Chartered Accountancy : Examination & Course Details

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CA programme mainly comprise of three sections, Common Proficiency Test (CPT), Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) and the Final examination.

Common Professional Test (CPT)

The entry level examination for the Charted accountants, Common Professional Test (CPT), earlier known as Professional Education (Examination - I), conducted by the institute once in a quarter is designed in the pattern of entry level test for engineering, medical and other professional courses.

Eligibility : Anyone who has a 10 + 2 can enroll for the Common Professional Test (CPT). A student who has passed the 10th examination can also register with CPT but could write the exam only after the Plus Two examination. Duration of the course is 10 months. Graduates who doesn't have the request percentage of marks have to do the Common Professional Test.

CPT examinations are held twice a year in June and December.

CPT Exam : The four-hours duration CPT examination comprise two sessions of 2 hours each, with a break between two sessions and carrying a total of 200 marks consists of four subjects namely fundamentals of accounting, mercantile law, general economics and quantitative attitudes. CPT is an objective type test with negative marking.

Subjects for CPT

Session - I ( Two Sections- Two hours - 100 Marks)
• Section A: Fundamentals of Accounting ( 60 Marks )
• Section B: Mercantile Laws ( 40 Marks )

Session - II (Two Sections- Two hours - 100 Marks)
• Section C: General Economics ( 50 Marks )
• Section D: Quantitative Aptitude ( 50 Marks )

Registration for Common Professional Test (CPT)

Students have to ensure their registration at least 60 days prior to the first day of the month in which CPT examination is to be held i.e. on or before 1st April and 1st October, can appear in the CPT examination to be held in June and December respectively.

Registration form can be obtained from the addresses given below on paying a requisite amount. The form can also be downloaded from the website of www.icai.org

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli	Western India Regional Council The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAI BHAWAN, “Anveshak” 27 Cuffe Parade, Colaba Post Box No. 6081, MUMBAI – 400 005 Phone: 022-39893989 Fax: 022-39802953 E-mail: wro@icai.org
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territories of Pondicherry and Lakshadweep Islands	Southern India Regional Council The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAI BHAWAN, 122, M.G. Road, Post Box No. 3314, Nungambakkam, CHENNAI – 600 034 Phone: 044-39893989 Fax:044- 30210355 E-mail: sro@icai.org
Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Andaman -Nicobar Islands	Eastern India Regional Council The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAI BHAWAN, 7, Anandilal Poddar Sarani, (Russell Street), KOLKATA – 700 071 Phone: 033-39893989 Fax: 033-30211145 E-mail: ero@icai.org
Uttar Pradesh , Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand	Central India Regional Council The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAI BHAWAN, Post Box No. 314, 16/77B, Civil Lines, KANPUR – 208 001 Phone: 0512-3989398 Fax: 0512-3011173 E-mail: cro@icai.org
Delhi, Haryana , Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Union Territory of Chandigarh	Northern India Regional Council The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAI BHAWAN, 52-54, Vishwas Nagar, DELHI – 110032 Phone: 011-39893990 Fax: 011-30210680 E-mail: nro@icai.org

Eligible candidates have to forward their application for registration along with (i) Demand Draft towards registration fee; (ii) Attested copies of date of birth and 10th pass mark statements; (iii) Attested copy of 12th pass or its equivalent qualification as recognized by the Central Government, if passed; (iv) Proof of Nationality, if student is foreigner; (v) Proof of special category certificate i.e. SC/ST, OBC and Disabled.

CPT Registration form to be submitted to the Branches or Regional Office in consonance with the address of the student.

A candidate is declared successful in Common Professional Test (CPT), if he/she secures an aggregate of 50% of the total marks in all the papers subject to a minimum of 40% marks in each paper.

Integrated Professional Competency Course (IPCC)

The CA Programme is mainly divided into Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) and Final course. IPCC is the first stage of theoretical education of Chartered Accountancy Course. After completing the CPT or graduation with required marks one can go for Integrated Professional Competency Course (IPCC). The registration for PCC is open throughout the year. A student may register at any time during the year. The exam will be held twice a year in May and November, it is necessary that a student must register at least ten months before the examinations.

IPCC is composed of two level i.e., Group I, Accounting Technician Course (optional) and Group II. A candidate may opt for enrolment to Group I OR Group I and Accounting Technician Course OR Accounting Technician Course and/or Group II OR Group I and Group II Or for all the levels referred to above. In IPCC only working knowledge of core and allied subjects to accountancy profession is is imparted, while at the Final level, advanced application knowledge of core and allied subjects is being inculcated.

