[FAQs] Chartered Accountancy (CA) – Training Related Questions

As per current scheme of CA Education and Training, a student is required to complete successfully Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (ICITSS) consisting of Information Technology Course and Orientation Course each of 15 days before registering for practical training i.e. articleship.

It should be noted that both the trainings must be completed, and only then can a student register for his/her articleship. However, previously in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ICAI allowed students to register for and join practical training (articleship) even if they had not completed the ICITSS courses.

Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft Skills (ICITSS) is a combination of Information Technology Course and Orientation Course. Its duration is 4 weeks.

The students must undergo ICITSS training after registering themselves for the CA Intermediate but before the commencement of Articleship training.
Note: Students can save time for their preparation of CA Intermediate Examination if they decide to complete their ICITSS immediately after the CA Intermediate Examination, as the training involves a period of 1 month to complete.

Yes, as this is required for CA Articleship, it is mandatory in both the cases – Direct Entry Route as well as CA Foundation Route.

Note: Reduction in fees of  Information Technology Course and Orientation Course was provided as a one-time measure (due to COVID-19) from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 4,500 and from Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 5,000 respectively for the students who registered and undergone the course through online mode. Accordingly, a refund of Rs. 2,000 in all cases was allowed to the students who registered by paying the requisite fees and whose batch was not started in physical mode. Such eligible refunds were made on or before 45 days of the announcement.

AICITSS is a combination of Advanced Information Technology (Advanced IT) Course and the Management and Communication Skills (MCS) Course. Its duration is 4 weeks.

AICITSS has to be undergone by the student anytime during the last 2 years of his/her Practical Training (Articleship) but, compulsorily before appearing for his/her Final Examination under the revised scheme and before applying for Membership of ICAI under the old scheme.

Note: Reduction in fees of Advanced IT Course and MCS was provided as a one-time measure (due to COVID-19) from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 5,500 and from Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 5,000 respectively for the students who registered and undergone the course through online mode. Accordingly, a refund of Rs. 2,000 in all cases was allowed to the students who registered by paying the requisite fees and whose batch was not started in physical mode. Such eligible refunds were made on or before 45 days of the announcement.

The Board of Studies has developed Online Registration Portal to facilitate students to register in soft skills courses (ICITSS and AICITSS), which provides the following facilities:

• • Single sign-on for all courses
  • Online registration for all batches
  • Online Payment
  • Batch transfer facility
  • Online feedback submission
  • Online certificate generation
  • Online report generation

Registering for ICITSS/ AICITSS involves two steps:

Step I: Registering as a Student

• • Visit ICAI Online Registration Page (https://www.icaionlineregistration.org/)
  • Click on “Register as Student”.
  • Select either of the two – CA Foundation Route or Direct Entry Route.
  • Enter Registration Number and Date of Birth (DOB).
  • Fill in the required details and submit the same.

Step II: Registering for ICITSS/ AICITSS

• • After logging in to the registration portal, select “Apply Course Registration”.
  • Select the Region and the Respective Training Course which one whishes to apply for.
  • Register in a particular batch launched by the Programme Organising Unit (POU).
  • Online payment should be made for the same.
  • Successful registration shall be displayed in the Generate Acknowledgement section.
  • After registration, the students may take a print of the acknowledgement slip from the portal and submit the same along with other documents, as mentioned in the acknowledgement slip, to the concerned Programme Organising Unit at least two days before the commencement of the batch.
  • After verifying the documents, the concerned POU will confirm the registration.

On completion of the following, a student shall be considered to gave undergone the Information Technology Course under ICITSS:

Note: A student of the Course on Information Technology (ICITSS) is required to secure minimum 60% marks in aggregate taking into account two Module Tests, Project and Final Online Examination. In case a student fails to secure 60% marks in the aggregate, he/she may be allowed to reappear for Online Examination for two more attempts free of cost. However, if a student fails to secure 60% marks even after three attempts, he/she shall have to pay a nominal fee of Rs. 300 to the Regional office/Branch of ICAI for every additional attempt.

ICITSS – Orientation Course: The students are required to undergo Orientation Course before registering for practical training.

AICITSS – MCS Course: The student registered under the Revised scheme or converted under the Revised scheme shall be undergoing the course during the last two years of Practical training but compulsory before appearing for the final examination. 
Alternatively, students can undergo 4-weeks Residential Course/ One Month Non-residential Programme on Professional Skills Development in lieu of MCS Course by paying the required fee.

Guidelines/ Instructions for students:

• • The duration of the course shall be 90 hours (15 days x 6 hours per day). Classes are held for 6 hours each day for 6 days a week.
  • The enrolment of students shall be done on “First Come First Serve” basis through online portal www.icaionlineregistration.org.
  • Students are required to complete the Course without discontinuity. However, in exceptional circumstances, cases of absence of students for maximum two days or four sessions may be allowed by the Chairman/Secretary of the Organizing Centre. Certificate shall not be issued to the student unless the student completes the course.
  • Students are required to maintain discipline and decorum apart from adhering to the dress code specified above. For misbehavior/ nuisance in the class, the faculty will have the power to make a note and on the basis of which issue of Programme Completion Certificate may be withheld.
  • No cameras/ photographs be allowed in the sessions and uploaded on social networking sites.

Yes, the Management and Communication Skills (MCS) Course forming part of 
Advanced Integrated Course on Information Technology and Soft 
Skills (AICITSS) need not be pursued if a candidate attends Four Weeks Residential Programme on Soft Skills Development.

