CA Foundation Eligibility Criteria 2024 - CA Exams PDF Download

Introduction

The CA Foundation exam is a national-level examination conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It is a crucial step for candidates who aspire to become Chartered Accountants. Before applying for the CA Foundation exam, it is important to understand the eligibility criteria to avoid any rejection of the application form. In this article, we will discuss the eligibility criteria for CA Foundation in detail.

Eligibility Criteria for CA Foundation

Age Limit

There are no age limit restrictions for candidates who want to apply for the CA Foundation exam. This means that candidates of any age can appear for the exam.

Educational Qualification

The educational qualification criteria for CA Foundation are as follows:

• Candidates who have passed the Class 10 examination from a state or central government board or an equivalent examination are eligible to apply for the CA Foundation exam. However, these candidates can only take provisional admission, which will be regularized after clearing the Class 12 exams.
• Candidates who are appearing in Class 12 or have already passed the exams are also eligible to register for the CA Foundation exam.
• Candidates who have passed Class 12 with a minimum of 50 percent marks are eligible to register for the CA Foundation exam.

It is important to note that candidates from any stream, whether it is commerce, science, or arts, can apply for the CA Foundation exam as long as they meet the above educational qualification criteria.

CA Foundation Exemptions

• UG & PG Candidates: Candidates with an aggregate of 55% marks in graduation or post-graduation in the commerce stream or equivalent from a recognized university are exempted from appearing in the CA Foundation exam.
• NIOS: Undergraduate or postgraduate candidates who have passed out from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) are also exempted from appearing in the CA Foundation exam.
• Non-commerce: Candidates with bachelor's or master's degrees in a discipline other than commerce can also be exempted from the CA Foundation exam. They must have secured a minimum of 60% or equivalent marks from a recognized university.

Examination Treated as Equivalent to Class 12

• Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh
• Assam Higher Secondary Education Council
• Bihar School Examination Board
• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
• Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education
• Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
• Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education
• Gujarat Secondary & Higher Secondary Education
• Board of School Education, Haryana
• H. P. Board of School Education
• J & K State Board of School Education
• Jharkhand Academic Council
• The government of Karnataka Department of Pre-University Education
• Kerala Board of Higher Secondary Education
• Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education
• Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh
• Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur
• Meghalaya Board of School Education
• Mizoram Board of School Education
• Nagaland Board of School Education
• Council of Higher Secondary Education, Orissa
• Punjab School Education Board
• Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan
• Tamil Nadu State Board of School Examinations
• Tripura Board of Secondary Education
• U.P. Board of High School and Intermediate Education
• Board of School Education, Uttarakhand
• West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education

Candidates who have passed their Class 12 exams from any of these boards are eligible to apply for the CA Foundation exam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the CA Foundation exam?
Ans: The CA Foundation exam is a national-level examination conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It is the first step for candidates who want to pursue a career as Chartered Accountants.

Q2: Is there any age limit for the CA Foundation exam?
Ans: No, there are no age limit restrictions for candidates who want to apply for the CA Foundation exam. Candidates of any age can appear for the exam.

Q3: Can candidates from any stream apply for the CA Foundation exam?
Ans: Yes, candidates from any stream, whether it is commerce, science, or arts, can apply for the CA Foundation exam as long as they meet the educational qualification criteria.

Q4: Are there any exemptions from the CA Foundation exam?
Ans: Yes, ICAI provides exemptions for candidates who meet certain criteria. Candidates with an aggregate of 55% marks in graduation or post-graduation in the commerce stream or equivalent, candidates who have passed out from NIOS, and candidates with degrees in a discipline other than commerce and a minimum of 60% marks are exempted from the CA Foundation exam.

Q5: Which education boards are considered equivalent to Class 12 for CA Foundation eligibility?
Ans: ICAI recognizes various education boards as equivalent to Class 12 for the purpose of CA Foundation eligibility. Some of these boards include CBSE, CISCE, Maharashtra State Board, Tamil Nadu State Board, and many more.