Chartered Accountancy
ICAI · India
Three levels, one articleship, roughly 4.5–5 years from Class 12 to qualified CA.
Foundation4 papers · 400 marks
Intermediate6 papers · 2 groups
Final6 papers + articleship
Open after Class 12. Tests accounting basics, business law, quantitative aptitude, and business economics. Passing needs 40% per paper and 50% aggregate.
Two groups of three papers each. Covers advanced accounting, corporate and other laws, taxation, cost and management accounting, auditing and ethics, and financial management.
The toughest stage. Financial reporting, strategic financial management, advanced auditing, and direct and indirect tax law — run alongside a mandatory 2-year articleship.
Passing rule
40% per paper, 50% aggregate
Every level, every group
Total duration
4.5–5 years
Includes 2-year articleship
Real jobs this gets you
Statutory & Internal Auditor₹6–15 LPA▾
You verify a company's financial statements are accurate and compliant before they go public or to shareholders. Big 4 firms hire heavily here straight out of articleship.
Tax & Regulatory Consultant₹6–15 LPA▾
Direct and indirect tax structuring for businesses — one of the most stable, always-in-demand CA specialisations in India.
Big 4 Associate (EY, KPMG, Deloitte, PwC)Top of range▾
The most recognised entry point for fresh CAs — structured growth, global exposure, and a credential-first culture.
CFO trackLong-term▾
Most Indian CFOs are CAs. It's the qualification companies trust to hand over financial leadership.
Right for you if: you want a credential that's non-negotiable for Indian businesses, structured career progression, and a role where your judgment is the final word on whether the numbers are honest.
Chartered Financial Analyst
CFA Institute · Global
Three levels, no articleship — but each level is a standalone exam most people don't clear on the first try.
Level I~39–45% pass
Level II~42–48% pass
Level III~50% pass
Multiple-choice, two sessions. Broad foundation across ethics, quant methods, economics, and financial reporting.
Item-set (vignette) questions. Deep asset valuation — widely considered the hardest of the three levels.
Essay plus item-sets, with a chosen specialisation: Portfolio Management, Private Wealth, or Private Markets.
Charter requirement
3 levels + 4,000 hrs experience
Experience runs alongside exams
Typical duration
2.5–4 years
If cleared without deferrals
Real jobs this gets you
Equity / Credit Research Analyst₹6–9 LPA▾
Post-Level 2 entry point. You analyse companies and issue buy/sell/hold calls that institutional investors act on.
Investment / Portfolio Analyst₹10–20 LPA▾
Charterholder-level role — you help construct and rebalance portfolios against a client's risk and return goals.
Private Wealth / Asset Management₹15–35 LPA▾
Managing money for high-net-worth individuals and institutions — one of the fastest-growing segments in Indian finance.
Portfolio Manager / Fund Head₹30L – 1Cr+▾
Senior buy-side leadership — you decide where a fund's capital goes. Compensation is heavily performance-linked here.
Right for you if: you're drawn to markets more than compliance, you want a credential that's globally portable across 160+ countries, and you're comfortable with a self-paced grind that most people who start it don't finish.
