Becoming a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) is the most prestigious and satisfying step along a pathway, but it requires effort, commitment, and strategic planning. A Chartered Accountant is a specialist in the area of accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial management. CAs are also of great value in business and the economy, as CAs help organizations navigate legal issues, financial management, the smooth functioning of the business, etc. To qualify as a CA, multiple-level examinations need to be cleared, practical training needs to be completed, and several other mandatory criteria need to be met, all prescribed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). To know how to become a CA one has to understand that the process starts right from choosing the correct stream in school and can take anywhere from 5 to 7 years depending on how quickly you clear the exams and training.
Who is Chartered Accountant (CA)?
A Chartered Accountant (CA) is a statutory financial expert and he/she offers several services including ďŹnancial accounting, auditing, taxation, risk management, and financial planning. They are certified professionals who ensure compliance with laws, provide financial clarity to businesses, and act as advisors for efficient financial decision-making. Chartered Accountants go far beyond traditional activities such as auditing or taxation and are currently assuming increasingly strategic responsibilities, such as business planning, risk management, and mergers and acquisitions.
The title of CA is internationally recognized and also creates vast opportunities for public accounting firms and extends to multinational companies operating across borders. The Association of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is the main performing authority for the conduct of CA examinations in India, and it governs the profession. Achieving a CA status provides financial autonomy, social recognition, and opportunities for career progression toward leadership roles.
How to Become CA?
The education for CA is a step-by-step system. Each stage has to be noted with adherence to the provisions as laid down by ICAI. Below is the step-by-step roadmap:
1. Select the proper educational track after completion of Class 10 or Class 12.
2. Register for the CA Foundation Course.
3. Pass the CA Foundation Examination.
4. Register for the CA Intermediate Course.
5. Complete Articleship Training.
6. Pass the CA Intermediate Examination.
7. Enroll in the CA Final Course.
8. Pass the CA Final Examination.
9. Complete the General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS) training.
10. Apply for ICAI membership to become a professional Chartered Accountant.
There is the shortest way to attain the Chartered Accountant status after the Class 12 exam. The earlier one makes this career decision the more likely one is to follow a curriculum and graduate as soon as possible. The following procedure describes the process of pursuing CA after the 12th.
Step 1: Choose the Commerce Stream/Science Stream
The foundation for a productive CA (Auditor class) career resides in your pick in Class 11. Commerce is the usual route for students who are pursuing a Chartered Account status. This is (partly) because study subjects in commerce, including accounting, economics, and business studies, constitute the base of the CA course. It is advantageous that during the Class 11 studies of Commerce, students gain early exposure to financial principles, which helps them in the CA Foundation course.
If you come from a Science or Arts background, donât worryâyou can still pursue CA. However, noncommerce students may require knowledge and skills in subjects like accounting and economics. The issue is the continuous, persistent, and repetitive work, plus the elimination of information limitations. Hence, regardless of the academic background from which you are coming, what one is aiming at at the end of the journey to be a CA is everybody’s cup of tea, as long as one is eager to put in hard work.
Step 2: Enroll in a CA Foundation Course
The entry-level qualification for the Chartered Accountancy program is the CA Foundation Course. This course is the entry point to the role of a CA. The CA Foundation Course can be done by the students after the passing of the Class XII examinations in any stream but it should meet the faculty eligibility criteria of ICAI.
The CA Foundation Course familiarizes the student with basic accounting, legal, and business principles. It is developed to increase your knowledge platform for advanced higher levels of the program. Foundation Course has to be registered at least 4 months before the exam. For instance, if you sign up to sit the examination in May, it has to be done by the end of December in the year before.
The center of attention of the CA Foundation Course is Principles and Practice of Accounting, Business Laws and Business Communication, Business Mathematics, and Logical Reasoning, and Economics and Business Environment. All of these are core elements of the CA curriculum and underpin advanced concepts at later levels of the course.
