Chartered Accountancy (CA) is a remarkable qualification of accountancy. CA is administered by ICAP (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan). The head office of ICAP is in Karachi. The regional offices of ICAP are in Lahore, Multan, Islamabad, Quetta, Multan and Hyderabad.

CA has bright prospects and rewarding career for employment in accounts departments, audit firms, banks, setups relating to income and taxations, commercial organizations, local and international companies. The significance CA is growing day by day due to increasing entrepreneurship across the globe.

This article is for new students seeking admission in CA. It will guide you about courses, admission procedure, eligibility criteria, fees and institutions of CA.

   Eligibility Criteria

There are two routes of entry into CA program.

Full Time Scheme

• Intermediate level of education with minimum 50% marks (HSSC – 12 years education)
• or  A-Level with atleast three passes (subjects) and minumum Grade E
• Students from above two categoriess will have to appear in an entrance test (QAT) to CA Program. However, students with above 60% in HSSC or three pass with minimum Grade D will be exempt from qualifying this entrance test (QAT).

Trainee Scheme

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline with minimum 45% marks
• or Master's degree in any discipline
• or  ACCA, CIMA or ICMAP degree
• Student from above categories will be exempt from qualifying QAT / entrance test.

   QUALITY ASSESSMENT TEST (QAT)

• Students will appear in Qualifying Assessment Test (QAS) as an entry test to CA Program.
• This is a computer-based test and has three parts: English, Mathematics and Analytical Reasoning.
• A candidate can only attempt QAT three times.
• QAT is conducted by a third party such as RAETs, RASS and any other party authorized by the Institute.

   CA Program structure

CA Program is divided into following four parts:

ASSESSMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES (AFC) 4 Papers
AFC-1	Functional English
AFC-2	Business Communication
AFC-3	Quantitative Methods
AFC-4	Introduction To Information Technology
CERTIFICATE IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE (CAF) 8 Papers
Group A
CAF-1	Financial Accounting and Reporting 1
CAF-2	Tax Practices
CAF-3	Cost and Management Accounting
CAF-4	Mercantile Law
Group B
CAF-5	Financial Accounting and Reporting 2
CAF-6	Managerial and Financial Analysis
CAF-7	Company Law
CAF-8	Audit and Assurance
Certified Finance and Accounting Professional  (CFAP) 6 Papers
CFAP-1	Advance Accounting and Financial Reporting
CFAP-2	Corporate Laws
CFAP-3	Strategy and Performance Measurement
CFAP-4	Business Finance Decisions
CFAP-5	Tax Planning and Practices
CFAP-6	Audit, Assurance and Related Services
Multi-Subject Assessment (MSA) 2 Papers
MSA-1	Financial Reporting Professional Competence
MSA-2	Management Professional Competence

The papers of 1st Part (Assessment of Fundamental Competencies) has only objective type questions which are to be attempted on a Computer.

   TRAINING AS A PART OF CA PROGRAM

CA also includes practical training as a part its program. The students will have to complete their training/internship with any approved organization to acquire practical competence. The general span of practical training is up to three years. However, the structure of theoretical and training program differs depending upon the student’s entry route to CA program.  

• Student entering CA program through full time scheme (HSSC or A level) will have to complete first two parts of CA program (AFC and CAF) and then, start their training with any approved training organization. After commencement of their training, they will be eligible to start the next two parts of the CA program (CFAP and MSA).
  
  
• Student entering CA program through trainee scheme (Bachelor or Master degree) will first start their training with any approved training organization to get registration as a trainee. After that, they will complete the four parts of CA program (AFC, CAF, CFAP and MSA) to get CA degree.

   Fee structure of CA

Some of the fees of CA Program for 2020-21 payable to ICAP are as follows:

Description	Fee
Registration Fee	Rs. 17500 (once)
Annual Subscription Fee	Rs. 2000   (yearly)
Paper Fee (exam fee) For first two modules of CA: Assessment Of Fundamental Competencies (AFC) Certificate In Accounting And Finance (CAF)	1 Paper = Rs. 5600 2 Papers = Rs. 9800 3 Papers = Rs. 14000 4 Papers = Rs. 18200
Computer Based Exam (CBE) (only for papers having Computer Based Exam)	Rs. 1100 (additional per paper)

Note. The above fees are payable to ICAP, Pakistan. Besides these fees, student has to pay tuition fee for each paper and registration fee to the college where he or she enrolls for studying CA subjects. The college fees vary from college to college.

   Colleges for CA Program – Admission Procedure

• CA program is administered by ICAP, Pakistan.
• CA exams are conducted by ICAP, Pakistan.
• Tuition for CA program is offered by various colleges in different cities.
• These colleges are affiliated with ICAP Pakistan.
• These colleges offer tuition for CA according to the plan and syllabus given by ICAP, Pakistan.
• Visit the nearest college offering CA program.
• Fill in the registration form for admission in the college as well as for registration with ICAP, Pakistan.

   Paper Exemption

Students are also given exemption from some papers of CA

• Students having (HSSC or A-Level) are given exemption from one or two paper of first part depending upon subjects of their HSSC or A-Level.
• Students having (ACCA or graduate level education) are also given exemption from some papers.

The students, who are eligible for exemption from papers, have to apply for exemption and pay the exemption fee.