CA Course After 12th – Complete Guide to Becoming a Chartered Accountant

Chartered Accountancy (CA) is one of the most prestigious and sought-after professions in the fields of finance, accounting, and business advisory. Regulated in India by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the CA course is renowned for its rigor and comprehensiveness.

Pursuing CA after completing Class 12 is an excellent choice for students with a passion for numbers, a keen interest in business law, and the determination to achieve excellence in a challenging yet rewarding field. Students can pursue the course irrespective of the stream they have opted for in class 11 and class 12. The CA course after 12th starts with CA Foundation which is followed by CA Intermediate. After clearing the A Final, which is the last and final step, individuals can fulfill their dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant.

OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE STRUCTURE

ELIGIBILITY

           There are two ways to approach this course:

1. Foundation Route
     Under this route, a Class X passed student may register with the Board of Studies (BoS) of the Institute for the Foundation Course, but they can attend the exams only after clearing Class XII board exams, irrespective of whether a student had opted for Commerce, Science or Humanities for 12^th standard.
2. Direct Entry Route
     The ICAI allows the following candidates to enter directly into its Intermediate Course:
   • Commerce Graduates/Postgraduates with a minimum of 55% marks.
   • Other Graduates/Postgraduates with a minimum of 60% marks.
   • Intermediate-level passed candidates of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

Candidates pursuing their Final Year Graduation/Postgraduation Course are eligible for provisional registration for the Intermediate Course, which shall be confirmed only upon submission of satisfactory proof of having passed the graduation/postgraduation examination with the minimum marks mentioned above, before applying for admission to the Intermediate Examination.

CA COURSE STRUCTURE

CA course is divided into three structures namely – Foundation, Intermediate, Articleship (internship) and Final. The students who are entering the course through the direct entry route can directly start with the Intermediate level bypassing the Foundation.

CA FOUNDATION

CA Foundation is the first level of the CA course. Candidates who wish to pursue the Chartered Accountancy Course can register for the Foundation Course after passing the Class 1Oth examination but can appear for the exams only after passing the Class 12^th board exams. It has a duration of 4 months having the following papers under its curriculum :

Note : * Papers 1 and 2 are descriptive whereas Papers 3 and 4 are objective.

*Students must pass the papers individually as well as obtain 50% of the aggregate in order to clear each level

CA INTERMEDIATE

After passing the foundation exams, the students can register for the Intermediate level. The Intermediate Level has its duration of 8 months which is divided into 2 groups and has the following papers :

Note : *Students can either attend the groups individually or attend both groups simultaneously in their respective attempts.

*Students must pass the papers individually as well as obtain 50% of the aggregate in order to clear each level

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

INTEGRATED COURSE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOFT SKILLS (ICITSS)
 Information Technology & Orientation Course
Students must complete the ICITSS, consisting of Information Technology Training (IT) and the Orientation Course (OC), before commencing Practical Training. The classes are conducted for a minimum of 6 hours per day over 15 working days.

PRACTICAL TRAINING/ARTICLESHIP

After clearing both the groups of CA Intermediate, students have to mandatorily undergo an internship for 24 months under a CA firm where they get practical insights into their theoretical knowledge.

Only after a further 6 months of completing the articleship period, Self-Paced Module, and Advanced ITT and MCS course, that a student register for his CA Final exams.

SELF-PACED ONLINE MODULES (SPOM)
 In the current dynamic economic scenario, the Institute must adopt a new approach to developing, updating, and delivering professional accountancy education and training. The process of developing a Chartered Accountant must centrally involve critical and interdisciplinary thinking, research, and innovation.

To address this need, four Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM) [SETS A, B, C, and D], encompassing different fields, have been introduced in the Scheme of Education and Training. As the name suggests, students can learn and qualify for the modules at their own pace after qualifying for the Intermediate Level Examination.

CA FINAL

After successfully passing the Intermediate Examination, students must register for the Final Course and Self-Paced Online Modules. The Final Course consists of two groups: Group I & II.

Note : *Students can either attend the groups individually or attend both groups simultaneously in their respective attempts.

*Students must pass the papers individually as well as obtain 50% of the aggregate in order to clear each level

ADVANCED INTEGRATED COURSE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOFT SKILLS (AICITSS)
 Students must complete the Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS), consisting of Advanced Information Technology (Advanced IT) and the Management and Communication Skills (MCS) Course, after completing the Practical Training period but before appearing in the Final Level Examination. The classes are conducted for a minimum of 6 hours per day over 15 working days.

CA COURSE DURATION

The duration of the CA course after the 12^th is 4.5-5 years.

CA COURSE FEES

The estimated cost of doing CA is approximately Rs. 80,000. This can vary according to the coaching institutes one prefers to join.

