How to Become a CA in India 2024? Complete Guide

Becoming a chartered accountant (CA) in India is a prestigious and rewarding career path famous for the rigorous examinations and expertise required. CAs provide financial advice and audit accounts and help with other aspects of finance. Their services play a pivotal role in business health by guaranteeing compliance with tax laws, financial regulations, and effective resource management. Students and professionals often try to understand how to become CA since there are several things involved in this process. 

Let’s understand in brief how to become a Chartered Accountant after the 12th. So aspiring CAs must first register with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and complete three stages to become certified chartered accountants (CA). Starting with clearing an entry-level CA Foundation course exam, then intermediate examinations comprising two groups, articleship training under practising CAs for two years, followed by clearing final exams that designate them as CAs. So, this structured pathway ensures they possess sufficient knowledge, skills, and experience for professional success in this field. 

In this post, we will explain how to become a Chartered Accountant after 12th commerce or science, after graduation/post-graduation 

CA Course Details 

The ICAI, or the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, governs the Chartered Accountant exams. The CA exams are national-level and have three levels: the CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final. Students must undergo two years of Articleship under a registered CA and a few other practical trainings that give them practical exposure to how a CA works. 

All three levels have different eligibility criteria and aspirants must meet them to be eligible to sit for the exams. Generally, students can become CA via two routes: the Foundation route and the direct-entry route. So the foundation route is open for students who want to pursue the Chartered Accountant course after class 12th and the direct-entry route is for those who wish to pursue the course after graduation/post-graduation. 

For those who are looking for additional information on how to become CA, please have a look at the table to get know about the basic details and in the subsequent sections, we will follow all other information:

CA Course Eligibility Criteria

When understanding how to become a Chartered Accountant after the 12th, it is important to understand the eligibility criteria so that aspirants can proceed accordingly. Let’s check below:

CA Foundation Route Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the CA foundation exam via the Foundation route:

• A student must pass the class 12th exam or equivalent with a minimum of 50% from a board recognized by the central government. 
• The students must register before the deadline to be eligible for the CA Foundation exams.
• They must also register under the Board of Studies [BoS] portal and undergo a four-month study period. 

Direct Entry Route Eligibility Criteria:

• Graduates or postgraduates must secure at least 55% in their graduation or postgraduate degree and have a commerce background. 
• Graduates or postgraduates from a non-commerce background must secure at least 60% in aggregate during their graduation or post-graduation.
• Provisional registration is open for final-year students. However, registration will be regularized once the students provide their mark sheet or passing certificate within six months of the publication of the result.

How to Become a CA?

So, how do you become a chartered accountant? We will address this question here. As mentioned earlier, there are two routes to becoming a CA – via the Foundation and Direct Entry routes. We have understood the eligibility criteria. Now, we will discuss the entire process for both routes in detail.

First, let’s start with how to become Chartered Accountant after 12th Commerce:

1. Register & Clear the CA Foundation Exam

The first step to becoming a CA under the foundation route is to register for the CA foundation course. The CA Foundation exam is the entry-level exam that takes you to the next step to becoming a CA. Students who have completed the class 12 exams are eligible for this level. They must complete the registration for this CA Foundation course on the ICAI’s official website. After completing the registration, the students will get a 4-month study period during which they will cover the entire CA Foundation syllabus. Then, they will fill out the CA foundation exam form that will help them get the admit cards, and after that, they will sit for the exams.

The CA Foundation Exams have four papers, and each paper carries 100. Students are advised to check the syllabus and exam pattern details on the ICAI;s official website. To clear the exam, the students must secure 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate in all four papers. Once they meet the passing criteria, they will become eligible for this intermediate level.

2. Register & Clear the CA Intermediate Exam

The next step in how to become a CA via the CA Foundation route is to register and clear the CA Intermediate level. So, the students who cleared the CA foundation exam are now eligible for the CA intermediate exam, so they can proceed with the registration process. After registration, students will have an eight-month study period to complete the syllabus. You must also fill out the CA Intermediate registration form, download the admit card, and sit for the exams. 

As per the new ICAI scheme,  CA intermediate has six subjects divided into two groups, each of three subjects. Each paper is worth 100 marks, and you must clear both groups to pass the CA Intermediate exam. To clear the exam, the students must secure 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate. After two months of the CA intermediate exam, the results are published on the ICAI’s official website. 

Students also must complete four weeks of an Information Technology and Soft Skill Integration Short Integrated Course (ICITSS). ICITSS training must be completed before commencing any practical training sessions.

3. Complete the Mandatory Articleship 

Candidates can start CA articleship training as soon as they pass any CA Intermediate groups and complete the ICITSS training, then register for practical training sessions.

