How to Become a CA: Process, CA Exam Date 2024 and 2025

One of the main questions that most CA aspirants have is the stepwise process of how to become a CA. While the internet is filled with information scattered throughout, we will be sharing the detailed step-by-step process of becoming a CA. Over here, we will be discussing the online CA courses that can improve your chances of clearing this exam.

Key Highlights

• CA Exam Dates 2024 and 2025:
  • CA Foundation Course Exam 2025 (Paper 1 to Paper 4): 12, 14, 16 and 18 January 2025
  • CA Intermediate Course Exam 2025 (Paper 1 to Paper 6): 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 25 January 2025
  • CA Final Course Exam (Group 1 and 2): 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 November 2024
• Why Become a CA:
  • Good career scope
  • High income
  • Strong Reputation
• Job Responsibilities of a CA:
  • Financial consultation
  • Auditing
  • Taxation Guidance
  • Financial Management
• How to Be a CA: Steps
  • Assess the Decision to Become a CA
  • How to Become CA after 10th step-by-step: Enrol in the Foundation Course
  • How to Be a Chartered Accountant after Graduation: Enrol in the Intermediate Course
  • Complete 3-Year Practical Training
  • Pass The Final Exam
  • Enrol in ICAI
• Online CA Courses To Clear CA Exam 

Table of Contents

• CA Exam Dates 2024 and 2025
• Why Do People Want to Become CA?
• Job Responsibilities of a Chartered Accountant
• How to Become a Chartered Accountant: Step-by-Step Process
  • Step 1: Assess the Decision to Become a CA
  • Step 2: How to Become a CA After Class 12th: Enrol in the Foundation Course
  • Step 3: How to Become a CA After Graduation: Enrol in the Intermediate Course
  • Step 4: Complete 3-Year Practical Training
  • Step 5: Pass The Final Exam
  • Step 6: Enrol in ICAI

Chartered accountants or CAs are types of finance professionals who provide services including auditing, taxation and financial consultancy. These professionals are accredited by ICAI. CAs can work for someone or practice on their own. In other countries, CPAs and CFAs are equivalent to Chartered Accountants in India. Chartered accountants are highly reputed professionals in India due to the difficulty level of the exam, high salaries and ability to work independently. 

CA Exam Dates 2024 and 2025

Here are the details of CA exam dates 2024 and 2025:

Dates For CA Foundation Course Exam 2025

Dates	Particulars of CA Foundation Course September 2024
12 January 2025	Paper 1
14 January 2025	Paper 2
16 January 2025	Paper 3
18 January 2025	Paper 4

Dates For CA Intermediate Course Exam 2025

Dates	Particulars of CA Intermediate May 2024
11 January 2025	Group I-Paper 1
13 January 2025	Group I-Paper 2
15 January 2025	Group I-Paper 3
17 January 2025	Group II-Paper 4
19 January 2025	Group II-Paper 5
21 January 2025	Group II-Paper 6

Dates For CA Final Course Exam

Dates	Particulars of CA Intermediate November 2024
03 November 2024	Group I-Paper 1
05 November 2024	Group I-Paper 2
07 November 2024	Group I-Paper 3
09 November 2024	Group II-Paper 1
11 November 2024	Group II-Paper 2
13 November 2024	Group II-Paper 3

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Why Do People Want to Become CA?

Chartered accountancy is an extremely popular profession in India. Lakhs of aspirants appear every year for the CA exam. Before we learn the step-by-step process of how to become a CA, let us look at the reasons behind the mass popularity of this profession.

1. Chartered accountants provide consultancy to businesses so that they can efficiently handle their finances and safeguard themselves. CAs perform several audits and checks to identify the loopholes within the finances of the business. 
2. Chartered accountants are paid very well as businesses often rely on their advice. After thorough audits, CAs guide companies to navigate through financial crises.
3. By identifying issues with the financial system, chartered accountants can prevent the company from legal issues.
4. ICAI is globally recognized due to which chartered accountants can work globally without any hassle.

