CA After 12th Science — Complete Guide to Become a CA
Occasionally, in our work lives, we make decisions that we later regret. This can be due to various factors, such as personal enthusiasm, greater possibilities, or other factors that we later reconsider.
- Students with a science background up to and including the 12th grade may wonder if they can pursue a Chartered Accountancy degree. The answer is yes.
- Is it possible for a Science student to become a CA after graduation? Is it possible to pursue CA after 12th science? Alternatively, is there any student who can apply for CA while having a Science background up until the 12th grade?
If you have any of these questions running through your head, then you should carefully study this complete guide: how to become a CA after 12th science. You will be able to discover answers to all of your questions.
So let's start answering your career questions...
Can a 12th Science Student Do a CA Course?
- Chartered Accountancy or a Chartered Accountant is a subject that requires a lot of attention and desire. Following the completion of the 12th-grade tests, any student may continue with this course.
- It is possible to become a Chartered Accountant even if you are a science stream student, including the 12th grade, or if you are a science graduate.
- There is no question that if you come from a business background, you already have a strong understanding of the critical areas of commerce, such as accounting.
But, aside from accounting, there are plenty of other topics that are unfamiliar to everybody, regardless of whether they come from a business background.
What are the options for becoming a CA after 12th grade?
Eligibility Criteria to Become a CA After 12th Science
- Students enrolled in the CA course are required to get a minimum of 40 per cent marks in each topic and 50 per cent marks in the aggregate of all courses. As a result, you have to thoroughly research and understand every subject. Negative marking is included in the objective papers.
Every question you answer incorrectly will result in a deduction of ¼ points, but every correct response will increase by one mark.
- Once you have completed the entry-level CA following 12th science examinations, i.e., CA Foundation, the process for the next two levels, CA Intermediate and CA Final, will be nearly identical to that of the first.
Procedure to become a Chartered Accountant after 12th Science:-
Step 1: After passing Class 12th, enroll in the CA Foundation Course
- Candidates who have completed the class 12th exams directed by an examination body that has been recognised by the Central Government as being equivalent to that of the class 12th examination established by law in India are eligible to enrol in the CA Foundation Programme.
- Following the successful completion of the 10+2 Examination (Senior Secondary Examination), a registered student may appear in the CA Foundation Exam once.
If you want to pursue the CA Foundation course after finishing your 12th grade, you must register for the CA Foundation registration and study for a minimum of four months before you are ready to fulfil the qualifying requirements.
If you are a graduate or postgraduate, then you can directly register at the intermediate level via the ICAI CA Direct Entry Scheme.
Step 2: Registration for CA Intermediate Or CA Inter
To be eligible to register for the CA Inter, the candidate must pass both the CA Foundation and the 12th grade.
- Students can enrol for the CA Intermediate examinations after passing the CA Foundation exams.
- The ICAI has developed the Direct Entry Route, which allows students to participate in the CA Intermediate Course without taking the Foundation examinations.
Step 3: Articleship
- CA Foundation [Entry Level], CA Inter, 3 Years Articleship Training, and CA Final are the four levels of the Chartered Accountancy program.
- Until now, students had to pass all three levels of the Chartered Accountancy curriculum and complete three years of practical training.
- The goal of the ICAI's three-year practical training program is to prepare CA students to use theoretical knowledge in the real world and to prepare them to enter the corporate sector immediately after graduation.
For this, you must work for three years under the supervision of a trained CA.
Step 4: Registration for CA Final Course
The applicant can apply for the CA Final exam during the last six months of their three-year articled training period.
Join the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and declare yourself a "Chartered Accountant" after clearing the CA Final examination.
Salary of Being a CA
The main reason why the majority of students opt for the CA profession is because of the very good salary offered by it offers. The amount may differ depending on different factors like experience, location, sector, and the individual's proficiency level.
Experience | Average Annual Salary (India) |
Fresher CA | ₹7–12 LPA |
3–5 Years | ₹12–20 LPA |
5–10 Years | ₹20–35 LPA |
Senior CA/Partner | ₹35 LPA+ (can be much higher) |
Apart from good salary packages, Chartered Accountants are also offered the following benefits:
How To Become a Chartered Accountant After 12th Science
The entire process to become a Chartered Accountant is divided into 3 Levels:
- CA Foundation [Entry Level]
- Ca Intermediate
- Ca Final
Students who want to become a CA after the 12th science stream can apply for the CA Foundation exam, which is the entry-level examination for the program, after passing the 12th board exams. After completing the 12th examination, they will be eligible to apply for the CA Foundation examination.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICAI) does not discriminate between commerce and scientific students.
The terms and conditions to do CA after 12th are the same for all students, regardless of the stream in which they have completed their studies.
