How To Become A Chartered Accountant? Detailed Guide

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Are you someone who is keen to learn about how different businesses work? Does finance excite you? Do you want to take up a challenging career in finance rather than the same old jobs? 

If you are looking for a career that lets you work in the finance and business industry, then Chartered Accountancy is one career option you can consider. Lately, CA has become one of the most sought-after career choices in India. CA opens up many opportunities for an individual and is a highly regarded and rewarding profession. 

If you want to know more about this career, read this blog and find out all the details about how to become a Chartered Accountant, the education and skills required, the salary you can expect, and a lot more. Read on!

Who Is A Chartered Accountant?

A Chartered Accountant (CA) is an internationally recognized financial expert who oversees client budgets, audits, taxes, and business plans. You can work for organizations, the government, and people as a CA. Your role is to assist clients with money management and offer knowledgeable financial advice. A person with the title of a chartered accountant is qualified to provide financial advice and maintain financial records.

Also read: How to become a CFO after 12th in India

How To Become A Chartered Accountant? [4 Step guide]

Step 1: Stream Selection

You can pursue Chartered Accountancy after 12th irrespective of your background. Most often, students from the Commerce stream pursue Chartered Accountant courses because they have a knack for the core subjects such as accounting. Therefore, it is preferable if you choose Commerce after 10th.

Step 2: Certificate and Project Courses

To become a Chartered Accountant you need to take the CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final exams. Here’s detailed information about each of the courses and everything you need to know to prepare for the exams.

  • CA Course Path
  1. Enroll yourself in the CA Foundation Course after completing XIIth.
  2. Complete a 4 month study period and appear in the CA Foundation Examination.
  3. Enroll in CA Intermediate Course after clearing CA Foundation Exam.
  4. Complete 4 weeks of Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft skills (ICITSS). This course needs to be completed before your Articleship.
  5. Complete the 8-month study course of CA Intermediate and appear for the exam. There will be 2 groups of exams, you need to pass at least one before moving forward.
  6. Join 3-year article training after passing either group of CA Intermediate Exam and complete ICITSS before starting your Articleship.
  7. Clear the remaining group of CA Intermediate Exams (if there are any).
  8. Enroll yourself in the CA Final Course.
  9. Complete 4 weeks of Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft skills (AICITSS) in the last two years of your Articleship and before appearing for the final exam.
  10. Appear for the final exam either after completing your Articleship or during the last 6 months of it.
  11. Complete your article training, in case you decide to appear for the final exam while serving your Articleship.
  12. Clear the CA Final Examination.
  13. Enroll yourself as a member of the ICAI to be designated as a “Chartered Accountant”.

If you are keen on learning about these topics, want hands-on exposure, and want to know more about how to become a Chartered Accountant, check out Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA Chief Financial Officer program.

Step 3: Educational Qualifications

How To Become A Chartered Accountant After 10th

After completing the 10th-grade exams, you can take provisional admission to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. You can opt for any stream after 10th, although it is best to take Commerce as it teaches you a lot of basic concepts that will be beneficial for you as you prepare for the CA examinations. If you want to know how to become a Chartered Accountant, here are a few Diploma Courses that you can take.

  • Diploma Courses
Course Name Duration
Diploma in Financial Accounting 10-15 hours
Diploma in Decision Making using Financial Accounting15-20 hours
Diploma in Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll10-15 hours

How To Become A Chartered Accountant After 12th

After completing the 12th standard examinations, the provisional admission that you took after 10th will get regularized. You can start with the Common Proficiency Test and the CA foundation course. After 9 months you shall be eligible to appear for the Integrated Professional Competence Course. If you want to know how to become a Chartered Accountant, here are a few Undergraduate Courses that you can take in India.

  • Undergraduate Courses for Chartered Accountants in India
Courses Duration
Bachelor of Commerce 3 years
Bachelors of Business Administration3 years
Bachelors of Arts 3 years
Bachelor of Law (LLB)3 years

Know more: How to become a Chief Revenue Officer – Detailed guide

  • Top colleges in India to pursue CA
  1. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Noida
  2. Indian Institute of Finance and Accounts, Pune
  3. Pearn Accountants, International Accountants, and Business Consultants, Kochi
  4. Zell Education Mumbai
  5. Vista Academy, Dehradun
  6. ETEN CA, Guwahati
  7. PIRON Scholl of Business and Finance, Mumbai
  8. Siddhartha Academy, Thane
  9. Navkar Institute, Ahmedabad
  10. CMS For CA, Hyderabad
  11. PIRON School of Business and Finance, Bangalore
  12. International School of Financial Studies, Secunderabad
  • Undergraduate Courses for Chartered Accountants Abroad

There are no specific courses for Chartered Accountants abroad. Although, you need to complete the two-year CA program and obtain a bachelor’s degree. 

Try to pick a course that would help you understand the basics of accounting and bookkeeping since these will prove to be beneficial skills for your career as a Chartered Accountant. If you want to know how to become a Chartered Accountant, here are a few Undergraduate Courses that you can take abroad.

