CA Course 2026 is a highly regarded professional course regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The course builds students up for a career in accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial management through a systematic syllabus divided into Foundation, Intermediate, Articleship, and Final levels. Eligibility involves clearing Class 12 or graduation with the given marks.
Course duration is 3.5 to 5 years, and exams are conducted thrice a year. The fees are reasonable, from ₹1 to 1.5 lakh, including coaching and registration, along with stipend during articleship. The CA Course provides enormous career prospects in various areas such as auditing, tax advisory, and financial leadership.
The salary begins at ₹6-9 lakhs per year for new recruits, which increases greatly with experience, with prominent CAs receiving as much as ₹1 crore per year. The new ICAI scheme is focusing on practical training, IT skills, and soft skill development, with the goal of making the course industry-oriented and professional.
Chartered Accountancy (CA) Course 2026 is a professional course run by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The course imparts students with higher-level knowledge in the field of accounting, taxation, auditing, and financial management. Below is a full overview of the CA Course 2026, including eligibility, duration, and other important information for prospective Chartered Accountants:
CA Course 2026 Overview |
|
Particulars |
Details |
Course Name |
Chartered Accountancy (CA) Course 2026 |
Managing Body |
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) |
Eligibility |
Foundation Route: Class 12 passed in any stream Direct Entry Route: Graduates/Postgraduates - Min. 55% (Commerce) or 60% (Non-Commerce) |
Age Limit |
No age limit |
Duration |
3.5 - 5 years (if cleared in first attempt: 3.5 - 4 years) |
Levels |
Foundation (6 months) Intermediate (1 year) Articleship (2 years) Final (6-12 months) |
Stipend (Articleship) |
₹3,000 - ₹10,000 per month |
Exam Months |
January, May, September |
Passing Criteria |
Min. 40 marks per subject & 50% overall in the group |
Official Website |
www.icai.org |
You can pursue the CA Course 2026 after completing Class 12 from either the Commerce, Science, or Arts stream. There are two modes of joining, either from school or after graduation.
CA Course Eligibility 2026 |
|
Entry Route |
Eligibility |
Foundation Route |
Pass Class 12 in any stream |
Direct Entry Route |
Graduates/Postgraduates: Commerce: Minimum 55% Non-Commerce: Minimum 60% |
Age Limit |
No age limit |
Registration |
Through official ICAI website |
CA Course 2026 generally requires 3 to 5 years to finish, depending on the speed with which a student clears every stage. The course is distributed across four phases and each dealing with varying levels of knowledge and practical training in finance and accountancy:
CA Course Duration |
||
Level |
Duration |
Description |
Foundation |
6 months |
Basic introduction and eligibility test |
Intermediate |
1 year |
Two groups with advanced subjects |
Articleship |
2 years |
Practical training under a CA |
Final |
6-12 months |
Advanced specialization stage |
If you clear exams on the first attempt, the entire CA Course 2026 can be finished within 3.5 to 4 years..
The fees for the CA Course 2026 are reasonable in contrast with other professional courses. The approximate cost structure is as follows:
CA Course Fees 2026 |
||||
Course Level |
Registration Fee |
Exam Fee |
Coaching (Optional) |
Total Cost (approximate) |
Foundation |
₹9,000 |
₹1,500 |
₹30,000-₹50,000 |
₹40,000-₹60,000 |
Intermediate |
₹18,000 |
₹2,000 |
₹40,000-₹60,000 |
₹80,000-₹1,00,000 |
Final |
₹22,000 |
₹2,000 |
₹40,000-₹60,000 |
₹1,00,000-₹1,20,000 |
During articleship, students also receive a stipend of ₹3,000 to ₹10,000 per month, which they can use for paying their course fee.
The CA Course 2026 indicates enormous career prospects for Chartered Accountants in India. With a qualification, CAs can work or commence their practice in the following fields:
Auditing and Assurance
Tax Consulting (Direct and Indirect Taxes)
Financial Management
Accounting and Compliance
Corporate Advisory Services
Risk Management
Forensic Accounting
CFO and Finance Leadership Roles
CAs are required in all sectors - from government to MNCs and banking to startups.
CA Salary in India provides great career growth and financial security. Even during articleship, students are paid stipends for practical training. Post-qualification, salaries increase considerably based on experience, type of organization, and skills:
CA Course Salary in India |
|
Experience Level |
Average Salary (per annum) |
Freshers |
₹6 - ₹9 Lakhs |
Mid-Level (3-5 Years) |
₹12 - ₹18 Lakhs |
Senior CA / Manager |
₹20 - ₹30 Lakhs |
Top-Level / CFO |
₹40 Lakhs - ₹1 Crore+ |
The compensation varies depending on organization type, experience, and technical skills. Big 4 organizations such as Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG tend to offer better packages.
The CA Course Structure 2026 is structured to develop knowledge step by step. It also incorporates a 2-year articleship for practical training in real-life situations. The CA 2026 course structure has three broad levels:
CA Foundation: The entry-level stage with 4 subjects.
CA Intermediate: Divided into Group 1 and Group 2.
CA Final: Advanced stage with practical and theoretical subjects.
Along with classroom or online studies, students must complete a 2-year articleship, working with a registered Chartered Accountant for practical experience.
The syllabus of the CA Course 2026 involves a combination of accounting, taxation, and finance topics. Here's the CA Course Syllabus 2026 in the simplified table format:
CA Course Syllabus 2026 |
|
Level |
Subjects |
Foundation |
Accounting Business Laws and Business Correspondence Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning & Statistics Business Economics |
Intermediate |
Advanced Accounting Corporate Laws and Other Laws Taxation (Direct and Indirect) Cost and Management Accounting Auditing and Assurance Financial Management and Economics for Finance |
Final |
Financial Reporting Strategic Financial Management Advanced Auditing Corporate and Economic Laws Direct Tax and International Taxation Indirect Tax Laws |
Examinations are conducted three times a year (January, May, and September). Every paper is of 100 marks, and candidates require 40 marks in every subject and 50% overall to clear a group.
In accordance with the ICAI CA new scheme 2025/2026, there are some alterations:
Articleship has been reduced from 3 years to 2 years only.
Foundation and Intermediate exams now follow a multiple-choice + descriptive format.
Focus on practical knowledge and digital skills.
Soft skills, IT training, and communication sessions are now mandatory.
Exams are now held thrice a year for more flexibility.
These changes are meant to professionalize and update the CA Course 2026 as per the requirements of the industry.