📋 Chartered Accountancy
PUC Commerce · after SSLC (Class 10)
Duration
3–5 Years
Entrance Exam
CA Foundation
Degree
CA
Job Roles
8 mapped
What it costs to get there
Indicative total tuition for the whole course in Karnataka
Government seat
₹70,000–1L
about ₹17,000 a year
Private / management seat
₹1.5–3L
about ₹45,000 a year
ICAI registration and exam fees across all three levels come to roughly ₹70,000 if you study on your own. Coaching is optional and is what pushes the total to ₹1.5–3L. There is no government-versus-private seat here.
Fees change every year and differ by college — confirm with the college before paying. Scholarships can cover much of this.
Who can apply
After Class 12 in any stream via the Foundation route. Graduates with 55% (commerce) or 60% (other streams) can enter directly at Intermediate.
How to apply
Register with ICAI at icai.org and clear Foundation, then Intermediate, then Final. Under the New Scheme notified in the Gazette on 22 June 2023 and in force from 1 July 2023, articleship was reduced from 3 years to 2, and Intermediate and Final now carry 6 papers each.
The journey, step by step
SSLC through to leadership.
- 1Foundation · 1 Year🎓 SSLC — Class 10Finish Class 10. Your marks decide which colleges and subject combinations are open to you next.
- 2Stream Selection · 2 Years📊 PUC — CommerceTwo years of pre-university study in the Commerce stream. This is where you prepare for the entrance exam.
- 3Entrance Exam · Exam year📝 CA FoundationEntry to CA is through CA Foundation. CA Foundation is run by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and leads to CA Intermediate, the first formal step toward becoming a Chartered Accountant. Dates change every year — always confirm on the conducting authority's official portal.
- 4Degree · 3–5 Years📘 CAChartered Accountancy: 3–5 Years. You can specialise in Taxation, Audit, Financial Reporting, Corporate Finance and more.
- 5First Job · After graduating💼 Chartered AccountantCommon starting roles include Chartered Accountant, Auditor, CFO.
- 6Higher Studies · Optional🎯 CPA (USA)You can continue with CPA (USA), ACCA (UK), MBA Finance.
- 7Research · 3–5 Years (PhD)🔬 Post-qualification diplomas (ICAI)Post-qualification diplomas (ICAI) · Forensic accounting research · PhD in commerce / finance · Forensic accounting specialisation
- 8Government Route · Exam-based🏛️ Indian Audit & Accounts ServiceIndian Audit & Accounts Service via UPSC · RBI Grade B officer · Public-sector bank finance roles · CAG / income-tax department
- 9Entrepreneurship · Any time🚀 Own CA practiceOwn CA practice · Audit and tax consultancy · Virtual CFO services · Insolvency and restructuring practice
- 10Leadership · Long term⭐ Finance ControllerFinance Controller · Partner in a CA firm · CFO
Job roles and salary ranges
Salary figures are indicative annual ranges, not guarantees.
Higher studies
- ›CPA (USA)
- ›ACCA (UK)
- ›MBA Finance
Research routes
- ›Post-qualification diplomas (ICAI)
- ›Forensic accounting research
- ›PhD in commerce / finance
- ›Forensic accounting specialisation
Government jobs
- ›Indian Audit & Accounts Service via UPSC
- ›RBI Grade B officer
- ›Public-sector bank finance roles
- ›CAG / income-tax department
Start your own
- ›Own CA practice
- ›Audit and tax consultancy
- ›Virtual CFO services
- ›Insolvency and restructuring practice
Senior roles later
- ›Finance Controller
- ›Partner in a CA firm
- ›CFO
Specialisations
- ›Taxation
- ›Audit
- ›Financial Reporting
- ›Corporate Finance
Where it is taught
- ›ICAI Institutes
- ›ICAI regional offices
Where these facts come from
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) — Foundation → Intermediate → Final with articleship