CA EXAMS

While Foundation and Intermediate exams are conducted thrice a year (January, May, September), Final exams are conducted twice a year (May and November).

Exam Fees

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The CA opens wide career opportunities including :

·       Chief Financial Officer

·       Chief Executive Officer

·       Audit and Accounts Manager

·       Financial Analyst and so on

·       Finance Controller

·       Finance Manager

SALARY

The initial average salary of a CA is Rs. 8 LPA which can rise to Rs. 75 LPA depending upon one’s knowledge, experience, and specialisation he has opted for.

CA COURSE REGISTRATION

The CA course involves multiple levels. Each level requires students to register through a structured process. The step-by-step guide to registration for each level is as follows:

1. Registration for CA Foundation

• Eligibility: Completion of Class 12 or equivalent.
• Steps:
  1. Visit the ICAI’s Self-Service Portal (SSP) at https://eservices.icai.org.
  2. Create an account by providing basic details.
  3. Fill out the registration form for the CA Foundation, upload the required documents, and pay the registration fee.
  4. The candidate will need a valid email address and mobile number to complete the OTP-based registration process and submit softcopies of documents.
  5. After successful submission of forms, the documents will be verified and registration will be confirmed by the Institute.
  6. The students will receive confirmation through mail along with their SRN (Student Registration Number) which is a very important aspect of the CA journey.

• Documents Required:
• Class 10 Marksheet
• Class 12 Marksheet
• Recent passport-size photograph and signature.

2. Registration for CA Intermediate

• Eligibility:
  • Completion of CA Foundation, or
  • Direct Entry Route (Graduates/Postgraduates with specified marks or Intermediate-level qualification in CS/CMA).
• Steps:

1.                  Log in to the ICAI SSP portal.

2.                  Select CA Intermediate Registration and fill in the required details.

3.                  Upload documents such as proof of eligibility and pay the registration fee.

4.                  Complete the process by downloading the confirmation receipt.

• Documents Required:
  • CA Foundation Marksheet (if applicable).
  • Graduation/Postgraduation Marksheet (for Direct Entry).
  • Passport-size photograph and signature.

3. Registration for CA Final

• Eligibility: Successful completion of both groups of CA Intermediate will be eligible to register for the CA Final
• Steps:
  1. Log in to the ICAI SSP portal.
  2. Select CA Final Registration and fill in the form.
  3. Upload the necessary documents and pay the registration fee.
  4. Obtain confirmation for future reference.
• Documents Required:
• CA Intermediate Marksheet.
• Passport-size photograph and signature.

Fee Structure

The registration fee varies for each level and category.

Note : *The above-mentioned course fees exclude the exam fees and the coaching fees of private institutes but include the study material fees.

*After registration to the respective level and payment of prescribed course fees, the candidate will also be provided details to order study material through the Centralised Distribution System portal, i.e., icai-cds.org.

EXEMPTIONS

For CA Intermediate and CA Final, a student who appeared in all the papers comprised in a Group and fails in one or more papers in that Group but secures a minimum of 60% marks in any paper(s) of that Group shall be eligible for exemption in that paper(s) in the next three following examinations. This means that while he is availing the benefit of exemption secured in the paper(s) during the previous examination, he shall have to qualify for the remaining papers in any of the next three following examinations.

FAQs

1. What is the CA course and who regulates it?

The CA course is a professional qualification in accounting, finance, and taxation, regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It is one of the most prestigious qualifications in the field of accounting and auditing.

2. How long does it take to become a CA?

It typically takes 4.5 to 5 years.

3. Is the CA Course very tough?

It is considered one of the toughest courses in India but can be easily pursued with dedication and sheer hard work.

4. What is the pass percentage of CA exams?

The pass percentage for the CA Final exam is usually low. It usually ranges between 15-20%.

5. When are CA exams conducted?

Foundation and Intermediate exams are conducted thrice a year – January, May, and September while final exams are conducted twice a year – May and November.

6. What is the eligibility to register for the CA course?

A Class 10th passed student may register with the Board of Studies (BoS) of the Institute for the Foundation Course. Graduates with a prescribed percentage of marks can register for Intermediate as direct entry students. Candidates pursuing their Final Year Graduation/Postgraduation Course are also eligible for provisional registration for the Intermediate Course.

7. What is the cost of doing CA?

The estimated cost of doing CA is approximately Rs. 80,000. This can vary according to the coaching institutes one prefers to join.

8. What is the expected salary of CA in India?

The initial average salary of a CA is Rs. 8 LPA which can rise up to Rs. 75 LPA depending upon one’s knowledge, experience, and specialisation he has opted for.

9. Does CA have global recognition?

Yes, CA is a globally recognised profession. It may need some additional qualifications in some countries.