CA Final Attempt Eligibility – Last 6 Month of Articleship or last 12 Months?

CA Sandeep Kanoi

Recently Whatsapp and Facebook is abuzz with the rumor that CA Final Exam can be given by a student who is serving the last twelve months of practical training on the first day of the month in which the examination is scheduled to be held instead of earlier time limit of six month.  We have tried to find the reason for the same and we found that ICAI has hosted on its website on 08.04.2012 a post titled “Final Examination” at the following link :-

http://www.icai.org/post.html?post_id=650

We would further like to comment that it seems that proposed relaxation is applicable only for those students have passed the Intermediate/ PE-II Examination and not for the students who passed IPCE exams as conditions mentioned in para 3.1 are cumulative conditions to be complied by the students.

The Post although hosted on ICAI website but it is neither been dated not have any signature of any of the office bearer of ICAI. The post although hosted on ICAI website but it do not have any link in any of the following sections of ICAI website :-

• Announcements,
• Most Important
• What’s New
• Press Releases
• Notifications
• Board of Studies Announcements
• Examination

As the post referred above is not yet been officially released so we advice students to wait till further clarification by the ICAI or till the official release of above post. Students may also clarify regarding the above at ICAI office.  We have also talked regarding the above move with some of the WIRC members, who are also found unaware of any such move and assured us to let us know about the same soon.

The text of the above referred Press Release is as follows :-

The Chartered Accountants Final Examination is held twice every year in the months of May and November. It comprises of two groups. Candidate can appear for groups / group I / group II as the case may be subject to fulfillment of eligibility condition. Each group comprises of four papers as detailed below:

GROUP – I

Paper – 1  Advanced Accounting
Paper – 2  Management Accounting & Financial Analysis
Paper – 3  Advanced Auditing
Paper – 4  Corporate Laws and Secretarial Practice

GROUP – II

Paper – 5 Cost Management
Paper – 6  Management Information and Control Systems
Paper – 7  Direct Taxes
Paper – 8  Indirect Taxes

NEW SYLLABUS

GROUP I

• FINANCIAL REPORTING
• STRATEGIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
• ADVANCED AUDITING AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
• CORPORATE AND ALLIED LAWS

GROUP II

• ADVANCED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
• INFORMATION SYSTEMS CONTROL AND AUDIT
• DIRECT TAX LAWS
• INDIRECT TAX LAWS

(For further details, reference may be made to the study material of the Institute and the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988)

3.1    Eligibility

1.    The candidate must have passed the Intermediate/ PE-II Examination.
2.    The candidate must have obtained Final Course registration number from Board of Studies Section of the concerned decentralized office of the Institute after passing the Intermediate/ PE-II Examination.
3.    The candidate must have completed the practical training as is required for admission as a member or is serving the last twelve months of practical training on the first day of the month in which the examination is scheduled to be held: and

NOTE:
The candidate is advised in his own interest to satisfy himself/herself that he/she is re-registered immediately for training for the excess leave period if any, as on the date of filling up the examination form and before the commencement of examination (as applicable). In other words a candidate must have either completed the training or must be in service as on the first day of the month in which the examination is to be held and the balance period of training must not be more than twelve months including excess leave, if any.

3.2    APPLICATION AND FEES

3.2.1.    ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE HOLDING OF EXAMINATION

Announcement regarding holding of examination and issue of application form for admission to Chartered Accountants Examination is normally published in the second fortnight of January and July in leading daily newspapers as well as in the Chartered Accountant Journal and the Chartered Accountant Student newsletter of the Institute. The announcement is also displayed in the notice board of the Institute at New Delhi, Decentralised Offices and Branches of the Regional Councils of the Institute and in the Institute’s WEBSITE.

HOW TO GET AN EXAMINATION APPLICATION FORM

Application forms are generally available during the first week of February/August every year. Applications can personally be obtained from the Institute’s office at New Delhi, Decentralised Offices at Mumbai, Kolkata, Kanpur, Chennai, Ahemedabad, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, and Jaipur and all Branches of the Institute. Special arrangements are also made at New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata to sell application forms from different places in the city, which will be notified before the commencement of the sale of application form. Candidates desirous of getting application form through post should send a request to the Additional Secretary (Exams) ICAI, ICAI Bhawan, Post Box No: 7112 New Delhi 110 002 with the requisite fee of Rs.100/- per application form in the form of Demand Draft drawn in favour of the Secretary, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, payable at New Delhi along with a self addressed stamped envelope affixing postal stamps worth Rs.15/-. However, no responsibility for late/delay/non- receipt is taken. For more details please click on to GENERAL – NOTIFICATION.

