Bean counters set to get younger
Students aspiring to become chartered accountants can now register as soon as they pass tenth standard.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Students aspiring to become chartered accountants (CA) can now register as soon as they pass tenth standard instead of twelfth standard, earlier. By providing for this early enrolment, accounting standards setter Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has trimmed the minimum time required to complete the CA course from five years and three months to four years. As a result, students who register for an entrance test after tenth standard, will have two years to prepare at their own pace. They can take the entrance test as soon as they appear for their twelfth standard exam. Under the existing scheme, a student can register only after passing 12th standard. The entrance test is to be taken after studying theory for ten months from then. Also, the institute would hold entrance test once in three months as against the current practice of twice a year.
The company affairs ministry has approved the changes in principle and the institute is now inviting comments to further fine tune the curriculum. It intends to reach out to students of eighth standard onwards and impress upon them the career options in accounting so that the brightest among them joins the profession, said ICAI president TN Manoharan. Now, students think of becoming a CA after considering other options after their twelfth standard.
The existing CA course spans five years and three months with two ten-month long theory courses followed by a three-year articleship (practical training). Students are allowed to take the final exam during the last six months of training. Under the new scheme, students passing the entrance test and their twelfth can straight away start their three-and-a-half year practical training. They, however, will be allowed to take the final exam only after completing the course, as they tend to take study holidays during this period. The institute intends to introduce these changes in September this year. All the students of the existing curriculum will be allowed to switch over to this system. They would also be allowed two attempts at the final exam during the last one
year of their articleship.
The governing council of the institute on Thursday also approved a dress code for CAs when they represent their firm in official capacity. The code, to be worked out now, would be optional. “The idea is to inculcate a consciousness about dignity and decorum among professionals,” said Mr Manoharan. As part of a brand-building exercise, the institute also decided to allow professionals to use a logo in their visiting cards and other stationery. This logo, to be designed, would be similar to the logos used by doctors and advocates.
The company affairs ministry has approved the changes in principle and the institute is now inviting comments to further fine tune the curriculum. It intends to reach out to students of eighth standard onwards and impress upon them the career options in accounting so that the brightest among them joins the profession, said ICAI president TN Manoharan. Now, students think of becoming a CA after considering other options after their twelfth standard.
The existing CA course spans five years and three months with two ten-month long theory courses followed by a three-year articleship (practical training). Students are allowed to take the final exam during the last six months of training. Under the new scheme, students passing the entrance test and their twelfth can straight away start their three-and-a-half year practical training. They, however, will be allowed to take the final exam only after completing the course, as they tend to take study holidays during this period. The institute intends to introduce these changes in September this year. All the students of the existing curriculum will be allowed to switch over to this system. They would also be allowed two attempts at the final exam during the last one
year of their articleship.
The governing council of the institute on Thursday also approved a dress code for CAs when they represent their firm in official capacity. The code, to be worked out now, would be optional. “The idea is to inculcate a consciousness about dignity and decorum among professionals,” said Mr Manoharan. As part of a brand-building exercise, the institute also decided to allow professionals to use a logo in their visiting cards and other stationery. This logo, to be designed, would be similar to the logos used by doctors and advocates.
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