How to become CA in India? Chartered Accountancy course is one of the best after passing Class 10th Examination. To become a Chartered Accountant in India, you have to complete Chartered Accountancy Course. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) regulates this course. Official website is ICAI.org.
About ICAI: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body set up by the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949. ICAI is the second largest professional body of Chartered Accountants in the world. Initially it has only 1,700 members in 1949 and today the membership of the CA Institute is over 3,07,000. There are more than 5,00,000 students are pursuing chartered accountancy course.
The Institute has its headquarters at New Delhi. In
addition, it has five Regional Councils located in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata,
Kanpur and New Delhi and 163 Branches spread all over the country. The
Institute has also 30 chapters outside India.
There are three levels in this course viz. CA Foundation, CA Intermediate and CA Final. Under newly revised Scheme of Education and Training, a candidate can pursue Chartered Accountancy Course either through Foundation Course Route or through Direct Entry Route. Early registration to CA Foundation Course is available for 10th class passed candidates. Otherwise, graduation degree is the eligibility for direct admission to CA Intermediate Course.
Total duration of CA Course is 4.5 years out of which 3 years is for practical training i.e. Articleship and 4 months and 8 months is for study period in CA Foundation and Intermediate. AUBSP.com helps you to provide detail guidelines for becoming an Indian Chartered Accountant. You will find step wise requirement to become a CA i.e. eligibility for admission, syllabus of CA Course, study materials, exam dates, results and total cost to complete chartered accountancy course.
Requirements to become a CA in 2026
CA Course duration
Before joining CA course, you should have knowledge about duration of Chartered Accountancy course. I am explaining the CA course duration in detail hereunder:
Become CA through Foundation Course Route:
- CA Foundation course duration is 8 months;
- Study Period 4 Months
- Exam Period 1 month
- Time to declare CA Foundation result 2 months
- Time required for Admission to CA Intermediate Course is 1 month
- CA Intermediate course duration is 14 months; and
- Study Period 8 Months
- Exam Period 1 month
- Time to declare CA Inter result 2 months
- Time required for Admission to CA Final Course is 1 month
- CA Final course duration is 36 months
Thus, the minimum time required to become a Chartered Accountants in India is 58 months (i.e. 4 years and 10 months). The above period starts from the date of joining entry level i.e. CA Foundation course to enrolling your name in the register of members of ICAI.
However, if you register yourself through direct entry route then you will become a Chartered Accountant within a minimum period of 36 months i.e. 3 years.
Become ICAI member in May 2026
To become CA in January/February, 2026, you have to clear in first attempt CA Foundation in Nov 2021, CA Intermediate in Nov 2022 and CA Final in Nov 2025.
| Requirements for | becoming CA in Jan/Feb 2026 |
|---|---|
| Register for CA Foundation Course | Between 02.01.2021 to 01.07.2021 |
| CA Foundation Study Period | 4 Months (July-Oct 2021) |
| Appear in CA Foundation Exams | Nov 2021 |
| CA Foundation Result Nov 2021 | Jan/Feb 2022 |
| CA Foundation Course duration | July 2021 to February 2022 |
| Register for CA Intermediate Course | On or before 1st March 2022 |
| Complete ICITSS | 4 weeks |
| CA Inter Study Period | 8 Months (March-Oct 2022) |
| Appear in CA Intermediate Exam | Nov 2022 |
| CA Inter Results Nov 2022 | Jan/Feb 2023 |
| Join Articleship | 3 Years (May 2023 to April 2026) |
| CA Intermediate course duration | March 2022 to April 2023 |
| Register for CA Final Course | On or before 1st May 2023 |
| Complete AICITSS | 4 weeks |
| Appear in CA Final Exams | Nov 2025 |
| CA Final Results Nov 2025 | Jan/Feb 2026 |
| CA Final course duration | May 2023 to April 2026 |
Become ICAI Member in Nov 2026
To become CA in July/August, 2026, you have to clear CA Foundation in May 2022, CA Intermediate in May 2023 and CA Final in May 2026 in first attempt.