3.2.2    FEE STRUCTURE

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR FINAL EXAMINATION
FEE FOR BOTH GROUPS
Rs.2250/-

FEE FOR ONE GROUPS
Rs.1250/-

FEE FOR CANDIDATES OPTING FOR KATHMANDU (NEPAL) CENTER
INR.3000/-

FEE FOR CANDIDATES OPTING FOR DUBAI (U.A.E.) CENTER
US $ 400

LATE FEE
Rs.500/-

3.2.3    Mode of Payment of Fee:

The Examination fee should be paid only by way of Demand Draft. The Demand Draft may be of any Nationalised Bank drawn in favour of The Secretary, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and should be payable at New Delhi. (Candidates are advised to furnish the following details on the reverse of Demand Draft in their own interest.)

• Name
• Application Bar Code Number
• Articles Regn.Number
• Centre opted with zone, if any

3.2.4    How the application should reach the Institute?

(A) By Post:

The application, with Demand draft of any nationalized bank be sent by Speed Post/Registered Post only in the specified envelope attached to form to the Senior Joint Secretary (Exams) of the Institute at New Delhi-110 002. Candidates are advised to retain the receipt issued by Post Office till the receipt of Admit Card, Candidates are advised not to send the application through private courier. The receipt issued by private courier will not be given any credence if the application is not received in the Institute.

(B) BY HAND:

Special arrangements are made for receipt of application at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Kanpur and New Delhi.
The Head Office and Decentralised Offices of the Institute stated below will accept applications till the prescribed last date and will issue acknowledgement. The students are advised to retain the acknowledgement so given. Candidates are advised to avail of this facility.

DECENTRALISED OFFICES

MUMBAI

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
“ANVESHAK”27,
CUFFE PARADE,
COLABA
M U M B A I – 400 005

KOLKATA

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
7, ANANDILAL PODDAR SARANI
K O L K A T A – 700 007

CHENNAI

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
122, MAHATMA GANDHI ROAD
NUNGAMBAKKAM
CHENNAI – 600 034

KANPUR

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
16/77B, CIVIL LINES
BEHIND-RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
KANPUR – 208 001

DELHI

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
52-54, VISHWAS NAGAR
SHAHADRA
DELHI – 110032

AHMEDABAD

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
123, SARDAR PATEL COLONY
NAVJIVAN
PO NARANPURA
AHMEDABAD – 380014

BANGALORE

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
NO.16/0, MILLERS TANK BED AREA
BANGALORE – 560 052

HYDERABAD

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
11-5-389/C, RED HILLS
HYDERABAD – 500 004

PUNE

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
AMBER CHAMBERS,
5TH FLOOR
28/A, BUDHWAR PETH
PUNE – 411 002

JAIPUR

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
D-1, INSTITUTIONAL AREA
JHALANA DOONGRI
JAIPUR – 302 004

H E A D O F F I C E

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
ICAI BHAWAN
INDRAPRASTHA MARG (NEAR – INCOME TAX OFFICE)
POST BOX NO. 7112, NEW DELHI – 110 002

3.2.5    Application should be complete in all respects, or otherwise it is liable to be rejected.

3.2.6     CHECK-LIST FOR CANDIDATES

Candidates are requested to ensure that the application is filled up correctly giving all the required details, particularly the following:

• Demand Draft
• Form A – OMR Application.
• Form B
• Attested copy of Eligibility Certificate /training completion letter issued by ICAI

Before submitting the application, candidates are requested to arrange serially the pages of application as above.

3.2.7    Refund of fee:

The fee once paid by a candidate shall not be refunded/adjusted under any circumstances and no correspondence in this regard shall be entertained.

3.2.8    In the event of any wrong declaration in the application form, the admission is liable to be cancelled and punitive action as per rules will be taken.

3.3    EXAMINATION

3.3.1    DATES OF EXAMINATION:

The Chartered Accountants Examinations are normally conducted in the first week of May and November. Detailed notification is issued during the end of January and July respectively. For more details please refer to GENERAL-NOTIFICATION

3.3.2    TIMINGS OF EXAMINATION:

Morning session 01.00 P.M. to 04.00 P.M.. (IST). Examination timings at Kathmandu center will be 01.15 P.M. to 04.15 P.M. Nepal time equivalent to 01.00 P.M. to 04.00 P.M. IST. Examination timings at Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be 11.30A.M. to 02.30 P.M. Abu Dhabi and Dubai local time equivalent to 01.00 P.M. to 04.00 P.M. IST.

