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CA is run by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It's a tough but respected qualification, and you don't need to clear a college entrance for it. The levels (ICAI's current scheme) 1. CA Foundation: you can register after Class 10, and appear after passing Class 12. Four papers covering accounting, business laws, quantitative aptitude and economics. 2. CA Intermediate: two groups of papers. Graduates and postgraduates who meet ICAI's marks criteria can skip Foundation and enter directly here. 3. Practical training (articleship): under the current scheme, about two years working under a practising CA. This is where you really learn. 4. CA Final: the last set of papers, plus required courses and self-paced modules. How long it takes On paper, around 4.5 to 5 years after Class 12 if you clear every level on the first try. In reality, many students take longer, because pass rates at each level are fairly low. Check ICAI's website for exam frequency and the latest rules, since the scheme has changed in recent years. Can science or arts students do CA? Yes. Stream doesn't matter for registration. Comfort with numbers and patience with detail matter more. Should you do B.Com alongside? Many students do B.Com through distance or regular mode, which gives a degree as a fallback. Just be careful about time. What CAs do: audit, tax, financial reporting, corporate finance, consulting and their own practice. Is CA right for you? If you like structured rules, numbers, and solving business problems, and you can handle a long exam journey, CA is excellent. Guidopia's Career DNA shows your fit for accounting and finance careers.