The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : CA course duration to be cut to four years

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

CA course duration to be cut to four years

Staff Reporter

Focus on blending practical training with theoretical education

CHENNAI: Keen on making chartered accountancy an attractive study option, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has approved changes in the curriculum to bring down the course duration to four years.

ICAI Vice-President T.N. Manoharan told presspersons here on Monday that the changes were focussed on blending practical training with theoretical education and allowing prospective students to prepare even while they are in school.

Mooted by the institute's Committee on Review of Education and Training and approved by the ICAI Council, the new curriculum allows prospective students to enrol for a Common Proficiency Test (CPT), anytime after passing 10th class. They will be allowed to take the test only after clearing the 12th class examination, and the minimum age limit is 17 years.

Noting that the duration of the course now is five years and three months, Mr. Manoharan said, "The council ... felt that the duration was too long. No other professional course takes five years and above." The decision to allow the students to prepare after 10th class is expected to increase the popularity of the CA course. The ICAI will shortly seek the approval of the Union Ministries of Company Affairs and Law and Justice and hopes to get the nod of Parliament and introduce the changes from 2006. It would also approach schools to create awareness of the course and help students and their parents plan in advance. About the possible change in the fee structure, he said it would remain the same and would possibly come down.

After qualifying CPT, the students will be admitted, and need to undergo practical training for three-and-a-half years with a CA firm. During the practical training, they will be required to clear two examinations, the Professional Competence Examination (PCE) after 18 months of practical training; and the final examination during the last six months of the training. In the existing system, the first two years are devoted to theoretical education, and the practical training is for three years.

Stating that there will be no change in the number of qualifying examinations — three — he said modification was proposed to the information technology training and the test on general management communication skills too.

Taking into account the increasing penetration of personal computers, the ICAI will reduce IT training from 250 hours to 100 hours and it has to be completed within the first 18 months of the practical training.

The paper on general management communication skills has to be cleared after passing PCE but before the final examination.

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