In my family there are many chartered accountants, even I tried to become one but couldn’t succeed.
Few years back I was preparing for Chartered Accountant, I gave my best shot then I decided to quit for some other good reason.
However, while preparing for the exam I learned some great things and I would like to share my experience through this article.
In this article we start with debating how you can become a qualified CA and what you have to do as a CA.
Then we discuss all the small details regarding Chartered Accountant like course details, syllabus, qualification, best institutes, fees, salary and courses available after 10+2 and graduation etc.
So to get a complete picture you need to read full article.
How to Become a Certified Chartered Accountant (CA)
The first question that you might like to ask is how do I become a qualified or certified Chartered Accountant (CA)?
You might be wondering what you mean by “qualified or certified chartered Accountant”.
Anybody can’t become a Chartered accountant; it is not like getting a MBA or Bachelor’s degree from a renowned college.
You will become a certified Chartered accountant only when you are a member of a body called ICAI or Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
ICAI is the regulatory body that regulates the auditing and financial accounting profession in the country.
Later in this article we discuss in great detail how you can become a member of ICAI.
What Does a Chartered Accountant do and how they are Different than a Regular Accountant?
Before I tell you what you got to do as a CA it is important to know what is the difference between a certified CA and a regular accountant.
Anyone can call themselves as an accountant however everybody can’t be a certified CA.
If you have to be certified CA then you have to acquire Membership of ICAI otherwise you will be just a regular accountant.
You might be asking what would be your work as a Chartered Accountant.
As a certified CA you have to do many things like management of financial systems and budgets, undertaking financial audits and also giving financial advice.
You have to do independent auditing of a company’s financial position.
A Complete Guide for Becoming a Certified CA
Here we will talk about chartered accountant course in details, how you can join the course and when you have to join.
To become a certified chartered accountant you have to follow right step.
You can join after 10th or after 12th or even after graduation.
We shall also talk about the qualification that you must have before you think of becoming a certified CA.
Then we will also debate the course details and exams you need to appear, course fees etc.
Finally we conclude the article by telling you about the salary and how difficult it is to become a certified chartered accountant in India.
Chartered Accountant Qualification
- A student who has passed CPT or Common Proficiency Test and Senior Secondary Examination (10+2).
- A candidate who is graduate or post graduate in commerce with an aggregate of 55% by studying three papers Accounting, Auditing, Mercantile Laws etc.
- Non Commerce Graduates need to have an aggregate of 60% or above.
Chartered Accountant Course
You can start Chartered Accountant Course through CPT route.
In order to do that first you have to enroll with ICAI for CPC (Common proficiency Course) after passing class 10th Examination.
You can also appear in CPT examination after completing your Senior Secondary Examination or 10+2.
Making a Decision
Now you have to make a decision when you want to join for CA course. There are three choices.
You want to join after 10 or after 10+2 or if after graduation. You have to make a call whether you want to start early or too late.
We debate this issue in detail in next paragraphs.
Chartered Accountant Courses after 10th
You can join for a CA course as early as possible. If you are serious then you can start right after 10th.
You can register with the Board of Studies for CPT or Common Proficiency Test. You can also continue with your 10+2.
Both can be done simultaneously. There will be a lot of pressure on the child.
Chartered Accountant Courses after 10+2
If you find after class 10th it is too early to join then you can join after 10+2.
You have to appear and qualify for CPT or Common Proficiency Test.
Then you can join IPCC or Integrated professional Competence Course. It is the second level of Chartered Accountancy examinations in India.
Chartered Accountant Courses after Graduation
If you are late then you can join after you have completed your graduation. Most of the candidates choose to join after graduation.
If you have B.Com degree then you can join CA course. There is direct entry for graduate students.
If you are a commerce graduate then you need 55% aggregate for direct entry to IPCC or Integrated professional Competence Course, for other graduates it is 60%.
Chartered Accountant Course Syllabus
Well you can divide the Chartered Accountant Course Syllabus into four steps.
Step 1: CPT or Common Proficiency Test
It has one paper with two sessions.
Session 1:
- Section A: Fundamentals of Accounting for 60 Marks
- Section B: Mercantile Laws for 40 Marks
Session 2:
- Section C: General Economics for 50 Marks
- Section D: Quantitative Aptitude for 50 Marks
Step 2: IPCC or Intermediate Integrated Professional Competence Course
Group 1
- Paper 1: Accounting (100 marks)
- Paper 2: Business Laws, Ethics and Communication (100 marks)
- Paper 3: Cost Accounting and Financial management (100 marks)
- Paper 4: Taxation (100 marks)
Group 2
- Paper 5: Advanced accounting (100 marks)
- Paper 6: Auditing and Assurance (100 marks)
- Paper 7: IT and Strategic Management (100 marks)
Step 3: ATC or Accounting Technician Course
- Paper 1: Accounting (100 marks)
- Paper 2: Business Laws, Ethics and Communication (100 marks)
- Paper 3: Cost Accounting and Financial management (100 marks)
- Paper 4: Taxation (100 marks)
Step 4: Final Course
- Paper 1: Financial Reporting (100 marks)
- Paper 2: Strategic Financial Management (100 marks)
- Paper 3: Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics (100 marks)
- Paper 4: Corporate Allied Laws and Ethics (100 marks)
- Paper 5: Advanced Management Accounting (100 marks)IT (100 marks)
- Paper 6: Information Systems Control and Audit (100 marks)
- Paper 7: Direct Tax Laws (100 marks)
- Paper 8: Indirect Tax laws (100 marks)
Chartered Accountant Course Duration
According to the latest news the course duration for Chartered Accountant is now just three and half years.
Earlier it was 5 years and 3 months but now ICAI has decided to reduce the duration of the course.
This news is really great for students who want to join the course after 10+2.
Chartered Accountant Institutes
There are some great Chartered Accountant Institutes in the country. Here we mean coaching institutes.
Although there are good coaching institutes in every city but here we are going to give you few good name.
Check in your city.
Chartered Accountant Courses Fees
The course fee depends upon city to city and institute to institute. So we can’t give you a fixed amount but we can help you out with a tentative figure.
- Registration fee is about Rs 10,000/- to Rs 15,000/-
- Article Registration Fee = Rs 2000/- to Rs 3000/-
- Orientation Course Fee = Rs 3000/- to Rs 5000/-
- IT Training Course Fee = Rs 4000/- to Rs 6000/-
You need to enquire about rates in your city.
Chartered Accountant Salary
You would like to know CA’s salary.
It depends upon the kind of CA you want to become. In India CA salary could start from Rs 600,000 per annum and it can go up to Rs 50,000,00 per annum.
Moreover top CA’s can also start their consultancy business and earn more money.
So money is good but you have to work hard.
How Difficult is to be a Chartered Accountant?
Well! It depends upon the candidate. If you are really serious about CA then you would love to be a CA. However if there is no interest inside you then it is really hard to become a CA.
Only 1 out of 10 candidates is able to become a CA. It is very tough because if you are short of getting even 1 marks then you might not clear the exam.
So it is really tough.
Final Thoughts
I would say if you are really interested then go for CA. You love accounting and auditing then CA is for you.
Otherwise you can leave it and choose other line of work.
You also need to make a final decision when you want to take a plunge. The right timing is very important.
Whether you want to start the course right after 10th or 12th, you must be sure.
But if you are serious about CA then don’t wait for your graduation, join right after 10+2.
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