The Chartered Accountancy course is often divided into three parts, i.e., CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final. But in reality, CA Course has four major parts that include these three courses and the CA Articleship training.
The ICAI CA Articleship is a compulsory practical training of 3 years that every student must do in a CA firm. To register for Articleship, students must complete any one group of CA Intermediate. Students pursuing the practical training are called articles, and the CA under whom they work is called the Principal.
Ok, so I need to work for three years. But will I get paid? And what is the CA articleship salary or stipend? Yes, the CA articleship training is paid, and you’ll get a stipend of 2000, 2500, and 3000 in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years.
In this CA articleship Training Guide, we will dive into the details of what CA articleship is training, what happens in the training, its importance, eligibility, and how to register for the practical training.
Further, we will mention the top firms for ICAI articleship training and how to apply to them. You will also get detailed information on CA articleship salary or stipend, duration, working hours, leaves, and the proposed reduction of the articleship period to 2 years.
Table of Contents
What is CA Articleship Training?
CA Articleship Training is practical training in which students will perform the normal day-to-day tasks of Chartered
Accountants. It is the third stage of the CA Course, which starts after clearing one or both CA Intermediate Groups.
The CA Articleship duration is of 3 years. In these 3 years of practical training, students get the chance to
practically apply their theoretical knowledge and get real-world experience.
Students must complete the training to sit in the CA Final Exam. Check all the details for the CA Final registration on our detailed blog.
Will CA Articleship Period Reduce to 2 years?
ICAI, recently proposed a CA new scheme of education and training 2024. In the new scheme, ICAI reduced the CA articleship training period from 3 years to 2 years. ICAI has proposed the changes to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, but they are yet to be approved. There are higher chances that the new scheme will be accepted and the necessary amendments and updations will start soon.
Students can check the complete breakdown of the CA Course duration here.
What Happens in the
CA Articleship Practical Training?
In the articleship, the major tasks that an article performs are:
- Auditing
- Taxation
- ROC Compliances
- Filing tax returns
- Preparing financial statements preparation, etc.
Now, as per the diligence of the articles, they are provided with some assignments in the third and second years.
Moreover, we have seen that the work done by articles also depends upon the firm they are working in and the year of training they are in.
Does Articleship Training Matter in CA?
The answer is a straightforward Yes. The ICAI Practical training is crucial and it must be done. The importance of the CA articleship training are:
1. Turns Into a True Professional
Practical training of 3 years is more than enough that can mould you into a true professional. You do not only possess bookish knowledge but you also have practical experience.
2. Develops a Professional Attitude
Our posture, our way of talking with people, our presence of mind when the client is asking some query but we are not aware of such thing, the way we are representing our team in front of the Board of Directors, the way we are handling the deadlines, the way we are handling the multiple tasks, and also the patience level we maintain while handling the tough situations, this all judge our behaviour, our attitude, and our personality. Articleship taught us all such things.
3. Get Experience to Handle Clients
In the CA Articleship training, you’ll get the opportunity to handle clients and work for them. This gets the benefit that as soon as you become CA, you can start your own practice and make your clients.
4. Helps in Answering Case Studies in your Final Paper
At the CA Final Level, ICAI demands a full-fledged Chartered Accountant who possesses theoretical as well as practical knowledge. Hence, some of your papers are based on practical life-based case studies such as Auditing, Taxation, etc. Candidates who have taken their articleship very seriously get its benefit in their CA Final result.
5. Managing Time for Work & Studies
It has been said that if you can manage your time during articleship, you can manage anything. The schedule of a CA student during their articles is actually beyond words. A general CA student leaves his home at 6.00 in the morning for coaching, reaches sharp at 10.00 AM at the office, and after working all day in the office again joins the class at 6.00 in the evening as well as spends some time for self-study thereafter.
They have to manage their self-study, coaching, office, audit, meetings, deadlines, work pressure, family time and so many things, and all such at an early age. Hence, if you can manage such things properly, believe that you have learned management.
Hence, you can’t skip the CA articleship training as it is an important part of your CA course. If you go for a dummy articleship, you will ultimately miss the chance to explore these many benefits.
And in case you are planning not to attend the CA articleship, you must know that one cannot appear for the CA Final Exam without three years of CA Articleship certificates. Hence, Articleship training matters a lot in CA.
Important Note – Your CA articleship of 3 years will not be counted as a working experience. This is because the practical training is compulsory and is a part of your CA Course.
