Career After CA Course

Are you one among those who are good with numbers and calculations, and are actually considering a career out of it? Most probably yes, and that’s exactly why you are here, reading this article.

One of the important and most crucial life decisions most of us are bound to make is choosing the stream of study in our higher secondary level of education. A lot of students opt for the Commerce stream and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that a majority of them consider this for a career at some point of time.

Yes, we are talking about one the most popular and prestigious professions in the world, the Chartered Accountant.

“If Science has Engineering and IITs, Commerce has Chartered Accountancy.”

But, did you know that candidates from any background are eligible to pursue CA course? Yes, in this article, we go through all of such important details regarding the coveted Chartered Accountant course, so stay with us.

Who is a Chartered Accountant (CA)?

As we know, anyone with a background in Commerce can work as an Accountant. Whereas, a Chartered Accountant’s scope extends beyond accounting.

A Chartered Accountant is an accounting professional, certified by a statutory accounting body upon meeting certain requirements and is registered with them, hence the name. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is the statutory body that regulates the profession in India.

Chartered Accountants work for businesses, organizations, governments or even for individuals. They manage budgets, audit financial statements, develop business strategies, provide advisory services and so on.

Now that we have a fair idea about this profession, let’s dive right into the question of how to pursue CA after 12th.

How to Pursue CA after 12th?

CA Course Details:

To become a CA in India, one has to complete the Chartered Accountant course comprising 3 levels of exams conducted by the ICAI, which are: 

The CA exams are held twice a year, in May/ June and in November/ December. These exams comprehensively test a candidate’s knowledge in the field, whereas the Articleship, that involves practical training under a practising CA, helps a candidate gain field experience. Upon passing the CA Final Examination, one becomes a certified Chartered Accountant.

So, are you thinking of getting admission in the best colleges in India for CA course? Well, for those of you who wonder which are the best colleges in India for CA course, the answer is that there are no colleges that offer the CA course. Aspirants prepare on their own or enrol themselves with the top CA coaching institutes for guidance.

Moving on, let's go through the CA course details such as duration, subjects, eligibility to become CA after 12th, and so on, to have a comprehensive understanding about the entire process.

Two Routes to Pursue CA:

Candidates who have completed their 12th are eligible to pursue the course through the Foundation Route which involves writing all the 3 stages of CA exams. This has been formulated with an objective to encourage young minds with an aptitude for accounting to make an early entry into the profession.

Many of the country’s leading CA coaching institutes are present in Bangalore. A lot of candidates who pursue CA course after 12th, secure college admissions in Bangalore and join a CA institute simultaneously, as it makes it easier to manage CA preparation alongside undergraduation.

This route makes graduates eligible to register themselves directly for the CA Intermediate exam. We can find many CA aspirants who pursued this route after graduating from top colleges in Bangalore successfully completing the CA course.

Eligibility to become CA after 12th:

Though the CA course is popular among those from the Commerce stream, candidates with any background can pursue it. One can register for the CA Foundation exam after passing Class 10th examination but can appear for the exam only after passing Class 12th examination.

CA Course Duration:

The time it takes to complete the CA course varies based on your qualification and the route you take to pursue the course. For someone pursuing CA after 12th, the minimum duration it takes to complete the course, along with Articleship, is 4.5 years.

CA Subjects and Syllabus:

Along with subject knowledge and technical skills, ICAI aims to instil interpersonal and soft skills in the aspirants. The CA exams cover every aspect of Accounting, from basic to advanced, such as Business, Taxation, Auditing, and so on. 

Detailed syllabus for the 3 levels of CA exam can be referred to from ICAI’s official website. Understanding the objectives mentioned in the syllabus helps in holistic preparation. ICAI also provides a lot of reference material and revision test papers on its website.

Steps to Become CA after 12th:

This section summarizes the CA examination process for a candidate who wants to take the Foundation Route after completing 12th: 

Step 1: Register for the CA Foundation Course.

Step 2: Pass the CA Foundation Examination after completing class 12th examination.

Step 3: Join CA Intermediate Course.

Step 4: Complete Four Weeks Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (ICITSS).

Step 5: Appear in CA Intermediate Examination after 8 months of study.

Step 6: Join Articled Training after passing either or both Groups of Intermediate Exams and after undergoing ICITSS.

Step 7: Clear the exams left out (if any) in the CA Intermediate Level.

Step 8: Register for CA Final Course.

Step 9: Complete Four Weeks Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS) in the last two years of Articleship.

Step 10: Appear in the CA Final Examination after 3-year Articleship or in the last 6 months of Articled Training.

Step 11: Pass the CA Final Examination.

Step 12: Enrol as a member of the ICAI to be designated as a ‘Chartered Accountant’.

Career after CA Course:

CA professionals have always been in high demand amongst various organizations and hence, a secure and bright career after CA course is guaranteed. One can work as an Auditor, Financial Analyst, Management Accountant and so on, each of which are prestigious and highly rewarding jobs.

Thus, it can be said that all of the efforts and time spent in preparing for the CA course will pay deserving rewards in due course. If you are someone interested in this field, pursuing CA course after 12th might be one of the best decisions you can make.