CA Exams 2026 : Dates, Pattern, Syllabus & Eligibility

Planning to appear for the CA Exams 2026? Whether it’s the CA Foundation exam, CA Inter exam, or CA Final exam, understanding the exam dates, syllabus, eligibility, and application process is the first step toward success.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has officially released the CA Exams 2026 schedule for January. According to the notification, the CA Foundation exams will be held from January 18 to 25, 2026, while the CA Intermediate and CA Final exams are scheduled between January 5 and 17, 2026. Students are advised to check the detailed ICAI notification for subject-wise exam dates and other updates.

Students preparing for the January 2026 ICAI CA Examinations can now check the official schedule for all levels. Below are the important dates to help plan your preparation:

To register for the CA Foundation 2026 exam, students must meet the following requirements:

• Must have passed or appeared in Class 12th (or equivalent) from a recognized board.
• Must complete a minimum of 4 months of study period before appearing for the exam.
• Must register with ICAI’s Board of Studies (BoS) before the specified deadline.
• Provisional registration is allowed for students who have passed Class 10th but are awaiting Class 12th results.

To be eligible for the CA Inter Exam in 2026, candidates can choose between two routes: the Foundation Route or the Direct Entry Route.

1. Foundation Route

• Candidates must pass the CA Foundation examination conducted by ICAI.
  
• After clearing the Foundation exam, students can register for the CA Intermediate course.
  

2. Direct Entry Route

This route is available for graduates, postgraduates, and other qualified candidates:

Graduates and Postgraduates:

• Commerce graduates/postgraduates must have secured at least 55% aggregate marks in their degree.
  
• Non-commerce graduates/postgraduates must have secured at least 60% aggregate marks in their degree.
  

Other Qualified Candidates:

Candidates who have passed the Intermediate examination of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) or the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) are also eligible for direct entry.

To appear for the CA Final January 2026 exam, candidates must fulfill specific academic, training, and certification requirements set by ICAI.

Key Eligibility Requirements

1. CA Intermediate
   
   • Candidates must have cleared both groups of the CA Intermediate exam
     
2. Articleship Training
   
   • Must have completed the prescribed articleship period or be in the final six months of training as of January 1, 2026.
     
   • For the January 2026 attempt, this means:
     
     • Training completed by December 31, 2025, OR
       
     • Being in the last six months of training, with completion by June 30, 2026.
       
3. AICITSS
   
   • Completion of the Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (AICITSS) is mandatory.
     
4. SPOM Tests
   
   • All relevant Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM) tests must be cleared before the exam application.

Articleship Duration Models

• 3-Year Articleship (Old Course)
  
  • Must have completed training by December 31, 2025, OR
    
  • Be in the final six months of articleship on January 1, 2026, with completion by June 30, 2026.
• 2-Year Articleship (New Course)
  
  • Must have completed the full 2 years of training by June 30, 2025 to be eligible for the January 2026 exam.

The CA Foundation registration process can be completed online through the official ICAI website (www.icai.org) under the “E-Services” → Student Services → Entry Level Forms (Foundation and Intermediate – Direct Entry) section, or directly via ICAI e-Services Portal.

Steps for CA Foundation Registration:

1. Fill out the online registration form with accurate details.
   
2. Pay the applicable registration fees online.
   
3. After successful payment, download and print the system-generated registration form.
   
4. Submit the printed form to the concerned ICAI regional office within 7 days from the date of online registration along with the required documents.
   

Documents Required for CA Foundation Registration:

• Attested copy of Class 12 Admit Card or Marksheet issued by the respective Board.
  
• One recent passport-size colour photograph affixed on the printed form.
  
• Attested copy of proof of nationality (for foreign students).
  
• Attested copy of special category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/Differently Abled, if applicable).
  
• Attested copy of Class 10 Marksheet or Admit Card showing the student’s name and date of birth.

Students can register for the CA Intermediate exam through either the Foundation Route or the Direct Entry Route, depending on their eligibility. The registration process is done online through the ICAI Self Service Portal (SSP).

Step-by-Step CA Intermediate Registration Process

1. Visit the ICAI SSP Portal
   • Go to https://eservices.icai.org/ and log in using your credentials.
   • If you are a new user, create an account first.
2. Select the Course
   • Under “Student Services”, choose Apply for Intermediate Course.
   • Select whether you are registering through the Foundation Route or the Direct Entry Route.
3. Fill in Personal and Educational Details
   • Enter your name, date of birth, contact details, and educational qualifications accurately.
4. Upload Required Documents
   • Recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature.
   • Attested copy of CA Foundation Marksheet (for Foundation Route).
   • Attested copy of Graduation/Post-Graduation Marksheet (for Direct Entry).
   • Attested copy of ICSI/ICMAI Intermediate qualification (if applicable).
   • Proof of nationality (for foreign students) and category certificate (if applicable).
5. Pay the Fees Online
   • Make the payment of CA Intermediate registration fees through the online payment gateway.
6. Download and Print the Form
   • After successful payment, download the system-generated form.
   • Submit the signed printout along with the necessary documents to your concerned ICAI regional office within the specified time.

Students who have cleared both groups of the CA Intermediate exam can register for the CA Final (New Course) through the ICAI Self Service Portal (SSP). The process is simple and entirely online.

Step-by-Step CA Final Registration Process

Step 1: Visit the ICAI SSP Portal at https://eservices.icai.org/.

Step 2: Log in using your User ID and Password.

Step 3: From the menu, select “Student Cycle” → choose the CA Final Course option.

Step 4: Your registration number and date of birth will already be displayed.

• Re-check all the pre-filled details.
  
• Upload the required documents.
  
• Enter any additional personal details as specified.
  
• Save and proceed.
  

Step 5: Pay the CA Final Registration Fee of ₹22,000 online via Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking.

Step 6: Enter the Captcha code to confirm payment.

• Once successful, a confirmation screen will appear.
• Download and save the confirmation copy for your records.

Important Points to Note

• Clear your device cache before starting the online registration process.
  
• Do not attempt to fill multiple online forms simultaneously on the same device.
  
• Avoid registering from a mobile device; use a desktop or laptop for smooth processing.
  
• For assistance during registration:
  
  • Technical issues: email onlineexamforms@icai.in
  • CA Final registration queries: email final_examhelpline@icai.in

The link for students to register for ICAI CA examinations will be available at icai.org. Registrations will begin from November 3, 2025. Check the complete schedule here. 

The exam fees for the January 2026 session are as follows:

With the CA Foundation exam date 2026, CA Inter exam date 2026, and CA Final exam date 2026 officially announced, the time to start your focused preparation is now.

1. Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the latest ICAI syllabus and the new exam pattern.
2. Create a Study Plan: Develop a realistic study schedule that allocates sufficient time for each subject.
3. Use Official Study Material: Rely on the ICAI study material as your primary resource.
4. Practice Regularly: Solve previous year’s question papers and mock tests to get familiar with the exam environment.
5. Stay Updated: Keep a close watch on the official ICAI website for any important announcements or changes.

CA Foundation exam date 2026, CA Inter exam date 2026, and CA Final exam date 2026 are already announced tentatively. Start early preparation, follow ICAI guidelines, and make your attempt count.