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Job Responsibilities of a Chartered Accountant

Chartered accountants have the following responsibilities:

• Consultation: Chartered accountants offer their advice on financial matters to safeguard businesses. By following the advice of chartered accountants, one can make more profits and save money. 
• Audit: CAs perform audits to identify the areas where the company needs to improve their finances. With regular auditing, companies can reduce the chances of being indulged in financial or legal issues.
• Taxation: Chartered accountants help their clients by providing them with expert consultation on tax payments. CAs also provide consultation on tax management as per legal guidelines.
• Financial Management: Chartered accountants help clients with financial management. They manage the financial accounts of clients by tracking their income and expenses and generate reports on financial activity.

How to Become a CA: Step-by-Step Process

Let's discuss the step-by-step process to understand how to become a CA:

Step 1: Assess the Decision to Become a CA

• Do not jump to the conclusion of becoming a CA right off the bat. 
• First, understand what has motivated you to become a CA.
• Assess if this motivation will last in the long run. 
• Weigh both pros and cons of becoming a CA right from the preparation journey to articleship to exploring your career as a chartered accountant. 

Once you have analysed whether becoming a CA will benefit you or not, then, start preparing without delay. Since you have already made up your mind to become a CA. From this point onwards, your focus should be on understanding how to become a CA. 

Step 2: How to Become a CA After Class 12th: Enrol in the Foundation Course

Those who want to start the preparation for the CA exam immediately after the 12th class will have to register for the CA foundation course. Registration is done through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). This foundation course has 4 papers including the following:

PAPER 1: Principles And Practice Of Accounting
Accounting Principles and Conventions	Accounting Process
Inventories	Final Accounts of Sole Proprietors
Concept and Accounting of Depreciation	Accounting for Special Transactions
Partnership Accounts	Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations
Introduction to Company Accounts	Bank Reconciliation Statement

PAPER 2: Business Laws And Business Correspondence and Reporting
SECTION A: Business Laws
The Indian Contract Act, 1872	The Sale of Goods Act, 1930
The Indian Partnership Act, 1932	The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
The Companies Act, 2013
SECTION B: Business Correspondence and Reporting
Part – I: Communication Types of Communication Interpersonal Skills Listening Skills Emotional Intelligence	Part – II: Sentence Types and Word Power Sentence Types (Direct-Indirect, Active -Passive Speech)  Vocabulary Root Words, Synonyms, Antonyms, Prefixes, Suffixes), Phrasal verbs, Collocations and Idioms.
Part – III: Comprehension Passages and Note Making Comprehension Passages  Note Making	Part IV: Developing Writing Skills  Introduction to Basic Writing  Précis Writing Article Writing  Report Writing  Writing Formal Letters Writing Formal Mails  Resume Writing  Meetings
PAPER 3: Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning And Statistics
Part – A. Business Mathematics Ratio and Proportion, Indices and Logarithms Equations Linear Inequalities with Objective Functions and Optimization w.r.t. objective function. Time value of Money Permutations and Combinations Sequence and Series Sets, Relations and Functions Basic applications of Differential and Integral calculus	Part – B: Logical Reasoning Coding and Decoding, Number series and Odd man out Direction Tests Seating Arrangements Blood Relations
Part – C: Statistics Statistical Description of Data Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion Probability Theoretical Distributions Correlation and Regression Index Numbers
PAPER – 4: Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge
PART I: Business Economics Introduction to Business Economics Theory of Demand and Supply Theory of Production and Cost Price Determination in Different Markets Business Cycles	PART – II: Business And Commercial Knowledge Business and Commercial Knowledge Business Environment Business Organizations Government Policies for Business Growth Organizations Facilitating Business Common Business Terminologies

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Step 3: How to Become a Chartered Accountant after Graduation: Enrol in the Intermediate Course

A graduate who wants to become a CA can skip the foundation course and enrol in an intermediate course. This is a nine-month long course that covers subjects of accounting. Do remember that students who have completed the foundation course will also have to complete the intermediate course as well.

