| Being a Chartered Accountant is the most | | | | prepares for the examination held at the end of |
| cherished dream of all commerce stream | | | | the year. Once the foundation course is over, the |
| students. It’s neither a new field nor an | | | | practical training for a student begins. The practical |
| innovative one. Yet, the demand for qualified | | | | training is taken under the guidance of a |
| chartered accountants has never dipped and | | | | professional chartered accountant at least for a |
| keeps attracting talent consistently. Chartered | | | | period of 18 months after which the student |
| accountancy, as a career field, has applications in | | | | takes the intermediate examination. |
| many industries and sectors. It is not restricted to | | | | |
| any one particular industry. The chartered | | | | Once the intermediate examination is cleared, the |
| accountancy course is not like other courses | | | | next step is studying for the main examination. |
| where students go to institutes or colleges in India | | | | Rigorous that this chartered accountant course is, |
| to attend classes. It is done on correspondence | | | | it requires the students to undergo two more |
| basis and the students study on their own. The | | | | years of practical training before appearing for the |
| Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) | | | | final examination. It is only after successfully |
| gets the exam dates when CA students take the | | | | clearing the CA final examination that one register |
| exam. | | | | with ICAI and start practicing chartered |
| | | | | accountancy independently or with a firm. Thus, |
| The main job of a chartered accountant is to go | | | | once the foundation examination is cleared, the |
| through the financial books of an organization and | | | | whole course can be completed in three and a |
| make sure that the accounts are as per the | | | | half years. |
| guidelines of accounting. A chartered accountant | | | | |
| also sees to it that there is no discrepancy in | | | | The foundation CA course can be taken up along |
| accounts and certifies the financial records as | | | | side graduation or post graduation. However, |
| audited and as per the accounting rules. Some | | | | commerce graduates with 50% marks, |
| experienced CAs work on special positions in an | | | | non-commerce graduates with 55% marks (60% |
| organization. They act as directors or arbitrators | | | | for those without math) are exempt from taking |
| to settle disputes, handle financial issues such as | | | | the foundation course and can directly apply for |
| acquisitions, insolvency, bankruptcy, getting listed | | | | practical training. Chartered accountants earn |
| etc. Thus, there is a diverse range of functions to | | | | handsomely but they require a certain aptitude |
| perform in their field. | | | | and intelligence level to be successful at their |
| | | | | profession. It is a numbers-oriented profession and |
| To become a qualified chartered accountant, the | | | | one should be well-versed in the application of |
| first step is to take up the foundation course for | | | | mathematics to be a good CA. Since it is a |
| chartered accountancy. The registration for this | | | | self-study course, it is important for the students |
| course is also done by ICAI. The duration of this | | | | to be self-motivated. The course is quite rigorous |
| course is usually one year. Once the student gets | | | | and requires long hours of studying with |
| the study material, he/she studies on own and | | | | dedication. |