| Requirements for | becoming CA in July/Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| Register for CA Foundation Course | Between 02.07.2021 to 01.01.2022 |
| CA Foundation Study Period | 4 Months (January-April 2022) |
| Appear in CA Foundation Exams | May 2022 |
| CA Foundation Result May 2022 | July/Aug 2022 |
| CA Foundation Course duration | January 2022 to August 2022 |
| Register for CA Intermediate Course | On or before 1st September 2022 |
| Complete ICITSS | 4 weeks |
| CA Inter Study Period | 8 Months (Sept 2022 – April 2023) |
| Appear in CA Intermediate Exam | May 2023 |
| CA Inter Results May 2023 | July/Aug 2023 |
| Join Articleship | 3 Years (Nov 2023 to Oct 2026) |
| CA Intermediate course duration | September 2022 to October 2023 |
| Register for CA Final Course | On or before 1st Nov 2023 |
| Complete AICITSS | 4 weeks |
| Appear in CA Final Exams | May 2026 |
| CA Final Results May 2026 | July/Aug 2026 |
| CA Final course duration | Nov 2023 to Oct 2026 |
Become CA in May 2024 through Direct Entry Route
If you are graduate then you may become CA in just 3 years. Direct entry is open for commerce graduates or post-graduates (55%) or other graduates or post-graduates (60%):
| Requirements for | becoming CA in July/Aug 2024 |
|---|---|
| Register for CA Intermediate Course | Between 02.02.2021 to 01.08.2021 |
| Undergo ICITSS | 4 weeks |
| Register for Practical Training | 3 Years (August 2021 – July 2024) |
| Complete 9 months of Articleship | On or before 1st May 2022 |
| Appear in CA Intermediate Exam | May 2022 |
| CA Inter Results May 2022 | July/Aug 2022 |
| Register for CA Final Course | No last Date of Registration |
| Complete AICITSS | 4 weeks |
| Appear in CA Final Exams | May 2024 |
| CA Final Results May 2026 | July/Aug 2024 |
Steps to become a Chartered Accountant in India
Complete the following steps to become a qualified Indian Chartered Accountant:
Step-1: CA Foundation Course
It is the entry-level course. Candidates who wish to pursue Chartered Accountancy Course can register for Foundation Course after passing in Class 10th examination. Following are papers of CA Foundation Course:
- Paper-1: Principles and Practice of Accounting
- Paper-2: Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting
- Paper-3: Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning & Statistics
- Paper-4: Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge
CA Foundation Course registration is valid for 3 years and can be revalidated any number of times for further 3 years period by paying revalidation fee of ₹300/- or as decided by the ICAI Council from time to time.
Step-2: CA Intermediate Course
Candidates can register for Intermediate level after qualifying Foundation Course. You may take direct entry, if you are Graduate or have qualified the Intermediate Level examination of CMA Institute or CS Institute. Four weeks ICITSS and three years practical training required.
There are two Groups in CA Intermediate level viz. Group-I (Paper-1 to Paper-4) and Group-II (Paper-5 to Paper-7). Following subjects are of CA Intermediate Course:
- Paper-1: Accounting
- Paper-2: Corporate and Other Laws
- Paper-3: Cost and Management Accounting
- Paper-4: Taxation
- Paper-5: Advanced Accounting
- Paper-6: Auditing and Assurance
- Paper-7: Enterprise Information Systems & Strategic Management
- Paper-8: Financial Management & Economics for Finance
CA Intermediate Course registration is valid for 4 years and can be revalidated any number of times for further 4 years period by paying revalidation fee of Rs. 400/- or as decided by the ICAI Council from time to time.
Step-3: CA Final Course
After successfully passing Intermediate Examination, a student enters into the last leg of the Chartered Accountancy Course i.e. the Final Course.
There are two Groups in CA Final level viz. Group-I (Paper-1 to Paper-4) and Group-II (Paper-5 to Paper-8). Following subjects cover entire syllabus of CA Final course:
- Paper-1: Financial Reporting
- Paper-2: Strategic Financial Management
- Paper-3: Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics
- Paper-4: Corporate and Economic Laws
- Paper-5: Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation
- Paper-6: Elective Subjects
- Paper-6A: Risk Management
- Paper-6B: Financial Services and Capital Markets
- Paper-6C: International Taxation
- Paper-6D: Economic Laws
- Paper-6E: Global Financial Reporting Standards
- Paper-6F: Multidisciplinary Case Study
- Paper-7: Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation
- Paper-8: Indirect Tax Laws
CA Final Course registration is valid for 5 years and can be revalidated any number of times for further 5 years period by paying revalidation fee of ₹500/- or as decided by the Council from time to time.
Step-4: Register as Member of ICAI
After passing Final course, you will be a qualified Chartered Accountant and eligible to submit application in Form No. 2 for entry in the register of members of ICAI.
Requirements to become a Chartered Accountant
A) Through Foundation Course route:
- Register in CA Foundation Course after passing in Class 10th Examination.
- Complete 4 months study period before appearing in foundation exam. Therefore, you have to register between 02.1.2021 to 01.07.2021 for appearing in Nov 2021 term of foundation exam. Similarly, you are eligible to appear for May 2022 term of CA Foundation examination if admission taken between 02.07.2021 to 01.01.2022.
