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Beyond Doctor, Engineer, CA

Chapter 5

Chartered Accountancy after 12th

CA: Foundation, Inter, Final

  1. 1 Entrance

    CA Foundation, Intermediate, Final

  2. 2 Degree

    Three levels, with 2 years of training

  3. 3 Work

    Chartered accountant

You study
Accounting, tax, audit and law
Open to
Any stream; register after Class 10, sit Foundation after Class 12
Total cost
About 50,000 in fees to ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India), plus any coaching

What it is really like

March, audit season: a CA trainee ticks a client's bills against the ledger. There is no college: you pass ICAI's exams, often with a B.Com (commerce degree), then train two years in a firm, on little pay.

How you get in

  • CA Foundation

    The first exam, taken by 1 to 1.4 lakh a year.

  • Direct entry

    Graduates with 55 per cent (commerce) or 60 per cent (others) start at Intermediate.

  • Intermediate and Final

    Two groups each; only about 1 in 6 clears Final at each attempt.

Where to study

Top, government

ICAI

About 50,000 in fees for all stages

Other, government

A B.Com at a public college

Low fees, and a safety net

Private

Coaching classes

Optional, and an extra cost

After the degree

Pay over time: Chartered accountant

Start

5 years

10 years

Yearly pay in rupees. Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

Leads to

AuditorTax adviserFinance managerOwn practice

The cheapest door is also the hardest to pass. The top starting figure is ICAI's campus average; smaller firms pay less.

Top colleges and what it takes

CA has no entrance rank: you register with ICAI after Class 12, pass CA Foundation, then Intermediate, articleship and Final. Most students take a B.Com alongside. DU B.Com (Hons) is ranked on CUET-UG (language + Accountancy/Business Studies/Maths-type domain papers, normalised to a score out of 1000); figures are official round-1 minimum allocation scores for General/UR in DU CSAS 2025, and later rounds usually dip a little. Private colleges (St Xavier's, Christ, Loyola, NMIMS) run their own merit lists or tests.

  1. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)

    New Delhi (national body) · Government

    CA Foundation

    No rank: to pass CA Foundation you need at least 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate; you may register after Class 10 and sit it after passing Class 12 source

    2 programmes
    • CA Foundation40% in each paper and 50% aggregate (4 papers)
    • CA Intermediate (direct entry for graduates)Graduates with 55% (commerce) or 60% (others) may skip Foundation
  2. Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #18

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 917.43 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 917.43 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  3. Hindu College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #1

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 912.22 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 912.22 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  4. Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #17

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 906.37 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025); women only source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 906.37 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  5. Hansraj College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #3

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 901.71 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 901.71 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  6. Kirori Mal College (KMC)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #4

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 897.17 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 897.17 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  7. Ramjas College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #28

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 889.39 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 889.39 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  8. Daulat Ram College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #26

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 864.84 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025); women only source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 864.84 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  9. Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce (SGGSCC)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #32

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 860.48 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025) source

    2 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 860.48 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • B.Com (Programme)CUET 842.74 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  10. Jesus and Mary College (JMC)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #85

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 848.56 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025); women only source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 848.56 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  11. Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW)

    New Delhi · Government

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 843.75 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025); women only source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 843.75 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  12. Gargi College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #33

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 838.83 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025); women only source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 838.83 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  13. Shaheed Bhagat Singh College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #39

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 834.60 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 834.60 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  14. Maitreyi College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #38

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 823.64 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025); women only source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 823.64 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  15. Kamala Nehru College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #58

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    B.Com (Hons) round-1 minimum allocation score 816.18 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025); women only source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)CUET 816.18 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  16. St. Xavier's College (Autonomous)

    Kolkata · Private · NIRF 2025 College #8

    College's own merit process (Class 12 marks plus its own test/interview)

    No national rank: B.Com (Hons) admission is on the college's own merit list, which usually needs very high Class 12 marks (roughly 90%+)(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons) (Morning / Evening)Own merit list on Class 12 marks; roughly 90%+ for the morning section (approx.)
  17. Christ University

    Bengaluru · Deemed · NIRF 2025 University #63

    Christ University Entrance Test + skills assessment + interview

    No cut-off: B.Com seats go on Christ's own entrance test, a micro-presentation and an interview(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons / Professional with CA/ACCA integration)Christ's own test + interview; no published closing score
  18. Loyola College (Autonomous)

    Chennai · Private · NIRF 2025 College #14

    College's own merit list (Class 12 marks)

    No national rank: B.Com admission is on Loyola's merit list from Class 12 marks; very high marks needed for the aided (day) stream(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (General / Corporate Secretaryship / Accounting & Finance)Class 12 merit list; no published closing score
  19. NMIMS Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce (ASMSOC)

    Mumbai · Deemed · NIRF 2025 Management #24 (NMIMS)

    NMIMS-NPAT

    No official cut-off: B.Com (Hons) at the Mumbai campus needs a high NPAT score, roughly the top 5-10% of test-takers (approximate)(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • B.Com (Hons)NPAT merit; no published closing score

Delhi University scores are the sum of CUET subject scores (250 per subject): usually out of 1,000 for four subjects, 750 for three. Where we know the maximum, it is shown.

Cut-offs move every year and differ by category, quota and home state. Use them to judge the level, then check the official counselling data.

Is it for you?

Good fit if

  • you like numbers, business and steady, careful work
  • fees must stay low and you study with discipline

Think twice if

  • repeated exam failures would wear you down

Official links and free study material

Chartered Accountancy: common questions

How do I get into Chartered Accountancy after 12th?

CA Foundation: The first exam, taken by 1 to 1.4 lakh a year. Direct entry: Graduates with 55 per cent (commerce) or 60 per cent (others) start at Intermediate. Intermediate and Final: Two groups each; only about 1 in 6 clears Final at each attempt.

Which stream do I need for Chartered Accountancy?

Any stream: PCM, PCB, Commerce and Humanities are all open. Any stream; register after Class 10, sit Foundation after Class 12.

How much does Chartered Accountancy cost in India?

About 50,000 in fees to ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India), plus any coaching. By college: ICAI: About 50,000 in fees for all stages; A B.Com at a public college: Low fees, and a safety net; Coaching classes: Optional, and an extra cost. Fees change every year; confirm in each official notice.

What is the salary after Chartered Accountancy?

Chartered accountant: 7 to 13 lakh to start, about 12 lakh after 5 years and about 19 lakh after 10 years (yearly, in rupees). Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

Is Chartered Accountancy a good career for me?

A good fit if you like numbers, business and steady, careful work, and fees must stay low and you study with discipline. Think twice if repeated exam failures would wear you down.

Source: Chapter 5 of the book. Notes and sources