- Typically, students from the science field have little knowledge of courses from the commerce stream and believe that pursuing a profession as a chartered accountant will be extremely tough.
- The truth is that science students will have an easier time pursuing this course because they are excellent at solving practical sums, and CAs are well-known players of numbers in the financial world, as opposed to other students.
- While reviewing the Financial Statements, they are supposed to learn and go over the Financial Ratios with their supervisor.
The only obstacle will be to get an advantage over the Science students in Accounting, which is a crucial topic in the Chartered Accountancy degree.
Because Chartered Accountants are the first accountants, you will not progress unless you have a thorough understanding of accounting. Other Chartered Accountant subjects are new to everyone.
Career Possibilities After Becoming a CA
Once you qualify as a CA, there are many career possibilities available in various fields that a science student can consider. The CA degree is a prestigious one and provides good scope in both the public and private sectors.
Career Option | Job Role |
Auditor | Conducts financial and statutory audits. |
Tax Consultant | Provides tax planning and compliance services. |
Financial Analyst | Analyses company finances and investments. |
Internal Auditor | Ensures business processes and controls are effective. |
Investment Banker | Works in mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets. |
Risk Manager | Identifies and manages financial risks. |
Finance Manager | Oversees budgeting, reporting, and financial planning. |
Independent CA Practice | Offers accounting, taxation, GST, and audit services. |
Some of the areas where a Chartered Accountant can practice include multinational corporations, banks, government institutions, start-ups, or set up their own practice.
Institutes Offering CA Course
- A licensed organisation and an examining body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is responsible for examinations and certification.
- The institute's responsibility is to organise and conduct Chartered Accountancy (CA) Courses throughout the country.
- Apart from the training phase, the duration of a CA program is two years.
So, should you go ahead and do it?
A large amount of time is required to complete the course because it is spread across a minimum of five years. Only devotion and hard effort will be able to assure a successful conclusion throughout these five years.
And, yeah, all of the efforts have been well worthwhile. From the time you earn your CA certification, your work life will be a resounding success.
Innumerable changes from varied sectors such as banking, accounting, taxation, auditing, management consulting, cost accounting, and other related fields are made available to you all over the world on the enormous and vast planet.
India's chartered accountants are respected worldwide as leaders in their fields, and hence, there are several options available to them.
Conclusion
It is both possible and a wise decision to pursue a career in CA after 12th Science. Your stream in class 12 is not at all a barrier to becoming a Chartered Accountant. By following the correct approach and putting in regular efforts, science stream students can easily pass all three stages of the CA course.
Although you will have to spend some additional time grasping various accounting theories at the initial stage, your logical and analytical abilities can later on serve as your major strength in CA. If you wish to make a successful career in the fields of finance, taxation, auditing, or consultancy, then a CA career after 12th science is a great choice for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it possible for science students to become CAs after 12th?
Yes, science students are eligible to do the Chartered Accountancy course after completion of their class 12. Admission to the CA course is not stream-dependent.
2. Is it necessary to have Commerce as the stream to become a Chartered Accountant?
No, commerce is not mandatory. Students belonging to the streams of science, commerce, and arts are all eligible to enrol in the CA Foundation course post-class 12.
3. How do you start becoming a CA after 12th Science?
One should start the CA Foundation course from the ICAI. After passing the foundation level exam, you may go for the CA intermediate, articleship, and CA final.
4. Is CA difficult for science students?
It might be necessary for science students to learn basic concepts of accounting at first, but then, with constant practice and proper guidance, they can do as well as commerce students in CA examinations. Analytical skills of science students come in handy in CA studies.
5. How long does it take to become a CA after 12th Science?
It generally takes 4.5 to 5 years, depending on when you clear your exams and the articleship period.
6. Can I do CA without Accountancy in Class 11 & 12?
Yes, you don't necessarily have to have Accountancy in Class 11 & 12. The CA Foundation course introduces the basic concepts of accounting and commerce courses.
7. What are the requirements for becoming a CA after 12th Science?
You should pass Class 12 and enrol in the CA Foundation course according to the schedule fixed by ICAI.
8. Can I do my CA while pursuing a graduate degree?
Yes. A lot of people opt for a B.Com degree or any other bachelor’s degree while doing their CA.
9. What career options are there after CA?
A Chartered Accountant is eligible to work in sectors like auditing, taxation, accounting, finance, banking, investments, corporate finance, management consultancy, risk management, and the government sector. One can also start his/her own CA practice.
10. Should CA be taken up by the science students as a career?
Yes. There are lucrative salary packages, good career growth prospects, worldwide recognition, and many career opportunities after CA. If one is interested in finance, he/she can opt for this as a career.