CA course: ICAI registration and exam fees for all three stages come to about Rs 50,000 to 60,000

Chartered accountancy (CA) is one of the most prestigious and in-demand courses in India. Lakhs of young people take up this demanding path every year. CAs handle the financial management of large companies and also enjoy a distinct standing in society. Students from any stream, whether science, commerce or humanities, are therefore keen to try their luck in the field.

Before starting the course, most students and their parents have one question: what will the total cost be? Does the course fit an ordinary budget, or will a bank loan be needed? Compared with other professional courses such as engineering or management, the CA fee structure is considered different and economical.

CA has three stages: Foundation, Intermediate and Final. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has set separate fee norms for each stage.

At the first step, the Foundation level, about Rs 9,000 has to be paid for registration with ICAI. This amount also covers study material, so students do not need to buy separate books. A student who fails the exam and files the form again has to pay only the exam fee separately, which is around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.

After the Foundation exam is cleared comes the Intermediate stage, which is somewhat bigger. If a student registers for both groups at once, ICAI's official fee is between about Rs 18,000 and Rs 20,000. This too includes the registration fee and the cost of study material. However, to prepare better for the exam, most students join coaching classes. That cost is separate and can range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000.

CA Final is the last and most important stage on the journey to becoming a chartered accountant. ICAI's registration fee for both groups is about Rs 22,000 to Rs 25,000. The fee for filling in the CA Final exam form, however, has to be paid separately. At this stage students also undertake articleship, or practical training, for which they receive a stipend. This brings them quite close to meeting the cost of their own education.

Counting only ICAI's official registration and exam fees, the cost across all three levels comes to roughly Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. In practice, however, costs rise because of living away from home to study, taking online coaching and subscribing to mock test series. With all these additional expenses, the total cost over the three- to five-year journey can go up to Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Even so, this is far lower than the cost of an MBA or engineering degree.