Chartered Accountancy, better known by its short form CA is a highly respectable career option in India. The Chartered Accountant course is crucial in managing finance, from individuals to businesses and government. The CA professionals give financial expertise and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
Chartered Accountants are required in various sectors such as business & industries, Chartered Accountancy firms, consultancy firms, capital market services, financial institutions, etc. The details of the Chartered Accountant course include subjects like Taxation, Auditing, Accounting, and Finance Management.
ICAI: Institute of Chartered Accountancy of India
ICAI or Institute of Chartered Accountancy of India is the statutory body of India that designs the Chartered Accountant course, conducts CA exams and designates eligible candidates as Chartered Accountants. The Chartered Accountants Act, of 1949, established it.
Under the scheme of Education and training, provided by ICAI, a candidate can pursue the Chartered Accountant course through Foundation Course Route or Direct Entry Route. Interested candidates must qualify for 3-levels of the CA examination, including CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final.
CA is a financial professional who works in accounting and management. The duties and designation of a CA are internationally equivalent to a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in the United States. Chartered Accountants earn their designation based on the rules and norms of a country. The Chartered Accountant course generally focuses on four areas. Applied Finance, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Management Accounting and Taxation. Based on their specializations, a CA can manage one or more aspects of a business. As a CA, you can find employment in the public or private sector with businesses, government, individual taxpayers and consultancy firms.
Admission Process For Chartered Accountant Course
ICAI provides two exam routes to take admission to the Chartered Accountant course in India, directly after the 12th or after graduation. The paths are similar but if you’re a graduate or postgraduate, you can skip a few stages which are compulsory for someone who just passed 12th high school. Chartered Accountant course details for the Foundation route are as follows:
Foundation Course Route
Here are the steps to follow your dream of Chartered Accountancy through this course route, right after your 12th:
Step 1: Enroll in the foundation Chartered Accountant course after completing your 12th high school examination with a minimum of 50%.
Step 2: Complete a 4-month education period and appear in the first exam of the route, the CA Foundation Examination. The examination includes 4 different papers, one must qualify all the papers to jump onto the next step of becoming a CA. The registration forms for the foundation exam in May 2024 began on February 2 and concluded on February 23.
Step 3: Enroll on an 8-month Intermediate Chartered Accountant course after clearing the foundation stage.
Step 4: Before starting your article training of 3 years, complete a 4-week Integrated course on Information Technology and Soft Skills ( ICITSS). This course needs to be completed before the article training.
Step 5: Complete your Intermediate course and appear for the 2 groups of exams, including Paper -1 of Accounting and Cost & Management Accounting, etc and Paper -2 of Advanced Accounting, Enterprise Information Systems & Strategic Management, etc. You need to pass at least one to move forward with your journey. The Last registration date for the CA Intermediate exam in May 2024 was Jan 1, 2024.
Step 6: Join 3-year articleship training after passing either group of CA Intermediate Exam and complete ICITSS before starting the training. Also, clear the remaining Intermediate exam (if any).
Step 7: Enroll yourself in the Advance Information Technology and Soft Skills in the last two years of the article training.
Step 8: Enroll in the Final Chartered Accountant course and Fill out the Final exam form after completing the course. The Last registration date for the CA final exam in May 2024 was Jan 1, 2024.
Step 9: Appear for the final exam, after the completion of articleship training or in the last 6 months of it.
Step 10: After qualifying for the CA Final exam, Enroll yourself as a member of the ICAI to get Certified as a ‘Chartered Accountant’.
Direct Entry Route
The route to a Chartered Accountant Course can start even after your Graduation or Post-Graduation. If you have pursued a commerce subject as your graduation or post-graduation subject, the minimum eligible percentage would be 55%.
If a non-commerce student wants to pursue Chartered Accountancy as his/her career, then they must have aggregated 60% in their graduation/post-graduation degree. Here are the chartered accountant course details after Graduation/Post-Graduation through Direct Entry Route:
Step 1: Enroll on the Intermediate Chartered Accountant course.
Step 2: Enroll on a 4-week Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (ICITSS). Complete it before applying for the articleship training.
Step 3: Register for a 3-year article or practical training.
