Provision Relating to Students

PROVISIONS RELATING TO STUDENTS

ca COURSE at a Glance

Under the course, the requirements for becoming chartered accountant are as follows:

Enrol for Common Proficiency Test (CPT), after passing Class 10 examination
Pass 10+2 examination and CPT
Enrol for Group I or Group II or for both Group I and Group II of IPCC with or without the option of ATC
Successfully complete 9 months of Study Course
Successfully complete Orientation Course of one week spanning over 35 hours and covering topics, such as, personality development, communication skills, office procedures, business environment, general commercial knowledge, etc. at any time after joining IPCC but compulsorily before the commencement of articled training.
Successfully complete Information Technology Training (ITT) at any time after joining IPCC but compulsorily before the commencement of articled training.
Appear and pass Group I as well as Group II of Integrated Professional Competence Examination (IPCE)
Group I is composed of four papers and Group II is composed of three papers
Register as Articled Assistant for a period of 3 years, on passing either Group I or both the Groups of IPCE
Get IPCE Certificate, on passing both the Groups of IPCE
Appear in Final Examination during last 6 months of 3 years of articled training – for fresh IPCC students and during the last 6 months of 3½ years of articled training for students converted from PCC to IPCC.
Pass Group I as well as Group II of Final Examination
Complete remaining period of articled training, if applicable
Successfully complete the Course on General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS)
Get Final Examination Certificate
Enrol as a member of ICAI and designate as “Chartered Accountant”

Common Proficiency Test (CPT)

Common Proficiency Test is an entry level test for Chartered Accountancy Course. CPT is generally conducted twice a year i.e. in the months of June and December.

A student who has passed the 10th standard examination conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto may register for Common Proficiency Test. A student who registers to CPT course on or before 1^st April will be eligible to appear in June and who registers on or before 1^st October will be eligible to appear in December who should have already passed/appeared in 12^th class examination or its equivalent. Students who have appeared in the 10+2 examination and are awaiting results may also appear in the CPT. The registration for CPT Course is valid for a period of 3 years from the date the student becomes eligible to appear in CPT exam for the first time or for the period so long the student continues to appear in the examination regularly whichever is later.

CPT is a test comprising of four subjects; i.e., Fundamentals of Accounting, Mercantile Laws, General Economics and Quantitative Aptitude. The test is of 200 marks. The test is conducted in two sessions i.e. Morning and Afternoon of two hours each.

The qualifying marks to pass CPT are 50%. A candidate has to secure 100 marks in the aggregate of all sections comprised in CPT and minimum 30% marks in each subject . A student has to remember that CPT is an objective type test and there will be negative marking for each wrong answer. ¼ (One Fourth) mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.

INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE COURSE (IPCC)

In this IPCC curriculum only working knowledge of core and allied subjects to accountancy profession is covered. A student would undergo theoretical education and 3 years of practical training after passing Group-I of IPCC/Accounting Technician (Level-1). A candidate is eligible for enrolment to any of the level(s) of the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) on passing the Common Proficiency Test and Senior Secondary Examination (10+2 examination) conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India or an examination recognised by the Central Government as equivalent thereto. A candidate who has already passed Entrance Examination or Foundation Examination or Professional Education (Examination-I) shall be eligible for enrolment to Integrated Professional Competence Course subject to complying with relevant conditions.

A candidate who was already registered for erstwhile Intermediate Examination or of Professional Education (Examination-II) or Professional Competence Examination cum articleship shall be eligible for enrolment/conversion to Integrated Professional Competence Course subject to complying with relevant conditions.

Final

In Final (New) course, advanced application knowledge of core and allied subjects to accountancy profession has been intended to be inculcated. After passing both groups of IPCC register for Final Course with the Board of Studies, Collect Study Materials of the Final Course and prepare for Final Examination. Appear in Final Examination during last 6 months of 3 years of articled training, Pass both the Groups of IPCC Final examination, Complete remaining period of articled training, if applicable,- Successfully complete the Course on General Management and Communication Skills (GMCS), Get Final Examination Certificate, Enrol as a member of ICAI and designate as “Chartered Accountant”

Articleship Training

A student has to undergo articled training for the period of three years along with theoretical education. The entire period of practical training can be served with a practising member or it can be served partly with a practising member and partly in an approved industrial establishment as an Industrial Trainee. The period of such industrial training may range between 9–12 months during the last year of the prescribed period of practical training. Only students of Final Chartered Accountancy Course are eligible for Industrial training. A person registered as an articled assistant is entitled to receive a minimum monthly stipend as per the rates specified under the Chartered Accountants Regulations, from time to time. The current minimum rates of monthly stipend payable, depending on the situation of the normal place of services of the articled assistants, are as follows:

Classification of the normal place of service of the articled assistant

During the first year of training

During the second year of training

During the remaining period of training

(i) Cities/towns having a population of 20 lakhs and above.

