CA - IPCC IPCE : Course Structure

ICAI • CA (2006) • IPCC IPCE : Integrated Professional Competence Course Examination • Course Structure

Course Level Name/Identification

CA - IPCC/IPCE : Chartered Accountancy – Integrated Professional Competence Course/Examination

This is the identification for the second level of the CA (Chartered Accountancy) course conducted by the ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India). The course is identified as IPCC (Integrated Professional Competence Course) and the examination at the end of the course is identified as IPCE (Integrated Professional Competence Examination)

This is the second level for all students taking up the chartered accountancy course after getting through the CA CPT (Chartered Accountancy Common Proficiency Test).

Course Duration

Minimum – 9 months

It is the period starting from the time the student gets registered for the course, to the time the student completes the coaching and other formalities required for being eligible for appearing at the main examination at this level.

This period is a minimum of 9 months.

Exam Frequency

The main/final examinations for the course at this level are conducted twice every year generally on specified dates which do not change except under extraordinary circumstances.

May Examination [2:00 pm to 5:00 pm]
Group-I - 4^th,8^th,10^th,12^th of May;
Group-II - 6^th,14^th,16^th of May;
November Examination [2:00 pm to 5:00 pm]
Group-I - 6^th,10^th,12^th,14^th of November;
Group-II - 8^th,16^th,18^th of November;

Minimum Requirements : Age, Academic Qualifications

Minimum Age

There is no stipulation as to the minimum age required for registering for the course.

Minimum Academic/Educational Qualifications

1.	A pass in the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) conducted by ICAI
	and
2.	A pass in the Senior Secondary Examination (10+2) or Intermediation Examination or equivalent

Are Supplementary Passed Candidates Eligible?

There is no restriction of any sort on the eligibility of supplementary passed candidates in taking up CA IPCC/IPCE (chartered accountancy - integrated professional competency course/examination).

The minimum academic qualification required is a pass at the CA CPT examination and also the 10+2 (intermediate) examination for getting registered for the course.

Pursuing along with Formal Graduation, Post Graduation Courses

The CA IPCC/IPCE (Chartered Accountancy - Integrated Professional Competence Course/Exam) is designed for being pursued by the students along with their graduation or higher courses. As such there is no restriction in pursuing the course along with any formal graduation or Post Graduation course.

IPCC requires the student to undergo compulsory articleship training with a practicing Chartered Accountant for a three year period. Such training would commence only after the student has got through group I of the IPCC or the ACT course.

Restriction during Articleship

A student undergoing articleship training is permitted to take up only one additonal course from among the specified courses, during the period of training. Thus, if a student takes up a formal graduation course in an unrelated stream, he/she might face a problem in getting permission for continuing with that course during articleship.

The restriction will be in force only during the 3 year period of articleship training.

Course Structure Pattern

The CA course at the IPCC level (Integrated Professional Competence Course)) consists of theoretical examinations as well as practical training in the form of compulsory computer course. There are 11 subjects to be studied arranged into 2 groups of 4 papers of 100 marks each in Group I and 3 papers of 100 marks each in Group II.

To pass a student has to obtain a minimum of 40% in each paper and an aggregate of 50% in all the papers of both the groups together if attempting both the groups or all the papers of a single group, failing which the student has to reappear in all the papers of that group/groups again.

A student has to get through both the groups either at once or separately to be eligible to go for the next level i.e. Final.

However there are certain exemptions in cases where the student has obtained high marks in one or more papers and has failed the group.

After 12^th

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Common Proficiency Test (CPT)

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Integrated Professional Competence Course/Examination (IPCC/IPCE)

[13 subjects arranged into two groups of 3 papers of 100 marks each.]	+	Practical Training (Articleship) Students are required to undergo 3½ years training (As an articled clerk with a practicing chartered accountant or as an audit clerk within the auditing department of an approved organisation).
	+	Orientation Programme A one week programme of 35 hours to be completed before appearing for the IPCC examination.
	+	ITT - Information Technology Training A course of 100 hour duration to be completed before joining the final course.

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Final

Subjects to be Studied

Each paper 3 hours-100 Marks

Group I

Paper 1: Advanced Accounting [100 Marks]
Paper 2: Law, Ethics and Communication
1. Part I: Law [60 Marks]
2. Part II: Business Ethics [20 Marks]
3. Part III: Business Communications [20 Marks]
Paper 3: Cost Accounting and Financial Management
1. Part I: Cost Accounting [50 Marks]
2. Part II: Financial Management [50 Marks]
Paper 4: Taxation
1. Part I: Income-tax [50 Marks]
2. Part II: Service tax [25 Marks] and VAT [25 Marks]

Group II