marks of all the papers of that Group including the paper(s) in which he/she had secured a minimum of 60% marks in the earlier examination. He/she shall not be eligible for any further exemptions in the remaining paper(s) of that Group until he/she has exhausted the exemptions already granted to him/her in that Group.

Further, the council has decided to grant exemption under the new syllabus in respect of final examinations for existing students in respect of the group/paper qualified by them under the old scheme.

Registration for CA Final can be done by January and July for May and November exams respectively.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has developed two Courses namely, Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (ICITSS) and Advanced Integrated Course on Information technology (AICITSS) for shaping Chartered Accountants as complete Business Managers with an all- round personality. The objective of the course is to familiarize the students with the diversified field of Accountancy profession, to make them tech-savvy and to develop their communication and presentation skills and to foster values such as integrity, transparency so as to groom them as professionals in future.

ICITSS and Advanced ICITSS have been effective from 1^st July 2017 and are of 4 weeks each.

No, a student who has already undergone OC & IT / MCS & ADV. IT will not be required to undergo that course again. [OC means orientation course]

Students who have already undergone only one i.e. either OC or IT or MCS or ADV. IT has to undergo only the remaining course i.e. ICITSS (IT) or ICITSS (OC) or Advanced ICITSS (Adv. IT) or Advanced ICITSS (MCS).

Like IT and OC, ICITSS is also to be completed before commencing Practical Training for both the Routes.

It is to be undergone anytime during last 2 years of Practical Training but, compulsorily before appearing for Final Exam under Revised Scheme / before applying for Membership of ICAI under Existing Scheme.

The students will get a certificate from the concerned POU after successful completion of the course.

It has been made compulsory to undergo Advanced ICITSS as advanced practical concepts are being taught in the training which would prove helpful for a CA in his/her practice as per the regulations passed in the Council.

Student who have registered in the old scheme and undergone either of the courses, i.e. MCS (Management Communication Skills) or AICITSS has to undergo only the remaining course i.e. Advance ICITSS (Adv. IT) or Advanced ICITSS (MCS) before applying for membership of the ICAI. However, students registered w.e.f. 1^st July, 2017 under the new scheme are required to successfully complete Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS) during the last two years of Practical Training but before appearing for the Final Examination.

Yes. The student has to undergo ICITSS.

No, they are to be pursued separately with different timings.

Student who have registered in the old scheme and undergone either of the courses, i.e. MCS or Adv. IT has to undergo only the remaining course i.e. Advance ICITSS (Adv. IT) or Advanced ICITSS (MCS) before applying for membership of the Institute. However, students registered w.e.f. 1^st July, 2017 under the new scheme are required to successfully complete Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS) during the last two years of Practical Training but before appearing for the Final Examination.

The ICAI Examination department conducted the MCQ based Advanced ICITSS (IT) exam. All information related to online registration for exam, exam dates and result are available on http://advit.icaiexam.icai.org.

The unique requirement of articleship helps in grooming a professional for a disciplined and hard working environment and gives an opportunity to gain on the job experience.

Duration of the training is 3 years.

Students can commence articled training by submitting Form 103 and an agreement on training is to be entered with the Principal in Form 102. The entire period of practical training can be served with a practicing member or it can be served partly with a practicing member and partly in an approved industrial establishment as an Industrial Trainee. The period of such industrial training may range between 9-12 months during the last year of the prescribed period of practical training. Only students of Final course are eligible for industrial training.

Industrial training is designed for the candidates who want to pursue their career in industry after completing the course to have insight of functions of the accounts department and get to know about various activities carried out by CA in industry.

Yes, it is part of practical training only.

An articled assistant who has passed the Intermediate (IPC) Examination / Professional Competence Examination/ Professional Education (Examination - II) or Intermediate examination can serve as an Industrial trainee in any of the financial, commercial, industrial undertakings as may specified by the Council or such other institution or organization as may be approved by the Council from time to time.

• Articled assistant before proceeding for Industrial Training has to intimate his principal at least three months before the date on which such training has to commence.
• Period of Industrial Training may range between minimum of nine months to maximum of twelve months during the last year of prescribed period of practical training.
• The Industrial Training shall be received under a member of the Institute. An Associate who has been a member for a continuous period of at least three years is entitled to train one industrial trainee and fellow is entitled to train two industrial trainees at a time, whether such trainees are articled assistants or audit assistants.
• An agreement of training is to be entered in the approved form i.e. Form No. 104
• On satisfactory completion of industrial training, the principal has to issue service certificate in the approved form i.e. Form No. 105.

• Yes. Regulation 54A contains a provision whereby a Principal can depute an articled assistant not exceeding six months to any member outside India who is eligible to engage and train such trainees under the bye-laws of an institution or body, etc. set up in the respective country under the relevant Statutes. It may be noted that in such cases, no Deed of Articles need to be executed for such training nor any intimation be sent to the ICAI in this regard.
• The period of practical training shall be 3 years or 3 ½ years, as applicable, under a practising chartered accountant abroad. However, the articled / audit assistants should have an option to undergo industrial training in accordance with the Regulations 51 & 72 of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988 during the last one year of training.
• Terms and conditions contained in Regulation 54 & 54A relating to secondment shall be applicable to the articled assistant receiving training abroad.
• Rates, terms and conditions of stipend prescribed as payable to the articled assistants receiving training in India shall be applicable to the articled assistants receiving training aboard.

The working hours of an articled assistant shall be 35 hours per week excluding the lunch break. However in case of exigencies of work with principal, the aggregate number of working hours shall not exceed 45 hours per week.

To give the trainee exposure to a variety of areas, the arrangement of secondment has been provided. Secondment is allowed with the consent of the articled trainee from one member to another member who is entitled to train articled trainees in his own right or to a member in industry who is entitled to train industrial trainees.

The aggregate period of secondment cannot exceed one year.

An articled/audit assistant cannot take up any other course of study or training, whether academic or professional, without prior permission of the Council. The permission may be granted to an articled/audit assistant, for pursuing one additional course of study at a time during the period of practical raining on submission of request in the form no 112.

Yes. The Board of Studies conducts an online MCQ-based test for the students who are pursuing practical training. The students are being assessed at two stages, first after the completion of first year of training and second after the completion of second year.

These tests are recommendatory in nature, i.e. a student can opt not to appear in any or both of these tests. If a student does not appear in these tests, “Not Appeared in Practical Training Assessment” will be mentioned in his/ her mark sheet.

The last date for commencement of articleship training for the May or November exam is August 1^st or February 1^st respectively.

Such a student who is a graduate/post-graduate with the requisite percentage and also a CS or CMA level 2 qualified has a choice to enrol in CA Intermediate through graduation/post-graduation route OR through the CS/CMA route. He can commence articleship if he opts for the graduation/post-graduation route; likewise he can appear after completing 9 months of articleship training.