What are the
Eligibility Criteria for CA Articleship?
To apply for Practical Training, you have to fulfil the CA articleship eligibility criteria. The
eligibility criteria are different for CA Foundation Route and Direct Entry Route students. Let us first go through
the CA Articleship eligibility rules for the Foundation route.
- The students must have completed one or both groups of CA Intermediate.
- Students must have completed the four weeks of ITT and OT training.
Now, check out the Articleship eligibility criteria for the direct entry route:
- For commerce students, they must secure 55% in graduation whereas for Science and other streams it should be
more than 60%. - IIT and OT training must be completed.
Check the latest updates for the CA Inter Nov 2023 result.
Also Check: CA Foundation Result Dec 2023
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How to
Register for the CA Articleship?
Now as you fulfil the eligibility criteria, next you need to register for the CA articleship. To do so, students need to download Forms 102 and 103 from ICAI official website after making the payment of INR 50. Then, submit the forms to ICAI after filling in the requisite details.
Procedure to Register for the Articleship Training
Let’s check out the detailed process to apply for practical training. There are a few important CA Articleship forms
that you will need in the registration process.
Download CA Articleship Registration Form
First, download Form 102 and Form 103 from the official site of ICAI and make the payment of INR 50. If you get the
forms from the regional office, you still have to submit the same amount.
Procedure to Fill Registration Form 102
Form 102 or the Deed of Articles needs to be completed for three years. Else, the deed will not be accepted.
You need to execute the deed on the Special Adhesive Stamp with the prerequisite amount mentioned. This deed should have the signatures of both the Article and the Principal.
The principal will retain the original copy of the deed, whereas the Article can keep a duplicate copy of the same for reference. This form 102 needs to be submitted only to the Principal and not to the ICAI for articleship registration.
Procedure to Fill Registration Form 103
Form 103 is the statement of the particulars which need to be duly filled and signed. It also needs to be submitted to the ICAI for articleship assistance.
To fill out Form 103, students must submit the required documents and the fee through a demand draft. The documents required are:
- IPCC or Intermediate Marksheet stating the passing marks.
- attested copy of the 12th mark sheet
- ITT and Orientation Program certificates.
All the documents should also be duly attested by the practising CA or the Principal under whom the articleship training will occur.
Students should note that three copies of Form 103 should be filled out. One needs to be retained by the Principal and the one with the articled assistant, and the original one needs to be sent to ICAI. Make sure to send them to ICAI to reach within 30 days before the start of the practical training.
Can CA articleship be done with a regular college?
If a student wants to go to a regular college or pursue another course with an Articleship like B.com or CS, then they need permission from ICAI. In that case, they must have to submit Form 112 within one month to ICAI and seek permission to continue any graduation course.
However, it might not be feasible as office hours and college hours may collide. But, if you can manage your time, then you can check out the courses to do along with the Articleship.
Articleship Registration Fees
Students need to submit the articleship registration fee of Rs. 2000 through demand draft along with Form 103. If any students have already paid it at the time of registration of articleship, they do not have to pay it.
Late Submission Fees for the Articleship Registration
If due for any reason, the article fails to submit Form 103 within 30 days, then they need to attach a letter along with form 103 stating their reason for the delay. This handwritten letter has to be signed by both the article assistant and the Principal.
Along with the late application letter, the student also needs to submit the late submission fees. The late fees for the students submitting beyond 30 days is Rs. 100, for 31 to 180 days is Rs. 300 and beyond 181 days is Rs. 1000.
Generally, ICAI accepts the Condonation of Delay letter without any queries. But in some cases, if your letter seems to be doubtful, then ICAI might make some inquiries.
In such cases, you might have to submit documents such as attendance sheets, and the original deed of Article (Form 102), which must be executed on a Non-Judicial Stamp with a proper signature. ICAI might also ask you for the work diary, stipend details, or bank details and statement.
Should I Start my Articleship After 1st Group or 2nd Group of CA Intermediate?
Many students are in doubt about when should I start my articleship training. So, opting for articleship training after CA Intermediate 1st Group or 2nd Group depends on the attempt you have cleared the particular groups.
If you have cleared the first group in one to two attempts, then complete the second group first and apply for a CA articleship. This is because, since you have cleared the first group in the minimum attempt, then it is highly possible that you can complete the second group in the first attempt if you get enough hours to study. So, such students should do articleship after the 2nd group.
