Requirements for becoming a Chartered Accountant
Under the existing chartered accountancy scheme of education, training and examination, the
requirements for becoming a chartered accountant are as follows:
(i) Enrol with the Institute for Common Proficiency Test (CPT) after passing class 10th
examination conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination
recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto.
(ii) Appear in CPT after appearing in the senior secondary examination (10+2 examination)
conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination recognized by
the Central Government as equivalent thereto and after completion of specified period (60 days)
from the date of registration for CPT with the Board of Studies as on the first day of the month in
which examination is to be held, viz., students registered on or before 1st April/1st October will be
eligible to appear in June/December examination, as the case may be. However, candidate should
pass both CPT and 10+2 before registering for Integrated Professional Competence
Course (IPCC).
(iii) Enrol for Group I or Group II or for both Group I and Group II of Integrated Professional
Competence Course (IPCC) to become “Chartered Accountant”.
(iv) Successfully complete 9 months of study course from the date of IPCC registration.
(v) Successfully complete Orientation Course of one week spanning 35 hours and covering
topics, such as personality development, communication skills, office procedure, business
environment, general commercial knowledge, etc., before commencement of articled training.
(vi) Successfully complete 100 hours Information Technology Training (ITT) before commencement
of articled training.
(vii) Appear and pass Group I as well as Group II of Integrated Professional Competence
Examination (IPCE). Group I is composed of four papers and Group II is composed of three papers.
(viii) Register as Articled Assistant for a period of 3 years, on passing either Group I or both the
Groups of IPCE.
(ix) Register for CA Final Course and prepare for CA Final Examination.
(x) Undergo General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS) (15 days) course while
undergoing Final Course and serving the last 12 months of articled training.
(xi) Complete 3 years period of articled training.
(xii) Appear in the Final Examination on completion of the practical training or while serving last 6
months of articled training on or before the last day of the month preceding the month in which the
examination is to be held.
(xiii) Pass final examination and complete GMCS, if not completed earlier.
(xiv) Enrol as a member of ICAI and designate as “Chartered Accountant”.
How to become an Accounting Technician
(i) Enrol with the Institute for Common Proficiency Test (CPT) after passing class 10th
examination conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination
recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto.
(ii) Appear in CPT after appearing in the senior secondary examination (10+2 examination)
conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination recognized by
the Central Government as equivalent thereto and after completion of specified period (60 days)
from the date of registration for CPT with the Board of Studies as on the first day of the month in
which examination is to be held, viz., students registered on or before 1st April/1st October will be
eligible to appear in June/December examination, as the case may be. However, candidate should
pass both CPT and 10+2 before registering for Accounting Technician Course (ATC).
(iii) Enrol for ATC.
(iv) Successfully complete 9 months of study course from the date of ATC registration.
(v) Successfully complete Orientation Course of one week spanning 35 hours and covering
topics, such as personality development, communication skills, office procedure, business
environment, general commercial knowledge, etc.
(vi) Successfully complete 100 hours Information Technology Training (ITT).
(vii) Appear and pass Accounting Technician Examination (ATE) (i.e. Group I of Integrated
Professional Competence Examination (IPCE)) comprising of four papers.
(viii) Successfully complete one year work experience under a chartered accountant in practice or
in industry.
(ix) Get Accounting Technician Certificate.
(x) Designate as “Accounting Technician”.
How to become a CA, even after becoming Accounting Technician
(i) Enrol for Group II of Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC).
(ii) Register as an Articled Assistant for a period of 3 years.
(iii) Appear and pass Group II of Integrated Professional Competence Examination (IPCE)
comprising of three papers.
(iv) Register for CA Final Course and prepare for CA Final Examination.
(v) Undergo General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS) (15 days) course while
undergoing Final Course and serving the last 12 months of articled training.
(vi) Complete 3 years period of articled training.
(vii) Appear in the Final Examination on completion of the practical training or while serving last 6
months of articled training on or before the last day of the month preceding the month in which the
examination is to be held.
(viii) Pass final examination and complete GMCS, if not completed earlier.
(ix) Enrol as a member of ICAI and designate as “Chartered Accountant”.