Step 4: Appear for the Chartered Accountancy Intermediate Examination after 9 months of your training.
Step 5: Clear both groups of CA Intermediate Examination, Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Step 6: Enroll yourself in the Final Chartered Accountant course.
Step 7: Complete a 4-week Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS). Within the last two years of your articles and before appearing for the final exam.
Step 8: Appear for the final exam, after the completion of articleship training or in the last 6 months of it.
Step 9: Complete your 3-year Practical Training.
Step 10: After qualifying for the Chartered Accountancy Final exam, Enroll yourself as a member of the ICAI to get Certified as a ‘Chartered Accountant’.
Eligibility Criteria For Chartered Accountant Course
CA exams conducted by ICAI, are most significant for those students who want to pursue ‘Chartered Accountancy’ as their career. Candidates must pass each level of the ICAI exams to get certified in the Chartered Accountant course. The three-level Examinations as mentioned in the above steps, include different commerce-based subjects and require rigorous educational training. It’s a National Level offline test, conducted twice a year in May/June & November/December.
The eligibility criteria for a Chartered Accountant course in India are mentioned below:
CA Foundation Exam
The first examination in the Chartered Accountancy series is the foundation exam which is for those aspirants who want to pursue CA, just after their 12th high school exam. Here are the further chartered accountant course details:
Eligibility Criteria
- To appear in the foundation exam, one must pass their 12th exam with a minimum of 50% from a recognised board.
- Must have completed a four-month study period of the foundation chartered accountant course.
- Register with the Boards of Studies (BoS).
- To fill up the exam form, students must have their 12th mark sheet, a coloured photograph, proof of nationality for foreign students, a special category certificate (if any), a 10th mark sheet or an admit card for DoB.
CA Intermediate Exam
The second examination in the Chartered Accountancy series is the Intermediate exam which is for those aspirants who want to pursue CA, through the Foundation Chartered Accountant course route after the 12th or through the Direct Entry Route after graduation/post-graduation. Here are the further chartered accountant course details:
Eligibility Criteria
- Chartered Accountancy aspirants, who have qualified Foundation exam and have completed their intermediate Chartered Accountant course can apply directly for the Intermediate Exam.
- Those aspirants who are appearing for the exam through the Direct Entry Route, require a minimum of 55% in their commerce-based graduation/post-graduation degree. A minimum of 60% aggregate score is required for the non-commerce students.
- These students also need to complete 8 months of intermediate Chartered Accountant course before appearing for the exam.
CA Final Exam
The last and final CA exam includes 6 multi-disciplinary Papers. Here are the further Chartered Accountant course details of its eligibility:
Eligibility Criteria
- One can appear in the examination after qualifying for the intermediate exam
- One must also complete the 3-year article ship training.
Syllabus of Chartered Accountant Course
The Chartered Accountant course is divided into three phases: foundation, intermediate and final examination. These Chartered Accountancy Examinations have different syllabi covering various aspects of Accounting, Finance, Business and Economics related papers.
CA Foundation Exam Syllabus
It includes 4 papers, with different subjects. Students must qualify for all the papers to proceed further with the CA series.
Papers and their Syllabus are given below:
| Paper | Topics |
| CA Foundation Paper 1-Accounting | Theoretical Framework, Accounting Process, Bank Reconciliation Statement, Inventories Concept and Accounting of Depreciation, Accounting for Special Transactions, Final Accounts of Sole Proprietors, Partnership Accounts, Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations, Introduction to Company Accounts. |
| CA Foundation Paper 2– Business Laws | The Indian Contract Act, 1872, The Sale of Goods Act, 1930, The Indian Partnership Act, 1932, The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, The Companies Act, 2013 |
| CA Foundation Paper 3-Quantitative Aptitude | Business Mathematics, Ratio and Proportion, Indices and Logarithms Equations, Time Value of Money, Permutations and Combinations, Sequence and Series, Sets, Relations and Functions, Basic applications of Differential and Integral calculus (Excluding trigonometric applications), Applications of Marginal Cost and Marginal Revenue etc. Linear Inequalities with Objective Functions and Optimization, Logical Reasoning, Number Series, Coding and Decoding, and Odd Man Out Direction Tests, Seating Arrangements, Blood Relations, Statistics, Statistical Description of Data, Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion, Probability, and Theoretical Distributions. Correlation and Regression, Index Numbers. |
| CA Foundation Paper 4-Business Economics | Introduction to Business Economics, Theory of Demand and Supply, Theory of Production and Cost, Price Determination in Different Markets, Business Cycles. |
CA Intermediate Exam Syllabus
The intermediate exam of the Chartered Accountancy series has 2 groups of Exams, each having 4 papers and a total of 8 papers. Candidates can appear for one group at a time or for both together.