  • Top colleges abroad to pursue CA
  1. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 
  2. Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales 
  3. Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
  4. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
  5. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland
  6. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia
  7. Edith Cowan University- Australia
  8. Bangor University- UK
  9. Lincoln University- New Zealand

Learn more: How to become an IFS Officer

Step 4: Job Preparation

  • Articleship Training

Candidates enrolled in the Chartered Accountancy program must complete three years of practical training; else, the CA course will be incomplete. After clearing one or both sets of CA Intermediate, a candidate can register for an articleship. Candidates must finish the Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS) during the last two years of their study before taking the CA Final examinations. However, the program lasts three years, and candidates can sit for CA Final exams during the last six months of their course.

  • Apply for ICAI membership

A candidate who has completed articleship training and passed both groups of the CA Final exam is qualified to join the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

If you are keen on learning about these topics, want hands-on exposure, and want to know more about how to become a Chartered Accountant,  check out the Clever Harvey Junior MBA-Entrepreneurship course.

Skills required to become a CA

Here are important skills and qualities to have to be successful in your career as a chartered accountant:

  1. Good work ethics
  2. Self-motivation
  3. Integrity
  4. Business acumen
  5. IT skills
  6. Organizational skills
  7. Time management
  8. Communication
  9. Interpersonal skills
  10. Analytical skills
  11. Problem-solving skills
  12. Excellent mathematical skills
  13. Teamwork
  14. Good work ethics
  15. Good knowledge of the field/industry

How Much Do Chartered Accountants Earn In India

The average annual pay for a Chartered Accountant is INR 3-6 lakhs, but depending on their ability, it may be as high as INR 40-60 lakhs.

The average remuneration in the ICAI’s placement program in 2021 was INR 8.4 lakhs.

How Much Do Chartered Accountants Earn Abroad

CountrySalary
USA$80k
DubaiAED119k
UK£35.9k
India₹797.6k
AustraliaAU$70.9k

Top Recruiters For Chartered Accountants In India

Top recruiters in India
Deloitte
PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC)
KPMG
Ernst & Young (EY)
BDO International
Grant Thornton International
RSM International
SS Kothari Mehta & Co.
Lodha & Co.
Sahni Natrajan & Bahl (SNB)
Top recruiters in India
  1. Deloitte
  2. PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC)
  3. KPMG
  4. Ernst & Young (EY)
  5. BDO International
  6. Grant Thornton International
  7. RSM International
  8. SS Kothari Mehta & Co.
  9. Lodha & Co.
  10. Sahni Natrajan & Bahl (SNB)

Top Recruiters For Chartered Accountants Abroad

Top Recruiters abroad
Deloitte
PwC
EY
KPMG
BDO International
Grant Thornton 
RSM
Crowe Global
Nexia International
Top Recruiters abroad
  1. Deloitte
  2. PwC
  3. EY
  4. KPMG
  5. BDO International
  6. Grant Thornton 
  7. RSM
  8. Crowe Global
  9. Nexia International

That’s all you need to know about how to become a Chartered Accountant and everything you will need to know right from the skills to the different job opportunities you can get as a CA. We hope this blog was helpful to you and you found all the answers you had about being a CA. Good luck!

Careers after 12th Commerce

FAQs about how to become a Chartered Accountant

How many years does it take to become CA?

The CA (Chartered Accountancy) program lasts for five years. Although it depends on the number of attempts you take to clear the examination.

Who is eligible for the CA exam?

Non-commerce graduation or post-graduation with a minimum cutoff of 60% Intermediate level from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India or The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Commerce graduation or post-graduation with a minimum cutoff of 55%.

What is the CA course salary?

In India, the annual average wage is between INR 6-7 lakhs. The typical salary for a CA might range from INR 40 to 60 lakhs, depending on his qualifications and experience. He might make INR 75 lakh per year if he receives an international appointment. The average pay for a CA was INR 8.4 lakhs at the most recent ICAI placement.

Can I do CA without math’s?

One of the most sought-after careers in commerce without math’s is chartered accounting. The fact that you may pursue this professional path without studying math’s in the 12th grade is fantastic.

What are the 9 subjects in CA?

The subjects taught are the following:
Accounts
Advance Accounts
Audit
Economics
Finance Management
Enterprise Information System
Law
Strategic Management
Taxation

How many hours does a CA work?

A chartered accountant must work an average of 8 to 9 hours every day.

Why is CA so difficult?

Even students can pass the exam because of how the syllabus is designed. However, it is still regarded as one of the most difficult exams to pass in India. That is actually a result of the students’ insufficient coaching and high expectations, poor learning strategies, and poor learning environment.

How much does a CA earn in India?

The average annual pay for a Chartered Accountant is INR 3-6 lakhs, but depending on their ability, it may be as high as INR 40-60 lakhs.

Which stream is ideal if you want to become a Chart

It is preferable if you opt for the Commerce field since it has subjects such as accounting and bookkeeping. 

What qualifications are required to be a CA?

For this course, you must have successfully completed level 2 and two and a half years of Articleship. To become a CA, you must pass the CA final test after completing the course and your Articleship. Chartered accountants in India are governed by the Institute of Chart

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Are you someone who is keen to learn about how different businesses work? Read this blog and find out how to become a Chartered Accountant.
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How to become a Chartered Financial Analyst 10 Skills students should learn before studying Accounting How to become a CA after doing Bcom A day in the life of a CA
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