Parts	Chapters
Group 1
Paper-1: Advanced Accounting
1	Accounting Standards Framework for The Preparation as well as Presentation of Financial Statements Applicability of Accounting Standards Presentation & Disclosures Based Accounting Standards
2	Assets-Based Accounting Standards Liabilities-Based Accounting Standards Accounting Standards Based on Items That Impact Financial Statements Revenue-Based Accounting Standards Other Accounting Standards Accounting Standards for Consolidated Financial Statements
3	Financial Statements of Companies Buyback of Securities Amalgamation of Companies Accounting for Reconstruction of Companies Accounting for Branches including Foreign Branches
Paper-2: Corporate and Other Laws
PART I - COMPANY LAW AND LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP LAW
1	Incorporation of Company and Matters Incidental Thereto Prospectus and Allotment of Securities Share Capital and Debentures Acceptance of Deposits by Companies Registration of Charges
2	Management & Administration Declaration and Payment of Dividend Accounts of Companies Audit and Auditors Companies Incorporated Outside India
3	The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
PART II – OTHER LAWS
	The General Clauses Act, 1897 Interpretation of Statutes The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
Paper-3: Taxation
Section A: Income-tax Law
1	Overview, Scenario, Crossword Puzzle Basic Concepts Residence and Scope of Total Income
2	Overview, Scenario, Crossword Puzzle Heads of Income Salaries Income from House Property Profits and Gains of Business or Profession Capital Gains Income from Other Sources
3	Overview, Scenario, Crossword Puzzle Income of Other Persons within Total Income of Assessee Set-Off and Carry Forward of Losses, Aggregation of Income Deductions from Gross Total Income
4	Overview, Scenario, Crossword Puzzle Advance Tax, TDS and TCS Provisions to file Return of Income and Self Assessment
5	Overview, Scenario Income Tax Liability – Computation and Optimisation
Section B: Goods and Services Tax
1	GST in India – An Introduction Supply under GST Charge of GST Place of Supply Exemptions from GST Time of Supply Value of Supply
2	Input Tax Credit Registration Tax Invoice; Credit and Debit Notes Accounts and Records E-Way Bill Payment of Tax Tax Deduction at Source and Collection of Tax at Source Returns
Group 2
Paper-4: Cost and Management Accounting
1	Introduction to Cost and Management Accounting Material Cost Employee Cost and Direct Expenses Overheads – Absorption Costing Method Activity Based Costing Cost Sheet Cost Accounting Systems
	Unit & Batch Costing Job Costing Process Costing & Operation Costing Joint Products and By Products Service Costing Standard Costing Marginal Costing Budgets and Budgetary Control
Paper-5: Auditing and Ethics
1	Nature, Objective and Scope of Audit Audit Strategy, Audit Planning and Audit Programme Risk Assessment and Internal Control Audit Evidence Audit of Items of Financial Statements
2	Audit Documentation Completion and Review Audit Report Special Features of Audit of Different Types of Entities Audit of Banks Ethics and Terms of Audit Engagements
Paper-6: Financial Management and Strategic Management
Section A: Financial Management
1	Scope of Financial Management and Objectives of Financial Management Types of Financing Financial Analysis and Planning – Ratio Analysis Cost of Capital Financing Decisions – Capital Structure Financing Decisions – Leverages
2	Investment Decisions Dividend Decision Management of Working Capital Unit I: Introduction to Working Capital Management Unit II: Treasury and Cash Management Unit III: Management of Inventory Unit IV: Management of Receivables Unit V: Management of Payables Unit VI: Financing of Working Capital
Section B: Strategic Management
	Introduction to Strategic Management Strategic Analysis: External Environment Strategic Analysis: Internal Environment Strategic Choices Strategy Implementation and Evaluation

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Step 4: Complete 3-Year Practical Training

Once aspirants have completed the intermediate courses they can start with practical training. During this training, aspirants work with registered CAs and they have to complete accounting tasks. Through this training, one can gain experience as a working chartered accountant. During the training process, aspirants have to enrol in the CA final course and complete a 4-week course on technology.