Eligibility :

A candidate is eligible for enrolment to any of the level (s) of the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) on passing the Common Proficiency Test and 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.
A candidate who has already passed Entrance Examination or Foundation Examination or Professional Education (Examination-I) shall be eligible for enrolment to Integrated Professional Competence Course subject to complying with relevant conditions.
A candidate who was already registered for erstwhile Intermediate Examination or of Professional Education (Course-II) or Professional Competence Examination cum articleship shall be eligible for enrolment/ conversion to Integrated Professional Competence Course subject to complying with relevant conditions.

In IPCC, a student would undergo theoretical education and three years of practical training after passing Group-I of IPCC/ Accounting Technician course. In order to develop a strong theoretical base, students of IPCC have to undergo nine months study course before appearing for the first time in the Integrated Professional Competence Examination (IPCE). Besides this, they are also imparted 100 hours Information Technology Training (ITT) and have to undergo 35 hours Orientation Programme.

Subjects for Integrated Professional Competency Course (IPCC)
The subjects of IPCC are classified into two groups namely Group I and Group II that comprise of four papers and three papers respectively. A student can study and appear in the examination group-wise or both the groups together.

Group I
   • Paper 1 - Accounting (100 Marks)
   • Paper 2 - Business Laws, Ethics and Communication (100 Marks)
             Part I : Law (60 Marks)
                         Business Laws (30 Marks)
                         Company Law (30 Marks)
             Part II: Business Ethics (20 Marks)
             Part III: Business Communication (20 Marks)
   • Paper 3 - Cost Accounting and Financial Management
             Part I : Cost Accounting (50 Marks)
             Part II : Financial Management (50 Marks)
   • Paper 4 - Taxation
             Part I : Income-tax (50 Marks)
             Part II: Service Tax (25 Marks) and VAT (25 marks)

Group II
  • Paper 5 - Advanced Accounting (100 Marks)
  • Paper 6 - Auditing and Assurance (100 Marks)
  • Paper 7 - Information Technology and Strategic Management
             Section A: Information Technology (50 Marks)
             Section B: Strategic Management (50 Marks)

The student should get 40% mark minimum with an aggregate of 50% in a group. On passing either Group I or both the Groups of IPCE, a candidate can register as Articled Assistant for a period of 3 years.

Registration : A student should submit filled-in registration forms for Integrated Professional Competence Course supplied along with Prospectus available at sales counter of decentralized offices, the cost of Prospectus is Rs. 100/-. These forms can also be downloaded from Institute's website www.icai.org. On receipt of filled-in form and requisite fee, the appropriate decentralized office will issue study materials for Group I and/or Group II or IPCC. The decentralized office will also issue registration letter. While taking admission to 100 hours ITT with regional/branch office, a student is required to produce a copy of the registration letter.

Accounting Technician Course (ATC)

Accounting Technician Course (ATC) is equivalent to Group I course of Integrated Professional Competency Course (IPCC). Candidates who do not wish to complete erstwhile Intermediate/ PE-II/ PCC/ IPCC can opt for the Accounting Technician Course. Those candidates who opt for ATC has to undergo a study course of nine months, 35 hours Orientation Programme and 100 hours ITT before appearing in Accounting Technician Examination (ATE). After passing Accounting Technician Examination (ATE), the candidates will also be required to complete 12 months of work experience, as per the guidelines of the Council and on production of a certificate to this effect he will be issued Accounting Technician Certificate.

Eligibility criteria is as same as that of IPCC.

Final Course

Final course which impart expert knowledge in financial reporting, auditing and professional ethics, taxation, corporate laws, systems control, strategic finance and advanced management accountancy is the last stage of Chartered Accountancy course. In the Final course of the chartered accountancy curriculum, advanced application knowledge of core and allied subjects to accountancy profession has been intended. While undergoing final course, a student has also to complete General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS) Course.

The candidate could register as a final student and write the final exam once they passed the IPCE and the Information Technology training. The final examination also has similar type of papers of two groups, four papers each.

Subjects for Final Course

Group I
   • 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 and Allied Laws (100 Marks)
             Section A: Company Law (70 Marks)
             Section B: Allied Laws (30 Marks)

Group II
   • Paper 5 - Advanced Management Accounting (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)
             Section A: Central Excise (40 Marks)
             Section B: Service Tax & VAT (40 Marks)
             Section C: Customs (20 Marks)

The person should get minimum of 40% mark with an aggregate of 50% in a group and once the final examination and article ship completed, the Charted accountant should under go a communication and management course that would help him for better communication. On successful completion of the Final examination one becomes the member of the Institute. Member of the Institute may either practice as a Chartered Accountant on his own or go for employment.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNO) has entered in an agreement with the Institute of Charted Accountants of India to conduct a B.Com course for CA student. Those who are enrolling as CA student, can go for B.Com course of IGNO, where they need not write all the papers, they will have certain exemption. They will get a guaranteed graduation along with they do the CA course.

Note : To register for the exams, one has to send the application to the institutes regional centers. Various paper wise exemptions are available.