The Four Weeks’ Residential Programme on Professional Skills Development is organized by the Board of Studies with an objective to offer unique opportunity to the Chartered Accountancy students and newly qualified Chartered Accountants in imbibing the professional skills required for effective functioning in business organisation and the profession. The Programme environment focuses on development of communication skills, personal qualities, interpersonal and teamwork skills, problem solving skills and leadership skills, etc.

All the students who have passed Chartered Accountancy Intermediate/IPCC/ PCC/ PE – II Examination and pursuing last two years or completed Practical Training are eligible to join the course. For this, the period during which the training is undergone will be considered as an integral part of practical training. Newly qualified Chartered Accountants can also join the course.

The course dates are announced in advance and the same is circulated/announced on the Institute’s website.

The fee per participant is Rs. 48,000 on residential basis inclusive of course, lodging, study material, daily meal, tea/refreshment, etc., the payment for which shall be made online.

Intimation will be sent to applicants on selection/ non-selection through mail.

Candidates who have undergone the AICITSS – Advanced IT Course (successfully with minimum 90% attendance) are eligible to apply for the AICITSS – Advanced IT Test by submitting an application online at http://advit.icaiexam.icai.org. The said test would be conducted by the Examination Department which the students are required to qualify with the requisite grades to be eligible to appear for Final Examination and such grades shall be reflected in the mark sheet of Final Examination.

Advanced ICITSS- Advanced IT Test is a two-hour, 100 marks objective type test, held in physical mode.

The Admit Card for the test as well as the result of the same will be hosted on the same site i.e. http://advit.icaiexam.icai.org

Generally, the results of the test are announced tentatively within a period of 10 days from the date of the test.

A candidate is declared to have passed the test if he/she secures minimum 40% marks.

Those who pass the Advanced ICITSS- Advanced IT test will be given grades as follows:

85% and above = A+

70% to 84% = A

55% to 69% = B+

40% to 54% = B

Such grades obtained by a candidate, as mentioned, will be reflected by way of a footnote, in his/her statement of marks of the Final exam.

Note: A candidate is not required to pay any test fee when he/she applies for the first time, since the course fee includes the same. However, if the candidate is applying for the second time or thereafter, he will be required to pay Rs. 500 online, towards test fee. No refund will be permitted. Candidates with permanent disabilities and holding a permanent concession card will be exempt from paying the test fees.

The classes are scheduled for minimum 6 hours per day, throughout 15 working days (each for Information Technology Course as well as Orientation Course/ Advanced Information Technology Course as well as the Management and Communication Skills (MCS) Course). Each day involves two sessions with 15 minutes tea break in each Session as well as lunch break after the first session.

Yes, a candidate can select Cancel Course Registration on the same registration window, and a token number shall be generated. He/She will be able to use such token number while registering for any subsequent batch.

https://www.icaionlineregistration.org/ModifyRegistration.aspx

Note: While cancelling the batch, the candidate need not pay the fees again; however, difference amount (if required any) shall be paid.

A student is required to have minimum 90% attendance to successfully complete the Course on Information Technology (ICITSS)/ Course on Advanced Information Technology (AICITSS).

Similarly, students are required to complete the ICITSS – Orientation Course/ AICITSS – MCS Course without discontinuity. However, in exceptional circumstances, cases of absence of students for maximum two days or four sessions may be allowed by the Chairman/Secretary of the Organizing Centre.

Certificate shall not be issued to the student unless the student completes the course.

(i) No, a student who has already undergone both – ICITSS (Information Technology Course) as well as ICITSS (Orientation Course)/ AICITSS (Advanced IT Course) as well as the AICITSS (MCS Course) under the old scheme will not be required to undergo ICITSS/ AICITSS on switching over to the revised scheme.

(ii) Student who has already undergone one of the two i.e. either Information Technology Course or Orientation Course/ Advanced IT Course or the MCS Course has to undergo only the remaining course i.e. ICITSS (Information Technology Course) or ICITSS (Orientation Course)/ AICITSS (Advanced IT Course) or AICITSS (MCS Course). He/She is not required to undergo ICITSS/ AICITSS in entirety.

Yes, the Board of Studies will provide study material for both the ICITSS as well as the AICITSS.

It can be accessed at: https://www.icaionlineregistration.org/

Yes, the students will get a certificate from the concerned Programme Organizing Unit (POU) after successful completion of the course.

Earlier a physical copy of the certificate used to be provided by the Institute; but nowadays one can download the same from the website. (https://www.icaionlineregistration.org/RePrintAcknowledgement.aspx)

The list issued by ICAI of different IT Training Centres can be access at the link provided here:

https://resource.cdn.icai.org/45770bos35747itcentres.pdf

Yes, a cash reward of Rs. 1,100 along with letter of appreciation for the best presenter of the batch shall be given on the last day, while the runners-up will be given the letter of appreciation by the Chairman of the Branch. (Applicable for batches starting from 20th May, 2018 onwards)

Yes, the students while undergoing ICITSS/ AICITSS, shall adhere to the formal Dress Code as per the local culture and tradition.

Advisory Dress Code:

Male Students: Full Sleeves Shirts and Trousers;

Female Students: Sarees/ Salvar Kurta/ Suit. While appearing before the appellate authority, they may also wear a suit and a tie.