CA India (Chartered Accountant) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the CA India (Chartered Accountant), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
₹30,000-₹50,000 total
Provider
ICAI
Validity
Lifetime
Available
India
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
3-5+ years of professional experience typically required
Specific Requirements
- Foundation Route: registration is open after passing the Class 10 examination, but the first Foundation attempt comes only after appearing in the Class 12 examination conducted by a body constituted by law in India or a recognised equivalent.
- Foundation Route registration must be completed at least four months before the first day of the exam month.
- Direct Entry Route: commerce graduates or post-graduates with at least 55 percent marks, non-commerce graduates or post-graduates with at least 60 percent, or candidates who have passed the Intermediate level of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India or the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
- Direct Entry candidates in their final year may register provisionally and become eligible for the Intermediate examination after completing the degree with the required marks and eight months of study period from provisional registration.
- Intermediate registration must be at least eight months before the first day of the exam month, and covers both groups even if only one group is attempted.
- Practical Training of two years starts only after passing both Intermediate groups and completing the four-week ICITSS.
- Final examination eligibility requires Final Course registration, Practical Training completed six months before the first day of the exam month, Advanced ICITSS completed, and all four Self-Paced Online Modules qualified.
Number of Questions
ICAI publishes marks rather than a fixed number of questions per paper. Every Foundation, Intermediate and Final paper carries 100 marks. At Intermediate and Final level ICAI specifies 30 percent case scenario or case study based MCQs and 70 percent descriptive questions in all six papers.
Duration
Foundation Papers 1 and 2 run 2 PM to 5 PM IST for 3 hours; Foundation Papers 3 and 4 run 2 PM to 4 PM for 2 hours. All six Intermediate papers run 3 hours. Final Papers 1 to 5 run 3 hours and Final Paper 6 runs 2 PM to 6 PM for 4 hours.
Question Format
Subjective descriptive answers in Foundation Papers 1 and 2, Objective multiple choice questions in Foundation Papers 3 and 4, with negative marking of 0.25 mark per wrong answer, Case scenario based MCQs worth 30 percent of each Intermediate and Final paper, with no negative marking, Descriptive questions worth 70 percent of each Intermediate and Final paper, Multidisciplinary case studies in Final Paper 6, Integrated Business Solutions, assessed open book, Self-Paced Online Module tests for SET A, SET B, SET C and SET D
Passing Requirement
A minimum of 40 percent in each paper and a minimum of 50 percent in the aggregate. At Foundation this must be achieved at one sitting across all four papers. At Intermediate and Final the 40 and 50 percent rule applies per group, and a candidate may clear the two groups in separate sittings. Self-Paced Online Modules require 50 percent in the module.
How It Is Delivered
Pen and paper at ICAI examination centres across Indian cities and three overseas cities: Bahrain, Dubai and Kathmandu. All papers start at 2 PM IST. An advance reading time of 15 minutes runs from 1.45 PM to 2 PM for every paper except Foundation Papers 3 and 4.
Languages Offered
English, Hindi (Foundation, Intermediate and Final only; medium is selected on the examination application form)
Visit the official ICAI certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the CA India (Chartered Accountant)?
Foundation Route: registration is open after passing the Class 10 examination, but the first Foundation attempt comes only after appearing in the Class 12 examination conducted by a body constituted by law in India or a recognised equivalent.. Foundation Route registration must be completed at least four months before the first day of the exam month.. Direct Entry Route: commerce graduates or post-graduates with at least 55 percent marks, non-commerce graduates or post-graduates with at least 60 percent, or candidates who have passed the Intermediate level of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India or the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.. Direct Entry candidates in their final year may register provisionally and become eligible for the Intermediate examination after completing the degree with the required marks and eight months of study period from provisional registration.. Intermediate registration must be at least eight months before the first day of the exam month, and covers both groups even if only one group is attempted.. Practical Training of two years starts only after passing both Intermediate groups and completing the four-week ICITSS.. Final examination eligibility requires Final Course registration, Practical Training completed six months before the first day of the exam month, Advanced ICITSS completed, and all four Self-Paced Online Modules qualified..
How much does the CA India (Chartered Accountant) cost?
The CA India (Chartered Accountant) exam costs ₹30,000-₹50,000 total. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the CA India (Chartered Accountant)?
Visit the official ICAI certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the CA India (Chartered Accountant)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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