Step 5: Pass The Final Exam

6 months before you are about to complete the CA final course, you need to enrol in the final course. This course will cover the following papers:

Paper-1: Financial Reporting	Paper-2: Strategic Financial Management
Paper-3: Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics	Paper-4: Corporate and Economic Laws
Paper-5: Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation	Paper-6A: Risk Management
Paper-6B: Financial Services and Capital Markets	Paper-6C: International Taxation
Paper-6D: Economic Laws	Paper-6E: Global Financial Reporting Standards
Paper-6F: Multidisciplinary Case Study	Paper-7: Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation
Paper-8: Indirect Tax Laws

How to Become a CA - Step 6: Enrol in ICAI

After passing the final course, you will have to enrol in ICAI. Once you have enrolled, you can start practising on your own or work for someone as an authorized chartered accountant. 

Online CA Courses To Clear CA Exam Faster

We have already talked about the step-by-step process of how to become a CA. However, one very crucial step to clear your CA exam is enrolling in online courses. Let us explore online CA courses by popular course providers that will help you in clearing the exam.

1. Basic Accounting 

Any aspirant who wants to become a CA should enrol in this online CA course to get acquainted with accounting fundamentals so that they can easily understand the curriculum of chartered accountancy. Those who are not from a commerce background will also benefit from this course as it is meant for beginners. 

Duration: 2 hours

Who Can Do This Course: Beginners

2. Internal Auditing - Fundamental Principles & Concepts

Through this online course, CA aspirants will learn about the detailed process of conducting an internal audit using accounting techniques. The course teaches you the method to prepare a draft and conduct audit reporting.  It also demonstrates a way to prepare an audit summary and the role of working papers.

Duration: 3 hours

Who Can Do This Course: Graduates

3. The Fundamentals of Risk-Based Auditing

This course is a methodology that links internal auditing to the risk management framework of the organization. Through this course, chartered accountants effectively manage risks through effective risk management processes. Professionals who perform audits learn about the risk-based methodology concept.

Duration: 2 hours

Who Can Do This Course: Those who are interested in learning accounting

4. IIM Financial Management Course Online

Those who want to learn about financial analysis can opt for this course. Aspirants who want to become CA can opt for this course as it helps in developing advanced skills required for analyzing financial statements and making decisions based on this. By enrolling in this online course, CA aspirants will be able tp identify, assess and mitigate financial risks.

Duration: 12 months

Who Can Do This Course: Graduates who have work experience

5. Practical GST & Indian Income Tax Course & Certification

This course will introduce you to the Indian Income Tax system. You will learn about guidelines related to tax-saving investments and deductions. This course is useful for the practical use cases of accountants. Aspirants will gain detailed insights into GST as well.

Duration: 8 hours

Who Can Do This Course: For Tax Consultants

6. Certificate Course on Forensic Accounting and Fraud Detection

This course is offered by ICAI, the official organization for chartered accountants. Chartered accountants also work as forensic accountants to prevent the system from collapsing due to frauds and cyber crimes. They investigate financial documents, identify whether fraud has happened and accordingly advise the company to combat financial crimes.  

Duration: 11 days

Who Can Do This Course: Those who want to learn forensic accounting

7. Professional Certificate in Financial Accounting 

Those who want to learn how to become a CA must ensure that they have an in-depth knowledge of Financial accounting. This course helps students in learning about financial accounting tools to help them understand annual reports and footnotes to understand financial statements.

Hope this article has been helpful to you in understanding how to become a CA in a strategic manner by following step by step process. With proper planning, you can thoroughly prepare and crack one of the toughest exams of the country in less number of attempts.