The Chartered Accountant (CA) is one of the highest and most desirable career arrangements in commerce. To take this step, you must first be aware of specific CA eligibility criteria. CA eligibility is different at the level of the CA courses pursued CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, or CA Final. Each level has its own needs which ensure that students are, in fact, suitably prepared for the demands of the course.
CA exam eligibility is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). professional body of Chartered Accountants in India. No matter whether you are a Class 12 student, a graduate, or a professional, there is a career ladder leading to the title of CA.
CA Full Form
CA is the abbreviation for Chartered Accountant, which is an internationally highly recognized professional qualification for accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial management. Chartered Accountants have an important function in ensuring the integrity and authenticity of financial information, which is of high value to business and government.
The CA course is both demanding and fulfilling, and passing it leads to the opening up of a wide range of opportunities throughout different sectors. The ICAI organizes the CA examinations and exercises full control of the entire process from registration until certification. To become a CA means demonstrating advanced knowledge and capabilities in financial and management practices.
CA Eligibility
CA eligibility rules vary concerning the level of the course you desire to study. The CA course has three levels
- CA Foundation: This is the classificatory test for amateurs and is open only to such students who have passed the Class 12th.
- CA Intermediate: You can go up to this level after passing the CA Foundation exam or be qualified to enter directly.
- CA Final: This is the final module of the course, and students are required to have achieved CA Intermediate and completed the minimum period of articleship training.
During the stages, ICAI ensures that only those who meet the required standards progress, thereby maintaining a professional level in the domain. Let’s explore each level in detail.
CA Foundation Eligibility
The Chartered Accountancy program begins with the CA Foundation. Specifically, it aims to provide teachers with a conceptual grounding in accounting, law, and economics. Knowledge of the academies’ eligibility requirements is of great use to students who are considering pursuing a career in this field at the inception of their academic career.
- Educational Qualification: The 12th class examination shall be cleared through a recognized board. Students from all classes (commerce, science, and arts) are free to apply but students from the commerce stream have a more direct route as the subjects offered in the commerce stream are quite similar to the syllabus of CA.
- Registration with ICAI: To secure sufficient preparation time for the CA Foundation course, one must register with ICAI. Registration is open year-round but must be completed at least four months before the attempted exam date.
- Age Limit: In comparison to most other professional courses, there is no CA age restriction for enrolling in the CA Foundation examination. This course is available to all students regardless of age, so this course is available to any person motivated to learn. Exams are taken two times per year, in May and November.
Subjects Covered in CA Foundation
CA Foundation exam is made up of four papers, each of which evaluates the scope of your knowledge in the areas of accounting, business, and economics. Here is an overview of the subjects:
- Principles and Practices of Accounting: This paper introduces the basics of accounting.
- Business Laws and Business Correspondence: This paper focuses on corporate laws and communication skills.
- Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics: This paper tests mathematical and analytical skills.
- Business Economics and Commercial Knowledge: This paper covers fundamental economic concepts and business awareness.
| Paper Number | Subject | Marks | Exam Type |
| 1 | Principles and Practices of Accounting | 100 | Descriptive |
| 2 | Business Laws and Business Correspondence | 100 | Descriptive |
| 3 | Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics | 100 | Objective |
| 4 | Business Economics and Business & Commercial Knowledge | 100 | Objective |
Every paper has a score of 100, and a student must get at least 40% marks on every paper and 50% marks on the total to pass CA Foundation.
CA Intermediate Eligibility
Access is granted by passing the CA Foundation or using direct entry routes. A person having cleared the CA Foundation examination is entitled to apply for CA Intermediate. Once registered students will complete at least 8 months of study before the exam is sat.
- Eligibility Through Direct Entry: The direct entry scheme allows students, postgraduate students, and members of a special category of professionals to skip the CA Foundation paper and directly drop into the CA Intermediate paper. The specific requirements are:
- Commerce Graduates/Postgraduates: For the degree, a minimum aggregate mark of 55% must be achieved.
- Non-Commerce Graduates/Postgraduates: You must achieve a minimum grade of 60% for the whole degree.
- CS and CMA Qualified Candidates: You are entitled to direct entry if you are a chartered Company Secretary (CS) or a chartered Cost and Management Accountant (CMA).
Subjects in CA Intermediate
The exams are descriptive, and you have to master both sets with a grade of at least 40% for each subject and a total grade of 50%.
- Group I: Accounting, Corporate Laws, Cost Management, and Taxation.
- Group II: Advanced Accounting, Auditing, IT Systems, and Financial Management.
| Group | Paper Number | Subject | Marks | Exam Type |
| Group I | 1 | Accounting | 100 | Descriptive |
| 2 | Corporate and Other Laws | 100 | Descriptive | |
| 3 | Cost and Management Accounting | 100 | Descriptive | |
| 4 | Taxation | 100 | Descriptive | |
| Group II | 5 | Advanced Accounting | 100 | Descriptive |
| 6 | Auditing and Assurance | 100 | Descriptive | |
| 7 | Enterprise Information Systems and Strategic Management | 100 | Descriptive | |
| 8 | Financial Management and Economics for Finance | 100 | Descriptive |
CA Final Eligibility
One must pass both groups in the CA Intermediate Examination. These IT and communication course projects are the requisites to attempt the CA Final examination
- Completion of Articleship: You shall have to complete a minimum of 2.5 years of compulsory articleship with an active CA.
- Subjects in CA Final: The CA Final exam has two groups of subjects
- Group I: Advanced Financial Reporting, Strategic Financial Management, Auditing and Corporate Laws.
- Group II: Strategic Cost Management, Tax Laws, and an elective paper of your choice.
| Group | Paper Number | Subject | Marks |
| Group I | 1 | Financial Reporting | 100 |
| 2 | Strategic Financial Management | 100 | |
| 3 | Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics | 100 | |
| 4 | Corporate and Economic Laws | 100 | |
| Group II | 5 | Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation | 100 |
| 6 | Elective Paper (Choose one out of six options) | 100 | |
| 7 | Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation | 100 | |
| 8 | Indirect Tax Laws | 100 |
Passing CA Final provides the eligibility to apply for membership of ICAI and thereby, gives you the status of a Chartered Accountant.
Scope of Chartered Accountancy in India and Abroad
Chartered Accountant (CA) demand is continuing to increase not just in India but across the globe. CAs also work across a wide range of other fields, such as corporate finance, auditing, taxation, and consultancy. They are further in high demand by the organizations of the public sector and government agencies.
- Salary and Opportunities in India: The average CA salary in India is around ₹6,0,000 to ₹10,0,000 per year. Experienced CAs in leading organizations such as Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG have the potential to pocket more than ₹25,0,00,000 per year.
- Scope Abroad: Internationally, CAs are in a wealth of opportunity, especially in Canada, the UK, and the UAE. Salaries abroad are much more remunerative (between₹20,00,000 and₹50,00,000) per year, depending on the nation and the job.
CA Eligibility FAQs
What is the full form of CA?
The full form of CA is Chartered Accountant. They specialize in auditing, taxation, and financial management.
What is the CA exam eligibility age limit?
There is no specific CA exam eligibility age limit. Candidates can pursue the course at any age.
What is the CA Foundation eligibility?
The eligibility to CA Foundation is determined by successfully qualifying for both the Class XII board examination and registration with ICAI and completion of the same.
Can graduates skip the CA Foundation?
Already, a student can enroll directly into CA Intermediate with the needed marks to do so.
What is the salary of a CA in India?
The average monthly salary of a CA ranges from ₹6,0,000 to ₹10,0,000 per year for experience and type of sector/industry in India.