Here is the syllabus of all 8 papers, each having a weightage of 100 marks:
| Paper | Topics |
| Accounting | Process of formulation of Accounting Standards including Ind ASs (IFRS converged standards) and IFRSs; convergence vs adoption; objective and concepts of carve-outs. Framework for Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements, Applications of Accounting Standards Company Accounts, Accounting for Special Transactions: Special Type of Accounting |
| Corporate and Other Laws | Part I: Company Law (The Companies Act, 2013 – Sections 1 to 148) Preliminary Incorporation of Company and Matters Incidental thereto Prospectus and Allotment of Securities, Share Capital and Debentures; Acceptance of Deposits by Companies; Registration of Charges Management and Administration Declaration and Payment of Dividend Accounts of Companies Audit and Auditors Part II. Other Laws: The Contract Act, 1872, The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, The General Clauses Act, 1897, Interpretation of Statues |
| Cost and Management Accounting | Module 1: Introduction to Cost & Management Accounting: Material Cost, Employee Cost, Overheads:-Absorption Costing Method, Activity Based Costing, Cost Sheet, Cost Accounting System. Module 2: Unit and Batch Costing, Job Costing and Contract Costing, Process and Operation Costing, Joint Products and By-Products, Service Costing, Standard Costing, Marginal Costing, Budget & Budgetary Control. |
| Taxation | Basic Concept: Residential status & scope of total income. Incomes that do not form part of total income (other than charitable trusts and Institutions, political parties, and electoral trusts).Heads of income & the provisions governing the computation of income under different heads. Income of other persons included in the assessee’s total income. Aggregation of income; Set-off, or carry forward & set-off of losses. Deductions from gross total income. Computation of total income & tax liability of individuals. Advance tax, tax deduction at source, & introduction to tax collection at source. Provisions for filing return of income & self-assessment. |
| Advanced Accounting | Application of Accounting Standards. Special Aspects of Company Accounts. Reorganization & liquidation of Companies. Banking Companies & Non-Banking Financial Companies and regulatory requirements. Consolidated Financial Statements. Dissolution of partnership firms including piecemeal distribution of assets; Amalgamation of partnership firms; Conversion of partnership firm into a Company & Sale to a company; Issues related to accounting in Limited Liability Partnership. |
| Auditing & Assurance | Nature, Objective, & Scope of Audit, Audit Strategy, Audit Planning, & Audit Programme, Audit Documentation & Audit Evidence. Risk Assessment & Internal Control Fraud & Responsibilities of the Auditor in this Regard. Audit in an automated environment. Audit sampling, Analytical procedures, Audit of Items of financial statements, The company audit, Audit report, Audit of banks, Audit of Different Types of Entities. |
| Enterprise Information Systems and Strategic Management | Section A- Enterprise Information System Automated business processes Financial & Accounting systems Information Systems & Its Components E-commerce, M-commerce, & Emerging Technologies Core banking systems Section B- Strategic Management Introduction to Strategic Management Dynamics of Competitive Strategy Strategic Management Process Corporate Level Strategies Business Level Strategies Functional Level Strategies Organization and Strategic Leadership Strategy Implementation and Control |
| Financial Management & Economics for Finance | Section A: Financial Management Financial Management and Financial Analysis Financing Decisions. Capital Investment & Dividend Decisions Management of Working Capital. Section B: Economics for Finance Determination of National Income The Money Market Public Finance International Trade |
CA Final Exam Syllabus
Here are the six papers included in the chartered accountant course’s Final Exam.