But if you have cleared the first group in multiple attempts, then start the articleship as soon as you complete your 1st group. This will help you to save time and prevent any further time loss.
Moreover, if you have attempted the CA Intermediate exam through direct entry, you must start your articleship and your 1st group preparation.
To clear both the Intermediate groups on the first attempt, join the CA Intermediate coaching from the VSI Jaipur Institute.
What are the Best Firms for the CA Articleship?
CA Firms are the place where an Article applies for working under a practising CA or principle. Here the students learn the day-to-day activities and roles that a CA needs to fulfil.
In India, several CA Firms offer the best stipend and the opportunity to learn the CA responsibilities effectively. The best CA firms for CA articleship in India are:
- Deloitte
- PWC
- Ernst and Young
- KPMG
- BDO International
- Grant Thornton International
- Lodha & Co.
- RSM International
- SS Kothari Mehta and Co.
- Sahni Natrajan and Bahl
To find CA Articleship Vacancy in a firm, you need to go through the resources from where they publish the ads for vacancies. You can check their Linkedin Page, official website, etc.
How much CA Articleship Salary/Stipend Do I Get?
The CA articleship salary or stipend is not too high as expected by the students. The ICAI has set the minimum amount that every firm has to pay for the articles. Moreover, the benchmark set by ICAI is different for all three years. The next thing on which the salary depends is the population of that particular city or town.
So, the minimum stipend for CA articleship 2022 set by ICAI is Rs. 1000 for first-year students, Rs. 1500 for second-year students and Rs. 2000 for third-year students.
These are the benchmark decided by ICAI, but they can go higher depending upon the firms. Check the table below to know about the CA Articleship salary or stipend.
| Articleship Salary/Stipend | 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year |
| Cities/ Towns having a population of 20 Lakhs & above | 2000 | 2500 | 3000 |
| Cities/ Towns having a population from 4 to 20 Lakhs | 1500 | 2000 | 2500 |
| Cities/ Towns having a population of less than 4 Lakhs | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 |
However, there are many firms that are offering a handsome stipend to students.
The CA articleship stipend provided by RSM International is Rs. 3000 per year. Moreover, the stipend offered by Grant Thornton is Rs. 10,000 in the first year, Rs. 14,000 in the second year, and Rs. 18,000 in the third year.
Read More: CA Salary in India
CA Articleship in Big 4 Firms
Every CA Student wants to apply or get an articleship in Big 4 CA Firms. And why not, these big four firms are the ultimate CA Firms in India with the best practices and numerous vacancies.
The Big 4 Firms are:
- Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
- Ernst & Young (E&Y)
- Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG)
Now, let us dive into how a CA aspirant can work in the Big 4 firms.
How to Apply for CA Articleship in the Big 4 Firms?
1. Through their official Sites
The Big 4 firms post the vacancies on their official sites, so you can visit the website and find the vacancies as well as apply for them. Or else, students can get the contact details from sites where you can call and ask directly.
2. ICAI BOS Articleship Portal
ICAI BOS Articlehip Portal posts and updates the CA articles regarding the recent articleship vacancies. In the same portal, you will find the vacancies for articleship in the Big 4 if it is available. So, go and check the official site portal.
3. ICAI Notice Board
If ICAI keeps updating the vacancies available in the Big 4, so does the notice board. Therefore, you need to check that also.
4. Linkedin
Linkedin is the most suitable place to search for articleship. You can connect with the HR of these big firms and can arrange a meeting with them. Also, as soon as there are any vacancies in the Big 4, it gets posted on Linkedin. So, keep your eyes on that, and fill out the form as soon as you get it.
5. Other Ways
The other way to discover the articleship vacancies in the Big 4 is from the online job portals. Other than that, the references and the connections always have been good sources.
As you apply to the big 4 firms or other firms, you will have to be shortlisted. For this, students also have to prepare the CA Articleship resume that is needed for the interview in the firms.
So, we advise all the students to make it soon and get it approved by their seniors and mentors.
CA Articleship Stipend in Big 4 CA Firms
Despite the less salary and stipend set by ICAI for CA articles, Big 4 firms provide a good stipend.
The CA Articleship stipend in the Big 4 firms is INR 10,000 for the first year, INR 15,000 for the second year, and INR 20,000 for the third year. This salary is much better than what other CA Firms can offer.