Rs. 1000/-

Rs. 1250/-

Rs. 1500/-

(ii) Cities/towns having a population of 4 lakhs and above but less than 20 lakhs.

Rs. 750/-

Rs. 1000/-

Rs. 1250/-

(iii) Cities/towns having a population of less than 4 lakhs.

Rs. 500/-

Rs. 750/-

Rs. 1000/-

Guidelines for training of Articled Assistants outside India

A Chartered Accountant is eligible to train an articled assistant provided his main occupation is the practice of the profession of Accountancy at the time of engaging articled assistants as well as in each of the qualifying years on the basis of which he claims eligibility to train articled assistants.
Any member engaged in any other business, occupation or holding part time certificate of practice, is not entitled to train articled assistant.
The member in practice shall have a professional address in India in his own charge or in charge of another member.
The terms and conditions that may be made applicable for training articled assistant in India from time to time shall mutatis mutandis apply for training of articled assistant abroad.
The period of practical training shall be 3 years or 3½ years, as applicable, under a practising chartered accountant abroad. However, the articled/audit assistants should have an option to undergo industrial training in accordance with the Regulations 51 & 72 of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988 during the last one year of training.
The Industrial Training may be imparted by the Chartered Accountants working abroad in a financial, commercial or industrial undertaking with minimum fixed assets & minimum total turnover or minimum paid-up capital as may be specified by the Council (whatever the value specified in terms of Indian currency may be deemed as applicable in foreign countries in their respective currencies) or such other organization or institution approved by the Council
The terms & conditions contained in Regulation 54 dealing with secondment shall be applicable to the articled assistants receiving training abroad.
The Principal shall send training reports as prescribed along with the service certificate to be issued in Forms 109 & 108 as the case may be The principal shall impart training in accordance with the guidelines contained in Training Guide. He shall maintain a record of practical training imparted by him to the articled assistant and report to the Council in the form prescribed in the training guide.
The rates, terms and conditions of stipend prescribed as payable to the articled assistants receiving training in India shall be applicable to the articled assistants receiving training abroad except that the same rate of stipend in equivalent terms specified in respective national currencies of the countries concerned instead of Indian rupees.
Regulation of training in terms of office hours and working days holidays will be applicable as per local office timings and laws. However, requirements of total training hours will be the same as applicable in India.

The working hours for the articled assistants shall be 35 hours in a week excluding the lunch break. The office hours of the Principal for providing article training to the articled assistant shall not be generally before 9.00 a.m. or after 7.00 p.m. The normal working hours for the articled assistant shall not start after 11.00 a.m. or end before 5.00 p.m. The working hours for the articled assistants should not exceed 35 hours in a week excluding the lunch break and normally an articled assistant be required to work during the normal working hours fixed for articled assistants. In case of exigencies of work with Principal, an article assistant may be required to work beyond his/her normal working hours. However, under such circumstances, the aggregate number of working hours shall not exceed 45 hours per week. The requirement to work beyond 35 hours in a week should not be a practice but only in exceptional circumstances. Further, where the articled assistant is required to work beyond normal working hours, and aggregate of such hours exceed 35 hours per week, he/she shall be entitled to compensatory leave calculated with reference to number of completed working hours, over and above, 35 hours per week.

Leave/Working hours for articled assistants

A trainee earns leave at the rate of one–sixth of the period actually served by him. The working hours for the articled assistant shall be 35 hours in a week excluding the lunch break. The articled assistant should undergo practical training in accordance with the guidelines of the Institute. During the working hours, the articled assistant is not be permitted to attend colleges/other institutions for pursuing any course including graduation. To ensure that the working hours do not clash with the graduation or any other course, if any pursued by the articled assistant, each articled assistant shall now required to obtain specific permission from the ICAI for pursuing graduation or other course as permitted under the Chartered Accountants Regulations by submitting Form No. 112, within one month from the date of joining the college or course to the ICAI. Every articled/audit assistant shall submit, once in a year, a specific declaration duly countersigned by the Principal to the effect that he is regularly attending training and his college hours do not clash with his articles timings and that no coaching is undertaken by him between 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. on any working day.