- Paper 1: Financial Reporting
- Paper 2: Advanced Financial Management
- Paper 3: Advanced Auditing, Assurance And Professional Ethics
- Paper 4: Direct Tax Laws & International Taxation and Indirect Tax Law
- Paper 5: (Part I): Goods and Services Tax (Part II): Costumes & FTP
- Paper 6: Integrated Business Solutions (Multi-Disciplinary Case Study With Strategic Management
Chartered Accountancy Form Fee
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) conducts three Chartered Accountant course stage examinations, which can be filled out online on their official website.
CA exam form fee for every stage and its details are given below:
Foundation Paper
The form fee for chartered accountancy foundation paper varies for different candidates, the table below shows the form fees for 2024:
| Examination Centre | Fees | |
| For Indian Centers | Rs 1500 | |
| For Overseas Centre(s) – Excluding Kathmandu Centre | US$ 325 | |
| For Kathmandu (Nepal) Centre | Rs 2200 |
Aspirants will have to pay an additional INR 600 towards the late fee (for four Domestic & Kathmandu centers) and USD 10 (for Overseas Centres) after the exam form registration deadline.
Intermediate Paper
The form fee of chartered accountancy intermediate paper varies for different candidates and as per the group chosen.
The table below depicts the form fees for the exam 2024:
| S.No. | Examination Centre | Fee for appearing in only 1 group | Fee for appearing in both the groups |
| 1. | Indian Centre | Rs. 1800 | Rs. 2700 |
| 2. | Kathmandu Centre | Rs. 2200 | Rs. 3400 |
| 3. | Overseas Centre | USD. 325 | USD. 550 |
Note: ICAI also takes an additional charge of Rs. 600 for Indian students or USD. 10 for Foreign Students for late submissions.
Final Paper
The form fee of chartered accountancy final paper varies for different candidates and as per the group chosen. The table below shows the form fees of 2024:
| S.No. | Examination Centre | Fee for appearing in only 1 group | Fee for appearing in both the groups |
| 1. | Indian Centre | Rs. 1800 | Rs. 3300 |
| 2. | Kathmandu Centre | Rs. 2200 | Rs. 4000 |
| 3. | Overseas Centre | USD. 325 | USD.500 |
Chartered Accountant Course: Fees, Institutions and Salary
One has to go through a rigorous education process, a chartered accountant course, practical training and examinations, ethical & professional development and obtain membership, to pursue a career in Chartered Accountancy. The chartered accountant course and fees depend on the route the candidate has chosen to become a CA.
Foundation Course Route Fees
The ICAI total Foundation level chartered accountant course Fees is approx. Rs. 2-3 Lakhs. Take a look at the table below:
| Course Fees | For Indian Student | For Foreign Student |
| Chartered Accountancy Foundation | Rs.11,300 | $1105 |
| Chartered Accountancy Intermediate (Single group) | Rs.28,000 | $925 |
| Chartered Accountancy Intermediate (Both groups) | Rs.34,200 | $1500 |
| Chartered Accountancy Intermediate (Direct Entry) | Rs.34,400 | $1500 |
| Chartered Accountancy Articleship Fee | Rs. 2000 | |
| Chartered Accountancy Final | Rs.39,800 | $1650 |
Direct Entry Course Route Fees
The ICAI course fees for direct-entry chartered accountants course Fees is approx.Rs. 76200, which includes the exam form fees and registration fees only. Take a look at the tables below:
| Registration Fees | ||
| Registration and Various Charges | Both Groups (INR) | Both Groups (US$) |
| Registration Fee | 15,000 | |
| Student Activities Fee | 2,000 | |
| Registration fee as an articled assistant | 1,000 | |
| Total Fees | 18,000 | 1,000 |
| Practical Training Fees | ||
| Particulars | Intermediate level | Finals |
| Integrated course information technology | Rs. 6500 | Rs. 7000 |
| Soft skills | Rs. 7000 | Rs. 7500 |
| Articleship for 3 years | Rs. 2000 |
| Final-Level Student Fees | |
| Exam Groups | Registration Fee |
| Both Groups | Rs 22,000 |
Best Institutions for CA in India
India has a total of 27 recognized institutions for Chartered Accountant courses out of which 6 colleges are privately owned and 1 college is government-owned. Navkar Institute, ICAI, Commerce Management Studies for CA, and Indian Institute of Finance and Accounts, Pune are the best CA colleges in India.