Step 3: Complete the CA Foundation Course
After enlisting in the CA Foundation Course, the members of the group have to commit themselves to studying the subjects. Different from the school examinations, the CA Foundation Exam not only tests your theoretical knowledge but also tests your ability to utilize knowledge and conduct analysis. At the current stage, you will begin to develop your ability to think along the lines of a Chartered Accountant.
All subjects in the course are to be done as well as it can be done. As the main subject, accounting should receive special care as it is the foundation of the CA profession. Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning test the capability to solve problems, and therefore, numerical exercises should be practiced. Take advantage of the ICAI study material and practice mock tests regularly.
Step 4: Appear for CA Foundation Examinations
The next step in the preparation is to approach the CA Foundation Examination once the preparation is completed. The exam is conducted twice a yearâin May and November. It consists of four papers:
1. Principles and Practice of Accounting
2. Business Laws and Business Correspondence
3. Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning
4. Economics and Business Environment
Every paper is for a minimum score of 40% and a 50% aggregate score to pass. Passing the CA Foundation Exam is an important step that facilitates one step to the CA goal, i.e., to become a CA.
Step 5: Register for the CA Intermediate Course
Completion of the Foundation Exam followed by enrolment in the CA Intermediate Course is the subsequent step. This is the point at which you go deeper into such areas as accounting, taxation, and corporate law. Medium difficulty is more complicated and requires more time and learning Non-Commerce students (or leavers) who wish to enter the CA program at this level, can also take the Direct Entry scheme. The Intermediate Course is divided into two collections, and students can take one collection only or both of them together, depending on their preparedness.
Step 6: Complete Articleship Training
Articleship training is a compulsory, 3-year-long, workplace-based training course carried out in the company of a practicing chartered accountant (CA) or chartered accountant firm. During this phase, among the most sensitive of the CA process is the use of practice in accounting, auditing, and taxation.
During the articles, you will be exposed to practical financial situations and this helps you to deepen your grasp of theoretical concepts. It also enables professional skills acquisition such as time, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Step 7: Appear for CA Intermediate Examinations
At the end of the prescribed training period i.e., completion of the same duration, one is supposed to appear for and clear CA Intermediate Examination. This test is a challenging test for the Foundation Test and, indeed, there are subspecialty knowledge tests. Completing this stage enters you into the CA Final Course.
Step 8: Register for the CA Final Course
The CA Final Course is the ultimate level in your career as a CA. It addresses topics of a high level, such as strategic financial management, advanced auditing, and international taxation. At this stage, it is also a problem to assess your professional life’s accounting type.
Step 9: Prepare for and Appear for CA Final Examinations
The final test of the Chartered Accountants (CA) Final test is the most challenging part of the process of preparation. One needs to prepare beforehand, use ICAI publications, and do mock exams to gain an edge. Successful completion of this qualifying examination gives you the status of a Chartered Accountant.
Step 10: Complete GMCS Training and Become a Member of ICAI
General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS) training has to be completed after the end of the last Exam. This program is aimed at the training of soft skills and professional communication. Thereafter, you are entitled to apply for membership in ICAI and become a Chartered Accountant.
How to Become CA FAQs
How to become a CA after the 12th?
To become a CA after the 12th, the student has to enroll for the CA Foundation Course, pass the Foundation Exam and apply for the Intermediate Course, and complete and pass the syllabus of the Intermediate Course and CA Final Exam.
How to become a CA after graduation?
The CA Intermediate course can be registered directly by the degree holders without a Foundation Exam.
How many years does it take to become a CA?
The CA path is typically completed over 5-7 years of study – examinations and training.
How to become a CA after 12th science?
The students who pursue the Science stream are also eligible for CA, by enrolling in CA Foundation Course after the 12th. They need additional preparation in accounting and economics.
How much time it takes to become a CA?
With an average period of 5 years, the whole process is completed on a first-attempt basis for all the examinations.