The office hours of the Principal for providing articled training shall not be generally before 9.00 a.m. or after 7.00 p.m.

The normal working hours for the articled assistants shall not start after 11.00 a.m. or end before 5.00 p.m.

If the exigencies or nature of training so warrants, the articled assistant shall work beyond the normal office hours. However, the maximum working hours for the articled assistant should not exceed normally 35 hours in a week excluding the lunch break and in any case or circumstances should not exceed 45 hours per week. In case the articled assistant is required to work beyond 35 hours per week, he is entitled to compensatory leave calculated with reference to the number of completed hours worked over and above 35 hours per week. The principal shall ensure long working hours are not imposed on the article assistants on a regular basis and only in case of exceptional circumstances where time bound work is to be delivered the articled assistants may be required to work longer hours which will still be subject to a maximum of 45 hours per week. The principal shall be free to allow compensatory leave or off hours in lieu of extra working beyond 35 hours.

Secondment/exchange in the context of articleship training

In order to expose the trainees at large to multi-disciplinary work variety of business situations, the arrangement of secondment under articleship training is provided by which an articled assistant can work under a different member of the Institute. Under the scheme of secondment an articled assistant is shifted to another member who is eligible to train articled assistant or who is eligible to train assistant under the scheme of industrial training. However, a member is not entitled to train more than two such articled assistants under secondment basis. Under the scheme of secondment, the period of training shall not exceed twelve months under a member other than the original Member In-charge of Training (MIT)/Principal and in aggregate total period of training under secondment shall not exceed 1 year. If the secondment is made under industrial training, the periods served on secondment should not exceed 1 year.

Work Diary

It is meant for training records to ascertain progress of the trainees. A format of the Work Diary is given in Annexure III of the Training Guide which includes inter alia details of work undertaken and training received and a Summary of the various Training Programmes — professional as well as self-development attended by an articled assistant. This Diary is to be prepared by the trainee and should be confirmed by the Member In-charge of Training (MIT)/Principal.

Delayed submission of Form No. 103

In case Form No.103 is not submitted to the Institute’s Office within 30 days from the date of commencement of training, the procedure laid down by the Council for condonation of delay in submission of forms will apply.

Period of Delay

Condonation Fees to be paid

30 days beyond specified period

Rs. 100

31–180 days beyond specified period

Rs. 300

Beyond 181 days

Rs. 1000

1. If the delay is 31 days to 180 days beyond specified period, no documents are required to be submitted.

2. Following documents to be submitted if the delay is more than 181 days:

(a) Attendance record of the Articled Assistant.

(b) Original deed of Articles in Form 102, executed on non-judicial stamp paper.

(c) Certified copy of the work diary of the articled assistant.

(d) Stipend details with evidence in the form of Bank Pass Book/Statement.

Excess leave

An articled assistant who has already completed three years/three & half years of articled service and has taken leave in excess of the period allowed under Regulation 59 is required to serve for a period equivalent to the excess leave taken in order that his training may be completed. For this purpose, a supplementary deed of articles in Form No. 107 should be executed in triplicate with the same employer in continuation of the previous training on a non-judicial stamp paper or special adhesive stamp of the requisite value should be affixed on the form. The supplementary deed in duplicate along with Form 108 for the period already served should be sent so as to reach the office of the Institute within 60 days of the expiry of the normal term of articles.

In case there is a break in the continuity of training and/or there is a change in the employer and/or there is a delay in submission of the papers beyond 60 days, as referred to in the previous paragraph, an agreement in Form No.107 would not be valid. In such a case, a fresh agreement in Form 102 should be entered into and the particulars in Form 103 along with Form No.108 for the period already served, should be sent to the office of the Institute for registration within 30 days of the commencement of training.