Over two years of articleship training will provide students with extensive practical exposure to what Chartered Accountants do in real-world situations. After completing articleship training, students become eligible to appear for CA Final exams. The registration cost for the CA Articleship is Rs 2000.

4. Register For CA Final Exams

Once students complete the Articleship and the other necessary training, the next step on how to become a CA is registering for the CA Final exams and passing the exams. The process for registration and the passing criteria is the same as the CA Intermediate and CA Foundation exams. Also, the CA Final has six subjects, divided into two groups each of three subjects. 

5. Apply For ICAI Membership

Finally, now you can apply for ICAI membership and this is the last step on how to become a CA.

How to Become CA After Graduation through Direct Entry Route?  

ICAI provides graduate or postgraduate students direct entry into the Chartered Accountant Course without taking CA Foundation exams, offering direct enrollment into Intermediate Course registration instead. Under this scheme, graduate students may register directly for Intermediate course registration, bypassing CA Foundation exams.

The eligibility criteria for the direct-entry route is as follows:

• Minimum 55% for commerce graduates or post-graduates
• Minimum 60% for Arts/Humanities/Science graduates or post-graduates

Such students need to register for both the CA Intermediate groups and the steps to become a Chartered Accountant after graduation remain the same. So the overview of the steps is as follows:

• Clear one of the CA Intermediate groups.
• Register for the Practical training after that.
• Clear both the groups of the CA Intermediate exam.
• Conclude the CA Articleship Training (2 years).
• Register and clear the CA Final exams.
• Apply for the ICAI Membership.

Why Build a Career in CA?

1. High Demand and Job Security:

• Chartered Accountants (CAs) are in constant demand across various industries. Whether it’s public or private sectors, companies need CAs for their financial management, tax planning, auditing, and consulting expertise.
• The qualification ensures high job security due to the indispensability of financial oversight and regulation compliance in any organization.

2. Diverse Career Opportunities:

• CAs can work in multiple domains such as auditing, taxation, finance, consultancy, and government roles. This versatility allows professionals to choose a path that aligns with their interests and skills.
• Opportunities also extend to international roles, given the global recognition of the Chartered Accountant qualification.

3. Lucrative Salary and Benefits:

• CAs enjoy attractive salary packages and benefits. Their specialized knowledge and skills command high remuneration in the market.
• With experience and expertise, CAs can see significant financial growth and perks.

4. Professional Prestige:

• The title of a Chartered Accountant holds significant prestige and respect in the business community. It signifies a high level of competence, integrity, and ethical standards.
• Being a Chartered Accountant often positions professionals as trusted advisors to business leaders and stakeholders.

5. Entrepreneurial Opportunities:

• CAs have the knowledge and skills to start their practices, offering auditing, tax consultancy, and financial planning services. This entrepreneurial route can be highly rewarding both financially and professionally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the steps to become a Chartered Accountant in India?

Ans: Follow the steps to become a CA

1. Pass the ICAI Foundation Exam
2. Pass the ICAI Intermediate Exam
3. Complete Three Years of Articleship Training
4. Clear ICAI Final Exam

Q2. In how many years I can become a Chartered Accountant?

Ans: It requires a minimum of 4.5 years to become a CA.

Q3. What is the average salary of a Chartered Accountant in India?

Ans: The average CA salary in India is INR 6-7 Lakhs. It can rise to 40-60 Lakhs depending upon the skills and Experience.

Q4. When should I pursue Chartered Accountancy courses?

Ans: Candidates can pursue Chartered Accountancy courses after the 12th or even after graduation. Also, students can enrol for the ICAI course after the 10th and appear for the exams after the 12th.

Q5. What are the eligibility criteria for class 12th students to appear for the Chartered Accountancy courses?

Ans: The eligibility criteria for students of class 12th commerce is they need to score 50% marks in their board exams. And non-commerce background students, need to score 55% marks in the board exams.

Q6. What is the fee structure of Chartered Accountancy courses?

Ans: The fee structure of all three levels of Chartered Accountancy is explained by the CA Wizard. Visit the CA wizard to check the CA course fee structure.

Q7. How to become a Chartered Accountant after 12th class?

Ans: To become a Chartered Accountant after class 12th students have to be eligible for the ICAI foundation level first. Afterwards, students can become Chartered Accountants by following the above-discussed steps.

Q8. How to Become a Chartered Accountant after Graduation?

Ans: Students can become Chartered Accountants after graduation through the direct entry route. The procedure to become CA from the direct entry route is mentioned above. Students can get the complete details from there.