- Appear in Foundation Examination after appearing in the Senior Secondary (10+2) Examination.
- Join Intermediate Course after passing class 12th and Foundation Examination.
- Undergo Four Weeks Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft skills (ICITSS) compulsorily before commencement of Articleship.
- Appear in Intermediate Examination on completion of 8 months of study course.
- Join articled training after passing either of the Group or Both Groups of Intermediate Course and after successfully undergoing ICITSS.
- Clear the balance Group (if any) of Intermediate Examination.
- Register for CA Final Course.
- Successfully undergo Four Weeks Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft skills (AICITSS) during the last two years of practical training but before appearing in the Final Examination.
- Appear in the CA Final Exam on completion of the articleship training or while serving last 6 months of articled training after successful completion of AICITSS.
- Complete articled training of 3 years.
- Pass Final Examination.
- Enrol as a member of the ICAI and be designated as “Chartered Accountant”.
B) Through Direct Entry route:
I. Commerce Graduates/ Post-Graduates (55%) or Other Graduates/ Post-Graduates (60%):
- Enrol with ICAI for Intermediate Course.
- Undergo Four Weeks ICITSS consisting of Courses on Information Technology and Orientation Course before commencement of your articleship.
- Register for Practical Training of three years.
- Appear in Intermediate Exam on completion of 9 months of Practical Training on first day of the month in which the examination is to be held.
- Appear and pass in both groups of Intermediate Examination and register for Final Course.
- Successfully undergo Four Weeks Advanced ICITSS consisting of Courses on Advanced Information Technology and Management Communication Skills (IT & MCS) during the last two years of practical training but before appearing in the Final Examination.
- Appear in the Final Examination on completion of the practical training or while serving last 6 months of articled training after successful completion of AICITSS.
- Complete articled training of 3 years.
- Pass Final Examination.
- Enrol as a member of the ICAI and be designated as “Chartered Accountant”.
Provisional Registration:
Candidates who are pursuing the Final year of Graduation Course shall be
eligible for provisional registration to the Intermediate Course. During the
period of provisional registration, the candidate can undergo and complete
ICITSS.
II. Candidates who have passed Intermediate level examination of Institute of Company Secretaries of India or Institute of Cost Accountants of India
- Enrol with the ICAI for Intermediate Course.
- Undergo Four Weeks ICITSS consisting of Courses on Information Technology and Orientation Course at the earliest but complete the same compulsorily before commencement of your articleship.
- Appear in Intermediate Exam on completion of 8 months of study period.
- Join articled training after passing either of the Group or Both Groups of Intermediate Course and after successfully undergoing ICITSS.
- Clear the balance Group (if any) of Intermediate Examination.
- Register for Final Course.
- Successfully undergo Four Weeks Advanced ICITSS consisting of Courses on Advanced IT and MCS during the last two years of practical training but before appearing in the Final Examination.
- Appear in the Final Exam on completion of articleship or while serving last 6 months of articled training.
- Complete articled training of 3 years.
- Pass Final Examination.
- Enrol as a member of the ICAI and be designated as “Chartered Accountant”.
Total Cost to become Chartered Accountant in India
| Details of ICAI Course Fee | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|
| Cost of Foundation Prospectus | 200 |
| CA Foundation Registration Fee | 9000 |
| CA Intermediate Registration Fee | 15000 |
| ICITSS – Course on Information Technology (IT) | 6500 |
| ICITSS – Orientation Course (OC) | 7000 |
| Students’ Activities Fee | 2000 |
| Registration fee as articled assistant | 1000 |
| AICITSS – Course on Advanced Information Technology (IT) | 7500 |
| AICITSS – Management & Communication Skills Course (MCS) | 7000 |
| CA Final Registration Fee | 22000 |
| Total | 77200 |
| Optional payment to ICAI during CA Course: | |
| Subscription for Students’ Journal for one year | 200 |
| Subscription for Members’ Journal for one year | 400 |
| CA Intermediate Live Virtual Classes | 4000 |
| CA Final Live Virtual Classes | 4750 |
| Four Weeks’ Residential Programme | 60000 |
| Total | 69350 |
| Optional Private Coaching Fee: | |
| CA Foundation Coaching Fee | 25000 |
| CA Intermediate Coaching Fee | 55000 |
| CA Final Coaching Fee | 70000 |
| Total Fee | 1,50,000 |
Note that CA Course coaching fee may vary from different private coaching institutes. Please share, how much amount you had paid for taking CA Online Classes or offline classes from private coaching institutes.
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