A member may be granted an additional vacancy to engage an articled assistant whose normal term of training is over and he (the articled assistant) is found to have taken excess leave which is to be made up by an additional period of articles. It is the duty of the employer in such a case to ensure that the articled assistant completes the period of training under him including the period of excess leave. The benefit of an additional vacancy in such case is given only where it could not have been reasonably anticipated that the articled assistant would have to serve an extra period on account of the excess leave taken. Such additional vacancy may be given to the previous employer or to any other chartered accountant entitled to train articled assistant(s).

Industrial Training

Industrial training is a training scheme by which a student can undergo practical training with an industrial undertaking having specified amount of fixed assets or turnover or paid-up share capital. Industrial training can be commenced during the last one year of articleship. Industrial training can be performed in financial, commercial, industrial undertakings with minimum fixed assets of Rs.1 crore; or minimum total turnover of Rs. 10 crore; or minimum paid–up share capital of Rs. 50 lakhs; or such other institutions or organization as may be approved by the Council from time to time. The period of industrial training may range between 9 months and one year. The industrial training shall be received under the member of the Institute. An associate who has been a member for a continuous period of at least 3 years shall be entitled to train one industrial trainee at a time and a fellow shall be entitled to train two industrial trainees at a time. There should be an agreement of industrial training in Form No.104. On satisfactory completion of industrial training by an articled/audit assistant, the associate/fellow member under whom the industrial training is received shall issue a certificate in Form No.105 in respect of the training undergone. It is required to maintain details of work undertaken and training received in the prescribed format.

PURSUANCE OF OTHER COURSE OF STUDIES

With the permission of the Institute a student can pursue one course of study at a time. A student has to submit application in Form No.112 to the appropriate Regional Office of the Institute seeking permission to pursue other course of study within one month of joining the college/ course. The office shall grant permission within one month from the date of receipt of Form No.112. The students currently undergoing graduation or other course under general permission, which was given for the articled assistant to pursue graduation course, is withdrawn. The certificate portion in Form No.112 indicating college timings etc. shall be countersigned by the Principal of the college with the seal and stamp of the college and also indicating the telephone number and full address of the college.

In the event of breach of these guidelines and not taking permission as required, the articles already undergone shall be derecognised for such period as the Institute may decide. In Peer Review, the Reviewer be required to verify whether training is imparted to the articled assistants in the manner prescribed.

Important Rules for taking Transfers

• Transfer/termination of articles is permitted without any restriction during the first year of articles.

• During rest of the Articleship Transfer/Termination of articleship of an articled assistant shall not be allowed except in following cases –

- His/her working parent(s) is/are transferred from the city/place where the articled assistant is receiving training to another city and a copy of transfer order/proof is submitted to the principal in proof thereof. On such termination the articled assistant concerned shall join articles training in and around the place of posting of his/her parent(s) and shall not re-register articles in the same city or within 50 Kms radius of the city where he/she has undergone articles prior to such termination.

- If the articled assistant is not able to serve the articleship for specified genuine medical reasons thereby opting to discontinue the CA course for a period of at least three months, the termination of articles be permitted, provided that the medical grounds are such that warrant termination of Articleship.

- In the event of misconduct involving moral turpitude, gross negligence or unsatisfactory performance of the articled assistant, his articles shall be liable to be terminated by his principal besides being cancelled or extended for such period as may be decided by the Institute. Board of Studies to decide and enumerate the acts constituting misconduct.

- Termination/ transfer of articles be permitted on such other justified circumstances as may be deemed genuine by the Council such as Industrial Training, Secondment of articles, Conversion from PCC to IPCC (for termination of articles only. Re-registration of articles to be allowed only after passing Group-I of IPCC), Marriage basis (only if there is relocation to another city involving distance of 50 kms), Death of Principal, Ceasing of practice by Principal, Removal of name of principal from the register of members due to any reason, Irregular payment or non payment of stipend with reference to Regulation 67, Articled assistant desires to serve balance period of training outside India, Shifting by the principal to another city involving distance more than 50 Kms. Any other valid reason to be considered and decided by the President on case to case basis on merits having regard to the facts of the case.

While forwarding the Form No. 109 the principal shall state specifically the clause under which the articles have been terminated.

The request, on any one or more of the aforesaid grounds, of an articled assistant on a plain paper alongwith the recommendation / consent of the Principal for transfer / termination of articleship accompanied by evidence / proof (self-attested by the articled assistant) to the satisfaction of the Institute is required to be made. Request for transfer not accompanied by consent of Principal shall not be accepted by the Institute.

