Easy Guide on How to Become CA in India: 5 Powerful Steps

Want to know how to become CA in India? Follow these five powerful steps to qualify, pass exams, and start your successful career as a Chartered Accountant.

How to become CA (Chartered Accountant) in India?

In the world of commerce, how to become CA is a common aspiration for many. When we think about career opportunities, several options come to our mind, including pursuing a CA (Chartered Accountant) course. Chartered Accountancy is a highly respected profession mainly involving accounts, auditing, taxation, and many other avenues. A chartered accountant carries out the important role of assurance provider, where you can rely on financial statements from an individual, NGO, or company.

Further, a CA can help in tax planning by devising tax-effective strategies to tackle complex tax regimes. A CA can be in practice i.e. having their own office where they serve clients and they also can join corporate organizations. Just to let you know, as per data provided by the ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) for the 60^th Campus Placement Programme held, the highest salary package offered was Rs.26.5 lakh per annum for domestic posting, and the average CTC (Cost-to-Company) for placement stood at Rs.12.49 lakh per annum.

So far, we have learned what a CA is and what you can expect from this degree. If you are wondering how to become CA, it is essential to understand the path ahead. With the question of how to become CA, dedication and hard work comes as a part and parcel of the journey, but it is a rewarding career choice.

Now, allow me to showcase you roadmap to this profession.

Understanding the Path: How to Become CA?

If you want to learn how to become CA, it’s essential to map your journey. The process demands dedication but promises immense rewards. Below is your roadmap:

Are there any colleges for this course?

No, to become CA, there are no colleges for this course. If you are wondering how to become CA without college, the course is designed for self-study, but you can take the assistance of private coaching classes, which many students do, which significantly helps them. The head office of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is located in New Delhi, and it has many branches across and outside India. You can visit these branches if you need help or assistance with this course. Further, these branches also provide study centres and conduct seminars for existing CAs.

Is this course tough?

Just getting answered to the question of how to become CA is not ultimate solution; you need to know the hard work involved. You might have already heard from your family and friends that pursuing CA degree requires lots of determination and hard work, and that is true. Owing to the difficulty level of exams, this degree requires you to work hard to achieve it. If you are committed and determined, you can definitely become CA. Despite the challenges, many aspirants successfully become CA every year through perseverance and dedication.

Can I take the exam in Hindi?

With the question of how to become CA, an important question can arise like “Can I take the exam in Hindi?”. The answer to that question is “Yes”. You can appear for the exams in English or Hindi, based on your preference. This flexibility makes it easier for students from different backgrounds to pursue their dream of becoming a CA.

How do I register for the course and get the study material?

You can register for the course online through the ICAI website, or alternatively, you can visit the nearest ICAI branch. Once you register for a particular level, as mentioned below, you will receive the study material from the ICAI via post if you have completed your online registration. If you have registered by visiting the ICAI branch, they will hand over the study material to you. Getting the right study material is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a CA.

How is the course structured?

Now let me explain to you the different levels in this course.

There are mainly four levels in this course:

1. Entry to the course
2. Intermediate Level
3. Practical Training
4. Final Level

Now, let’s discuss each level in depth:

Entry to the course

Your journey to the course or answer to the question of “how to become CA” starts here. There are two routes for entry to the course: 

• Route 1: Foundation Route 
• Route 2: Direct Entry Route

Route 1: Foundation Route

If you have a question about how to become CA after 12th then this section is for you; please read ahead. A candidate who has cleared the class 10th examination and has appeared for the class 12th exam thinking about how to become CA can opt for this route. Once the candidate is registered for the Foundation level, he/she needs to complete 4 months of study related to this level and after that can apply for the upcoming Foundation Exam. Once you clear this level, you become eligible to register for Intermediate Level.

Papers at Foundation Level are as follows:

• Paper 1 Accounting (100 marks) 
• Paper 2 Business Laws (100 marks) 
• Paper 3 Quantitative Aptitude (100 marks) 
  • – Business Mathematics 
  • – Logical reasoning 
  • – Statistics 
• Paper 4 Business Economics (100 marks)

A candidate is declared to have passed the Foundation examination, if he/she obtains at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers. Papers 1 & 2 will be subjective type while papers 3 & 4 will be objective type with negative markings.

Foundation Level Registration fees is Rs.9000/- for Indian students subject to concessions for certain states.

The Foundation route is the first step, or we can say the first part of the answer to your question of how to become CA. This is where your journey truly begins.

Route 2: Direct Entry Route

Instead of following the Foundation Route wherein the candidate is required to appear for the Foundation exam, he/she can take direct entry to the CA course upon qualifying the following conditions:

1. Commerce Graduates/Post-Graduates (with minimum 55% marks) or
2. Other Graduates/ Post-Graduates (with minimum 60% marks) or
3. Intermediate level passed candidates of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

Candidates who are pursuing the Final Year Graduation/Post-Graduation course are also eligible for provisional registration. The registration is confirmed only when such candidates submit proof of passing the exam with the aforementioned criteria.