For 4 months of the regular classroom program, the Chartered Accountant course fee in the Foundation stage is Rs. 30,000. Moving forward to the intermediate Chartered Accountant course Fees for 8 months are Rs. 45,000 and the final Chartered Accountant course fee for 6 months is Rs. 98,500.
How to Prepare for the Chartered Accountant Course?
Chartered Accountancy is a difficult career path but the Chartered Accountant’s salary and perks make it a dynamic choice for youngsters. To prepare for a Chartered Accountant course, you need to first understand the Chartered Accountancy Syllabus.
Follow these tips for CA preparation:
Tip 1: Understand the Syllabus
Tip 2: Study and practice Regularly
Tip 3: Practice Mock Tests and previous question papers
Tip 4: Utilize Study Resources.
You can search ‘chartered accountant near me’ and ‘CA Course material’ for the specifically designed CA Course Material. These are some of the Recommended books for Chartered Accountant course preparation:
- Acing CA by Kushal Lodha
- Company Law Chart Book
- CA Foundation Vol 1 & 2
- CA Inter Econ for Finance
- CA Intermediate Paper 1
- Audit of a CA
- Taxmann’s Cracker BEBCK
- Taxmann’s Cracker PPA
- Economics Laws Chart
- CA Exam Question Bank
Career Options After Chartered Accountant Course in India
The chartered accountant job is highly respected and has a reputed profile in India. These are the Job profiles, one can pursue after CA:-
- Internal Auditor
- Direct and Indirect Taxation Expert
- Banking and Insurance Sector Expert
- Finance Manager
- Teacher for Next CA
- Business and Self-employed
Firms Recruiting Chartered Accountants
In India, thousands of CA firms recruit young Chartered Accountants. Here is the list of top recruiters:-
- Deloitte India
- PriceWaterhouseCoopers India
- Ernst & Young India
- KPMG India
- BDO India
- Grant Thornton India
- RSM India
- S. R. Dinodia & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountant Salary in India
Chartered Accountancy is a highly prestigious and recognized professional in India. With India becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, the demand for Chartered Accountant course(s) has also increased exponentially. A chartered accountant’s salary depends upon the years of experience and the institute in which they work. Many government and private companies provide good chartered accountant salaries and perks for services. Hence, it’s a dynamic choice for aspiring students in their careers. The table below shows the expected chartered accountant salary with growing years of experience.
| Year of experience | CA Salary per annum (Avg) |
| 0-5 | 7 lakhs |
| 5-10 | 12 lakhs |
| 10-20 | 20 lakhs |
| Above 20 | 50-70 lakhs |
The salary of CA also depends upon the Profile, Skills, the city in which they are providing their services, employers and other factors.
Conclusion
Chartered Accountant course (CA) is one of the most difficult career paths to follow. However the growing demand for CAs in the nation and worldwide, along with the salary and perks of the title, make it a dynamic choice for aspirants. Even the most searched CA question on Google is a chartered accountant near me.
Hence, we can see the demand for CA in All companies from individual, small level to big firms, to manage their finance, taxation, auditing, accounting and other management requirements. One needs to fulfil various educational qualifications, enroll in programs, get practically trained, and learn ethical and professional developments, to be successful in this Chartered Accountancy field.
The demand for financial experts or a CA is strong and steady. There are no career opportunities after the completion of the chartered accountant course. These professionals have special certifications in different countries. But, they have a similar job of managing finance. A CA in some countries can also work as a CPA in the USA. Some countries have a special agreement with the USA. If these CAs can pass a qualifying test, they can work as a CPA in the US with high salaries and suitable conditions.
FAQs
Q1. CA course is for how many years?
Ans. CA course consists of three stages: foundation, intermediate and final. The course duration is typically 5 years.
Q2. CA course in Hindi details?
Ans. You can check details about the Chartered Accountant course in Hindi on the official website-https://www.icai.org/ by turning on your Google translator.
Q3. How many students crack CA on the first attempt?
Ans. According to last year, only 40-50% of aspirants crack CA in the first go, making it the most difficult coursework.
