CA levels mean the three levels of the Chartered Accountancy course that an aspirant needs to clear to be a Chartered Accountant. CA levels include CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final, which differ in syllabus, exam pattern, and eligibility criteria. It is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and it provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical expertise. We shall see the CA levels, syllabus, eligibility, and much more in this article to guide you through planning your journey toward becoming a successful CA.
CA Levels
The three levels of the CA course sequentially, improve and advance the learner’s knowledge as well as the required skills for work in accounting and finance.
CA Foundation
The CA Foundation is the first stage of the Chartered Accountancy course. The course introduces the student to some basic concepts of accounting, business, and economics. This test is meant to lay a foundation for further studies on CA. This is an entrance test, but focused preparation is necessary.
At this level, there are principles of accounting, business laws, and economics subjects. It covers all the concepts regarding business management and finance that form the foundational principles for this CA course. This must be fully grasped to reach higher stages of the same course. That makes you powerful enough to stand further up.
CA Intermediate
The CA Intermediate level is the next level after the foundation in the Chartered Accountancy program. More advanced concepts have to be discussed at this stage compared to those at the foundation level. Deep diving into matters such as accountancy, laws, taxation, and auditing sets a student well for practical experience in the world of finance.
This stage makes your technical knowledge sharper in the core areas. It consists of critical subjects, such as Corporate Law, Cost Accounting, and Taxation. You need to practice solving practical problems to qualify for this stage. Success in this stage assures you that you are prepared to face the stringent CA Final level.
CA Final
The CA Final is the final and the most challenging phase of the CA course. At this level, it deals with advanced topics including financial reporting, strategic cost management, and international taxation. At this level, your expertise will be tested to handle real-world business problems.
The second part has training on managing risks, corporate governance, and world finance. With the knowledge thus gathered, the second phase empowers you to become a career professional Chartered Accountant. Successfully passing out in CA Final means an avenue toward a fantastic financial and accountancy career.
CA Syllabus
Since the CA exam is further divided into three levels, the CA syllabus also changes according to the categories of the exam. However, mainly the CA syllabus focuses on various subjects that include Financial Reporting, Strategic Financial Management, Advanced Accounting, etc. The sections of this article that summarise the detailed division related to CA Syllabus of the latest regarding CA levels in the CA exam are mentioned below:
CA Foundation Syllabus
CA Foundation or CPT is the preliminary exam of entry-level conducted by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for the Chartered Accountancy (CA) course. From the CA Foundation Syllabus, students become aware of all the accounting principles and their resultant implications on the kinds of accounts. The CA Foundation level consists of four papers:
The CA Foundation is further divided into four Papers. The CA Foundation Syllabus imparts in-depth knowledge of Business Laws, Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning & Statistics, Business Economics, and Commercial Knowledge.
| Subject | Topics Covered |
| Principles and Practices of Accounting | Basics of Accounting |
| Preparation of Financial Statements | |
| Partnership Accounts | |
| Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting | Indian Contract Act, 1872 |
| Company Law Basics | |
| Communication and Report Writing | |
| Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics | Ratio and Proportion |
| Probability and Statistics | |
| Logical Reasoning | |
| Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge | Micro and Macroeconomics |
| Business Environment | |
| Economic Policies |
CA Intermediate Syllabus
CA Intermediate is the second level of the CA exam. The syllabus of the CA Intermediate covers two groups with four subjects each. The CA syllabus for this level of intermediate covers the Advanced sections of accounting, company laws, taxation, auditing, and strategic management besides other related matters.
| Group | Subject | Topics Covered |
| Group 1 | Accounting | Accounting standards and financial statements. |
| Corporate and Other Laws | Company law, SEBI regulations, and general laws. | |
| Cost and Management Accounting | Budgeting, cost control, and performance management. | |
| Taxation | Direct tax laws and GST. | |
| Group 2 | Advanced Accounting | Accounting for special transactions and business restructuring. |
| Auditing and Assurance | Audit planning and internal controls. | |
| Enterprise Information Systems and Strategic Management | IT governance, business process automation, and strategic planning. | |
| Financial Management and Economics for Finance | Financial ratios, capital structure, and market economics. |
CA Final Syllabus
The CA Final is one of the toughest exams in the country, and it’s all because of the passing percentage. It has a vast syllabus on Risk Management, International Finance Laws, Financial Management, Advanced Auditing, and many more subjects that come under the CA Syllabus. CA Final Syllabus is tabulated below in detail:
| Group | Subject | Topics Covered |
| Group 1 | Financial Reporting | Advanced financial reporting and accounting standards. |
| Strategic Financial Management | Derivatives, risk management, and valuation. | |
| Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics | Audit of banks, PSUs, and ethical guidelines. | |
| Corporate and Economic Laws | Insolvency and bankruptcy, economic laws. | |
| Group 2 | Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation | Advanced cost management techniques. |
| Electives (Choose one) | Risk management, international taxation, or financial services. | |
| Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation | Advanced tax planning and international tax | |
| Indirect Tax Laws | GST and customs laws. |
CA Course Eligibility Criteria
There are two main routes for admission in CA: the Foundation Route ( After the 12th) and the Direct Entry Route (After Graduation). The two paths take care of students with diverse academic backgrounds and qualifications. ICAI has announced the eligibility requirements for the May 2025 CA exams. Here is a more detailed explanation of each route.
CA Foundation Route
It is the best course for students passing Class 12. To appear through this route, one needs to pass Class 12 and complete the four-month study period after admission to the CA course. Only after completing this period, a candidate can sit in the Foundation examination.
As per the ICAI exams May 2025 requirement, Students are first registered with the Board of Studies, from which the whole journey commences. Thus, the process helps the student obtain all necessary study materials and aid in studying for the advanced level effectively. It is through this entry process that the students move on to CA programs to make an appropriate groundwork for the next level.
Chartered Accountancy Direct Entry Route
This Direct entry route is open for graduates and postgraduates. Candidates from the Commerce stream need to have an aggregate of 55% marks in their graduation or post-graduation. Moreover, candidates should have taken relevant subjects in their graduation such as Accounting, Auditing, Economics, Taxation, and Management.
Graduates and postgraduates from non-commerce streams are also eligible to apply but with a minimum aggregate of 60% in their degrees.
Direct registration in the Intermediate course is allowed for candidates who have passed the intermediate-level exams of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India or The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. These candidates are exempt from qualifying for the Foundation exam.
Provisional registration is available to the students in their final year of graduation. For candidates, in this period, ICITSS Orientation Course and Information Technology Training need to be completed. Additionally, they have to furnish their mark sheet or passing certificate of their final year examination within six months after appearing in their graduation examinations.
CA Levels FAQs
1. What are the Levels of CA Exam?
CA is divided into three stages: Foundation, Intermediate, and Final. There are three CA levels of difficulty, each focusing on different areas: accounting, auditing, taxation, and finance for the three separate levels.
2. What is CA Exam Difficulty Level?
The difficulty level of CA increases with every phase. Although it is moderately tough during the Foundation phase, the Intermediate and Final phases of CA are indeed very challenging.
3. What is the eligibility for CA Intermediate?
The candidate can attempt the CA Intermediate by passing CA Foundation or straight from graduation, scoring 55% to 60%.
4. How many papers are included in the syllabus of CA Final?
There are 8 papers in the CA Final. There are two groups consisting of them and are the advanced studies like financial reporting, taxation, and strategic management.
5. What is the syllabus of CA Foundation?
The CA Foundation syllabus has 4 papers: Principles of Accounting, Business Laws, Business Mathematics, and Business Economics.