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING DUPLICATE MARKS SHEET/S

You are required to provide a request duly signed by you for issue of duplicate marks sheet/s.
E-mails are not entertained for issue of duplicate marks sheet/s.
You are required to furnish the following details/documents along with your request.
Copy/ies of marks sheet/s for which you require duplicate marks sheet/s (if available), which will help Examination Division to process your request speedily. In case, you are not in a position to send copy/ies of your marks sheet/s, please furnish your correct Articles Registration Number, Month & Year of appearance and Roll Number for which you require duplicate marks sheet/s.
A fee of Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only) per duplicate marks sheet should be remitted through Demand Draft in favour of the Secretary, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, payable at New Delhi. In case you have not received your marks statement within reasonable time (say 6 weeks of the declaration of result) send a request for duplicate marks statement within two months of the declaration of result, you are not required to pay any fee.
Provide your complete postal address for correspondence, telephone number, fax number, etc.

If you furnish a copy of mark statement or correct Articles Registration Number, Month & Year of appearance and roll number, the duplicate mark sheets are issued normally within twenty days of receipt of your request complete in all respects.

FOR CORRECTION IN NAME

In case, if you find any mistake in your name in the mark sheets sent by the Institute, kindly send your original mark sheet for correction in name together with supportive document; i.e., copy of Student Registration letter issued by the respective Decentralised Office of the Institute. It may be noted that the name of a candidate will be shown in the same manner as it appears in Foundation/PE-I/Intermediate/PE-II/PCC/IPCC/ Articles Registration Letter issued by the concerned Decentralised Office of the Institute.

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING TRANSCRIPTS

You are required to provide a request duly signed by you for issue of Transcripts.

E-mails are not entertained for issue of Transcripts.

You are required to furnish the following details/documents with your request:

A fee of Rs. 500/- (Rupees five hundred only) for one set of transcript/s (for any one or all examinations viz., Foundation/PE-I, Inter/PE-II/PCC/IPCC and Final) remitted through Demand Draft or Pay Order in favour of the Secretary, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, payable at New Delhi.

Self attested copies of Entrance/Foundation/PE-I/Intermediate/PE-II/PCC/IPCC/Final examination mark sheet/s (both front and reverse side, if subjects are shown on reverse side) of all Examinations (i.e., for all your appearances including those where the result of any one or both groups was not PASS).

Correct Articles Registration number.

Self attested copies of Rank Certificate issued, if any.

Self attested copy of Associate Membership Certificate/Fellow Membership Certificate along with the proof for having paid the current year Membership fee clearly indicating your membership number to enable us to issue the “COVER SHEET” (Which is a part of Transcript containing Membership Number, brief description of C. A. Course, Passing Criteria, etc).

Copy/ies of Prospectus or communication received from Professional Body/Management/Educational Institution/s as applicable, requiring you to submit transcripts of Chartered Accountants Examinations.

Prescribed Form for transcript duly filled-in by the candidate, along with the envelope/s received from Foreign University/ies/Management Institution/s, if any.

Copy of the Appointment Letter issued by the Foreign Body as applicable.

ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN COURSE (ATC)

A student can become an Accounting Technician by enrolling for Common Proficiency Test (CPT) after passing Class 10 examination, Pass 10+2 examination and CPT, enrol for Accounting Technician Course (ATC), successfully complete 9 months of Study course, successfully complete Orientation Course of one week spanning over 35 hours and covering topics, such as, personality development, communication skills, office procedures, business environment, general commercial knowledge, etc and also successfully complete Information Technology Training (ITT) or Computer Training Programme, Pass Accounting Technician Examination (IPCE-Group I) of four papers of Integrated Professional Competence Examination (IPCE) and also successfully complete one year work experience under a chartered accountant in practice or in industry and Get ATC Certificate - Designate as “Accounting Technician”.

After becoming Accounting Technician if student wants to pursue CA course he can do it by enrolling in Group II of Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC), Register as Articled Assistant for a period of 3 years, Pass Group II of IPCE , Appear in Final Examination during last 6 months of 3 years of articled training, Pass both the Groups of Final examination, Complete remaining period of articled training, if applicable,- Successfully complete the Course on General Management and Communication Skills, Get Final Examination Certificate, Enrol as a member of ICAI and designate as “Chartered Accountant”.