3.3.3    Admit Card:

The system of issue of Admit Card has been computerized. Candidates are advised, in their own interest, to fill-in each column very carefully and clearly. In case of the form not filled up properly, the candidates might have to face the problem especially with regard to timely receipt of admit card. Since the admit card to be issued to the candidates contain scanned photograph and specimen signature of the candidates, there is no need to send the identity card.

3.3.4    Examination Centers:-

Click here for list of Examination Centres

3.3.5    Issue of Admit card:

• Candidates who are found eligible will be issued admit cards normally 21 days prior to the commencement of the examinationAll correspondence in the above matter should be addressed to the Joint Secretary (Exams) of the Institute at New Delhi quoting Articles Regn. No.,Bar Code of the OMR Application form/Acknowledgement No. for receipt of application issued if any, the center opted, telephone and fax Number etc. for prompt action.
• Candidates, whose eligibility is in doubt, will be advised to submit documents in support of their claim of eligibility normally one month prior to the commencement of the examination.
• Candidates of Delhi/New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Kanpur centers may contact the respective Decentralised Offices for ascertaining their Roll numbers, if they do not receive roll Numbers till a week before the commencement of examination. Similarly, candidates who have opted for such places as their centers where branches of the Institute are set up may contact the respective branch offices for ascertaining their roll numbers and assistance for admission to the examination during the last week of April/October. In case of difficulty, the Joint Secretary (Exam.) can be contacted on Fax No. 0120 – 3054841/ 3054843 or Help Line Desk on Telephone No. 0120 – 3054851/3054852/3054853.
• Candidates are extended the facility of down loading the admit card from the website www.icai.nic.in. This facility will be available 25 days before the commencement of examination. The admit card so downloaded or received through e-mail will not contain the photograph and specimen signature of the candidate but the same will be valid for admission to the examination center.

3.3.6     Option to answer papers in Hindi/ English medium:

Candidates can opt for Hindi or English medium for answering question papers. For more details please refer to application form

3.3.7    Record of answer books tendered at the examination Center:

The Superintendents of examination centers will be advised to issue receipts, through the Invigilators, for the answer books handed over in the format with the heading record of answer books tendered at the examination center which is printed on the back side of the admit cards. Candidates are, therefore, advised to obtain the signature of the invigilator concerned every day on submission of their answer books and retain the admit card with them at least till the declaration of result.

3.4    RESULT

3.4.1     RESULT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Normally the result of Final Examination is declared in the middle of July and January for the examinations conducted during preceding May and November sessions respectively. For more details please click on to ANNOUNCEMENTS..

3.4.2    RESULT NOTIFICATION :

• A list of candidates declared successful shall be published.
• The names of candidates obtaining distinction in the examination shall be indicated in the list.
• The result is hosted on the website www.caresults.nic.in
• Every candidate shall be individually informed of his result by way of the statement of marks within a fortnight time from the date of declaration of result at the address given in the examination form. No request for change in address will entertained.

3.4.3    TOP RANKERS:

The names of candidates who secured first fifty ranks in the order of merit will be published, subject to obtaining a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate in one sitting.

3.4.4     ISSUE OF PASS CERTIFICATE:

Pass certificates will be issued to candidates normally in six weeks’ time from the date of declaration of result at the address given in the examination form. No request for change in address will be entertained.

3.4.5    Verification of answer books:

• After declaration of result the candidate may apply for verification of his / her answer books, within one month from the date of declaration of result.
• The verification fee is Rs. 100/- per paper subject to the maximum of Rs. 400/- for all the papers payable through demand draft in favour of the Secretary, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, New Delhi 110002. Cash should not be sent with the application.
• There is no standard application form. The application should be prepared on plain A4 size or foolscap paper, necessarily in the candidate’s own handwriting (in English language if medium of examination was English else in Hindi language) and signature clearly indicating the following:
  • Name of the examination: eg. PE – I
  • Name of the candidate
  • Roll No
  • Registration No
  • Month and year of appearance
  • Papers in which verification required
    Paper No/s and name of the papers
  • Complete postal address
• Only one application is required to be submitted irrespective of number of answer books for which verification sought. Do not send separate application for each paper.
• Typed/printed applications and applications written by others are not entertained.
• There is no provision for revaluation of papers.
• E-mails are not entertained.
• Candidates are advised to fill up the examination form for the forthcoming examination, if they so desire, without waiting for and pending receipt of the outcome of verification of answer books of the previous examination.