Students are also curious to know the salary given by each firm. So, among the big 4 CA firms, the per month articleship stipend offered by Deloitte is Rs. 13000, KPMG is Rs. 15000, and E&Y and PWC offer Rs. 12000.
How to Crack CA Articleship Interview?
Now after applying to the firm for the articleship training, the next thing is to clear the interview. Check out the tips to crack the CA articleship interview in your desired firm.
- Look presentable and be on time.
- Revise your concepts thoroughly.
- Stay updated with current affairs and the latest amendments.
- In the GD round, don’t just start counter-attacking. If you agree with others, mention it. It shows your professionalism and teamwork.
- Maintain your body posture.
- Think before giving an answer.
CA Articleship Duration, Leaves, Working Hours
Now as you all know the duration of the ICAI practical training is for 3 years. And, in these 3 years of practical training, the total leaves allowed for the articles are 157 days.
Excessing these leaves can cause you unnecessary trouble since your articleship period won’t be fulfilled. So, it is advised to the Article to follow the CA articleship leave rules.
Now, the CA Articleship working hours as per the ICAI is a minimum of 35 hours per week. But in reality, it gets extended up to 10 hours per day or 60 hours per week depending on the workload.
So, the CA articleship working hours are not fixed for all the firms. It varies from firm to firm. But the minimum benchmark is 35 hours per week, so you can always expect something more than that.
CA Articleship Termination/Transfer (Form 109)
Students can transfer or terminate their articleship. Check out the important points about the CA articleship termination or transfer:
- The article can submit the transfer certificate of their working parent if they got transferred within the range of 50 km. This transfer certificate needs to be submitted to the Principal by the article to get transferred.
- If the Principal is not giving the minimum allowance or the stipend as quoted according to regulation 67, then the article can ask for termination and transfer.
- The article can also ask for a transfer if they want to serve the balancing period in foreign.
- If under unfavourable circumstances, the principal dies before the articleship training, then the article can apply for termination or transfer.
- If the article is suffering from an extreme medical condition, then they can get the minimum term of three months. But for this, they need to submit a medical certificate from a government hospital.
If you want to know in detail about the CA Articleship transfer and termination rules, then follow up on the given points.
Can we take a transfer in the 1st or 2nd Year of the Articleship?
The CA articleship transfer in the 1st year is quite easy and simple. There are no limitations or foundations set by ICAI. If the Article realizes that he is working under the wrong principal where he won’t get the proper work experience and can apply for transfer instantly.
For this, the Article needs to prepare an application form with the sign of both the Article and the Principal. As soon as you submit this application, you will receive a confirmation letter within 30 days from ICAI.
However, CA articleship transfer in the 2nd or 3rd year is difficult and can be done only under a few conditions. Moreover, to get transferred in the 2nd or 3rd year of articleship, the Article needs to fill out Form 109, which is issued by the ICAI.
This Form 109 needs to be submitted to the ICAI as per their training guide. At last, the article needs to download form 109 and submit it to the relevant regional office.
That’s all for the CA Articleship training guide. We hope that you now have a great understanding of the Practical training and are ready to move further.
FAQs About CA Articleship Training
Ques 1. Do I need to do the articleship for 3 years in one place only?
Ans. If the firm wherever you are doing the articleship allows transfers, then you can change places else you have to do the articleship for 3 years in one place only. Moreover, you can take the transfer in the first year. But it is difficult in the 2nd and 3rd years.
Ques 2. How do I write a CA Articleship Resume?
Ans. CA Articleship resume will be crucial in improving your chances of selection. While writing or making an articleship resume, you should include objective, technical skills, soft skills, extra-curricular activities, career summary, etc.
Ques 3. Can CA Articleship be done Abroad?
Ans. Yes, students can do their CA articleship in India or Abroad.
Ques 4. Which field is the best for the CA Articleship?
Ans. Generally, based on our experience, auditing is considered the best field for the CA Articleship.
Ques 5. Can I give CA Final exam during my articleship?
Ans. Students who have completed the practical training of 2.5 years out of 3 years can give the CA Final exams.
Ques 6. Which city is best for the CA articleship training?
Ans. Metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Banglore, and Chennai are the best places to do articleship training.
Ques 7. What is the highest-paid CA articleship stipend?
Ans. The highest-paid CA articleship stipend is Rs. 52,312 per month.