Hi,  

CA (Chartered Accountant) is considered one of the best career paths and has been pursued by the students who find themselves comfortable at numbers. I would really like to talk on this topic and discuss the things in detail in terms of what it comprises of, what are all the all steps to reach the final stage and pass the CA Final successfully and how to maintain tempo and be persistence in the study and reach your dream goal.

For any Confusion Regarding Career Paths – Take here: Psychometric Career Tests including Ideal Career Test

ICAI, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, is the institute which is overall responsible for and conducts the process and finally award and certify the candidates as a Chartered Accountant (CA) after candidates successfully complete the course. You know, even the rate of registration for CPT is higher, the actual number of successful candidates passing the final CA Final is much less.

Dear Aspirant, any career path is not that much difficult or impossible so is not the CA if followed the right ways going by the right approach, having right guidance in time and being persistent throughout your preparation for the CA. To approach the CareerGuide for your query related to CA Course is actually a good start and be assured of the right advice. What you need to do is just read this article very carefully and you will come to understand the very process required to complete the CA successfully

The CA Course has four Levels in total

• CPT (Common Proficiency Test)
• IPCC/IPCE (Integrated Professional Competence Course)
• Three years of Articleship under any C.A who is practicing the profession
• CA Final Exam

As mentioned above it has become very clear that the overall process run through the four stages and generally one would go by the sequence as stated above to reach the final stage and become a CA eventually successfully. Apart from this one general route for which any 12^th appearing student can register and pass the CPT to get enrolled for the IPCC, there is an another route also where the candidates will be exempted from the CPT and can directly go to the IPCC. The intermediate passed students of the institute of cost accountant of India and the institute of Company secretaries of India and the graduate students can directly register for the IPCC. Here we will talk about the generally followed process which is no other than but the CPT route.

The process to become a Chartered Accountant (CA) is as following:

Registration for the CPT (Common Proficiency Test):

First step is to register for CPT with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) after passing 10th Standard examination.

Pass the CPT(Common Proficiency Test):

Take CPT examination after you appear in the 12th exam and after completion of period of 60 days from the date of registration for CPT.

Registration of the IPCC level:

IPCC - Integrated Professional Competence Course would be the next stage after p[assing the CPT and 12th Level. Passing the CPT and 12^th exam is mandatory without wich one would not able to register for IPCC. Generally, the registration for the IPCC must be done well in advance that is before 9 months of the IPCC exam.

• IPCC level contains total 7 papers (Group 1+ Group 2).
• Group - 1 - four papers
• Group - 2 - is composed of three papers.
• Passing the Group - I, is necessary for commencing an Articleship.

ITT (Information Technology Training) and Orientation Course:

Candidates need to complete 100 hours Information Technology Training (ITT). Before registering for Articleship, Orientation and ITT should be completed. The Orientation Course of one week which is a 35 hours of length and covers topics, such as, communication skills, personality development, business environment, office procedure, general knowledge of commercial aspects, etc.

(Note: You have the flexibility to complete ITT and Orientation course at any time before registering for an Articleship)

Register for IPCC and pass the Group I Exam:

Candidates can appear and pass the Group - 1 or Both Groups of IPCE - Integrated Professional Competence Examination.

Appear for and pass the Group II Exam:

After passing the Group 1, candidates can appear for Group 2 in next attempt after Group 1 attempt or during Articleship.

(Note:- Candidates can register for the Articleship after passing the only Group 1 also)

Registration for the Articleship:

Articleship is important and is a part of the overall process. Candidates need to register as Articled Assistant for a period of 3 years with a practicing CA after passing either Group - 1 or both the Groups of IPCE.

Registeration for the C.A Final Course:

Here is what we can term it the final stage of this time driven process. This is a Final CA exam and you need to register for C.A Final Course after passing both the groups of IPCC.

Pass the CA Final Exam:

During the last 6 months of 3 years of articled training you have to register and pass the CA Final. Candidates are supposed to pass the group 1 and 2 of the CA Final to complete the process successfully.

Do complete the Articleship:

Articled Training of 3 years of the period must be completed within given time frame.

GMCS (General Management and Communication Skills) Course:

15 days Course on General Management and Communication Skills is one of the stages in this process and this should also be completed in given time.

Membership of ICAI and becoming a CA:

The last one is a much-awaited procedure and that is to Enroll as a member of ICAI and getting designated as a Charted Accountant (CA).

Duration of the Course:

Normally, it would take 4.5 Years for CPT route and 3 years for the graduation route where candidates are exempted from the CPT route and can directly enroll for IPCC.

CPT (Common Proficiency Test) Schedule for the year 2017

• Last Date for the Submission of the Application Form through Online Mode

- 26^th April 2017, up to 5:30 PM

• Last Date for Revalidation of Registration

- 26^th April 2017 or Date of Application for June 2017 CPT (Whichever is Earlier)

• Last Date of Receipt of Print out of online examination form

- 30^th April 2017

• Date of the CPT Exam

- 18^th June 2017

• Dates for Hosting of Correction Window – I,  (Without Fee) will be available for one week from the date of hosting

- 1^st Week of May 2017 (Probably)

• Dates of Hosting of Correction Window – II, (With Fee) will be available up to the 11^th June 2017

- 4^th week of May 2017 to 11^th June 2017

• Likely date of Declaration of Result

- 18^th July 2017

Dear Aspirant, the process seems a kind of lengthy and one may worry about the complexities therein as one need to register a number of times and complete the various separate courses within the time frame. Still, with a proper approach and guidance, you can become a CA in minimum possible time. For further information, you can have talks with the Professional Career Experts at CareerGuide. Hope, this helps you!