Accounting Courses: CA, CS, ICWA, Computer Accountancy

Courses in accounting are in high demand today. Everyone wants to get a better job by doing a professional course. But in today's job market, a BA, BSc, or BCom is not enough. To move your career forward, you need professional courses alongside your degree. Accounting is a career needed by every small or big private and government company. Demand for accounting professionals increases every passing day. It has become a very demanding field. With the expansion of private companies and the arrival of multinationals during the liberalization period, demand for experts like CA, ICWA, CS, and Computer Accountancy professionals continues to rise. Accounting is an area where your career graph can increase rapidly. Most commerce students want to enter accounting, but this field is open to students from other streams as well.

Chartered Accountancy (CA)

Among courses in accounting, Chartered Accountancy (CA) comes first. A chartered accountant specializes in auditing, taxation, and accounting. The CA professional is becoming increasingly popular. Even small companies and businessmen need a CA to manage their economic issues. Indian chartered accountants are now in good demand abroad, especially in West Asia, Australia, and Singapore. Demand for chartered accountants in the industry is on the rise. However, the work is quite challenging. If you complete the final course operated under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), you have opportunities in Accounting, Auditing, Corporate Finance, Project Evaluation, Company and Business Law, Taxation, and Corporate Governance. According to the Companies Act, only chartered accountants can audit a company in India. After passing the final examination, you are accepted as an Associate of ICAI. ICAI's headquarters is in New Delhi, with five regional offices in Kolkata, Kanpur, Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi. Compulsory practical training is done alongside theoretical education in the CA curriculum.

Eligibility for CA After passing the 12th standard, you can take the CPT (Common Proficiency Test) for admission. Commerce graduates with auditing, commercial law, and accountancy can also do this. Students from Arts and Science streams can also pursue the CA course. After clearing CPT, three months of articleship training and 100 hours of ITT training are required. Then you must pass the Professional Competence Examination (PCE). Eight months of audit training is equivalent to six months of articleship training. After PCE, you must pass the final exam. After clearing it, you can practice as a chartered accountant.

Curriculum The CA course has three steps. First, the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) covers Accounting, Mercantile Law, General Economics, and Quantitative Aptitude. The second phase is the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC), covering the core knowledge of the accountancy profession. The third phase is the CA Final, covering advanced application knowledge in Financial Reporting, Strategic Financial Management, Advanced Management Accounting, and Advanced Auditing.

Articleship After passing the IPCC group, you must complete a three-year articleship under an experienced CA. A stipend is provided during this period.

If you want to be a CA, you can contact: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAI Bhawan, Indraprastha Marg New Delhi Phone: 011-39893989 Website: www.icai.org

Company Secretaryship (CS)

CS means Company Secretaryship, managed by The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). According to the Companies Act, companies with a paid-up capital of Rs 50 Lakh or more must appoint a company secretary. To become one, a candidate must pass the foundation course, executive program, and professional course. The institute conducts intermediate and final exams, followed by practical training. After this, the candidate is eligible for company secretary membership.

Eligibility for CS Candidates must have passed 12th or equivalent examinations. Graduates who pass the final exam of ICWAI or ICAI can also join this program.

Cost and Management Accounting

Experts in cost and management accounting handle professional investment planning, profit planning, project management, and related managerial decisions. Courses are operated by the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI), a Government of India institution. It offers three courses: Foundation Course, Intermediate Course, and Final Course.

Eligibility for Cost Accounting The minimum age for the foundation course is 17. Students who have passed 12th from any subject are eligible. Exams are held twice a year in June and December. You must enroll at least six months before the exam. Students can take admission in the Intermediate course if they have passed the Foundation course or graduated from any recognized university (excluding music, dance, photography, and painting). After the course, jobs are available in manufacturing, multinational companies, or the service sector. You can also join the Indian Cost Accounting Service of the Government of India or practice independently.

ICWA

The work of cost and works accountancy comes under ICWA. This program is run by ICWAI. Cost and works accountants prepare a company's business policy and give project estimates based on financial performance. To do this course, the student must be at least 17 years old and have passed 12th from a recognized board.

Certificate Courses in Accounting

Demand for accounting profiles is continuously increasing. In view of this, ICWAI has introduced the 'Certificate in Accounting Technicians' course. The duration is one year. There are two levels: the entrance-level "Foundation Course" and the specialization-level "Competency Course," where technical accounting skills are taught. This course can be done in Hindi or English. Exams are held twice a year. Applications for the December examination can be made until June 26, and for the June examination until December 18 of the previous year.

For more information, contact: ICWAI Bhawan, 3- Institutional Area Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003 Tel: 011-22418645, 22422156, 24622156 Website: www.icwai.org

Computer Accountancy

Nowadays, computers are used in every field, including accounting. More than 10 lakh accounting professionals are associated with this field in India today, and the number grows every year. Good computer operation knowledge along with accountancy basics is necessary. Computer Accountancy is a new-age accounting course. Office accounting is now done through advanced computers and software. Computerized accounting is an IT-based course. You can master accountancy after a 10-month course. Practical, job-oriented training is given in business accounting, business communication, advanced accounts, advanced MS Excel, taxes, IFRS, financial management, and income tax planning.

Eligibility A commerce background is not necessary. After 12th or graduation, you can find a job easily as an accountant by doing an advanced course like CIA Plus. There is no mandatory requirement for BCom or MCom. You can get admission after 12th in courses run by different institutes. Such courses are usually one and a half years long. They cover commerce, banking, taxation, tax law, computer applications, financial accounting, advanced practical accounts, taxation, excise and service tax, payroll, investment, banking, and finance.

Major Institutes