By going through this route, you won’t be required to appear for the Foundation level exam and you will enter directly into the Intermediate Level. If you have cleared this level, you have cleared an important milestone in your journey to become CA.

This is an excellent alternative for those who wish to become CA through direct entry. If you qualify for this route, you are already halfway to becoming a CA.

Intermediate Level

Once you have entered the CA course either via Foundation Route or Direct Entry Route, you can register for Intermediate Course. As the name suggests, it is the middle level of the CA course. 

At this level, you will first be required to complete 8 months of theoretical education, after which you can appear for the upcoming Intermediate Exams.

Papers at Intermediate Level:

• Group 1
  • Paper 1 Advanced Accounting (100 marks) 
  • Paper 2 Corporate and Other Laws (100 marks) 
  • Paper 3 Taxation 
    • Section A – Income-tax Law (50 Marks) 
    • Section B – Goods and Services Tax (GST) (50 Marks)
• Group 2
  • Paper 4 Cost and Management Accounting (100 marks) 
  • Paper 5 Auditing and Ethics (100 marks) 
  • Paper 6A Financial Management (50 Marks) 
  • Paper 6B Strategic Management (50 Marks)

A candidate can appear for both groups simultaneously or one group in one examination and in the remaining group in any subsequent examination. The candidate is declared to have passed the Intermediate examination if he/she clears both groups. 

1 A candidate shall be declared to have passed in both the Groups simultaneously, if he/she: 

a. Secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of each of the Groups, viz, Group-I and Group-2, and a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of each of the Groups. or 

b. Secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of both the Groups, viz., Group-I and Group-2 and a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of both the Groups taken together.

2 A candidate shall be declared to have passed in a Group if he/she: Secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper of the Group and a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate of all the papers of that Group

Intermediate Level Registration fees is Rs.18000/- for Indian students subject to concessions for certain states.

Practical Training

Practical Training plays a crucial role in developing a prospective Chartered Accountant. Finding the answer to how to become CA is not just about clearing the exam but much more. This practical training is important in developing appropriate technical skills in a candidate to handle real-life cases. The ICAI mandates a requirement of 2 years of Practical Training. Real-world experience is essential to become CA.

Once you clear the Intermediate Exams, you are required to complete the Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (ICITSS) before the commencement of Practical Training. After completion of ICITSS, you can start your 2-year practical training journey with a practising CA or a corporate organization.

Final Level

The final level is the last major step in our final segment on answering how to become CA. Once you pass the Final Exam, you officially become CA.

Once you clear your Intermediate Examination, you can proceed to an important level of your journey to become CA. Now, you can register for the Final Level along with the Practical Training as mentioned above. While pursuing the Final Level, a candidate must complete the four Self-paced Online Modules and qualify for the online assessment. 

After this, once the candidate completes Practical Training, they can undergo and Qualify for Advanced ICITSS before appearing in the Final Examination. The candidate can appear in the Final Examination six months after the end of the Practical Training period. The final level is considered to be crucial in the path to becoming a CA. Once the candidate clears the Final Examination, he/she becomes eligible to be a member of ICAI, i.e., a CA.

Self-Paced Online Modules

SET A Corporate and Economic Laws (100 Marks) (Compulsory)

SET B Strategic Cost & Performance Management (100 Marks) (Compulsory) 

SET C Elective (Choose any one from the following) (100 Marks)

1. Risk Management 
2. Sustainable Development and Sustainability Reporting 
3. Public Finance and Government Accounting 
4. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 
5. International Taxation 
6. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 
7. Forensic Accounting 
8. Valuation 
9. Financial Services and Capital Markets 
10. Forex and Treasury Management 

SET D Towards developing inherent traits of CA students and incorporating Multi-disciplinary approach (100 Marks) (Choose one module)

1. The Constitution of India & Art of Advocacy 
2. Psychology & Philosophy 
3. Entrepreneurship & Start-Up Ecosystem 
4. Digital Ecosystem and Controls

A candidate has to qualify these online modules (SETS) to appear in the Final Examination. The minimum marks for qualifying each module is 50%

Papers at Final Level:

Group 1

Paper 1 Financial Reporting (100 marks) 

Paper 2 Advanced Financial Management (100 marks) 

Paper 3 Advanced Auditing, Assurance and Professional Ethics (100 marks)

Group 2

Paper 4 Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation (100 marks) 

Paper 5 Indirect Tax Laws (100 marks) 

Paper 6 Integrated Business Solutions (Multi-disciplinary case study involving Papers 1 to 5 at the final level along with Self-Paced Online Modules Sets A and B and Strategic Management) (100 marks)

The requirements for Passing the Final Level exams are the same as explained in the Intermediate Level.

Final Level Registration fees is Rs.22000/- for Indian students subject to concessions for certain states.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For more information, please visit ICAI

If you want to read more about CA course, please our specially designed category for CA aspirants here!

I hope I have provided you with brief information about how to become CA. I wish you all the best in your journey to become CA!