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ICAI’s own published fees for the CA course come to about Rs 84,500 on the Foundation route and about Rs 74,000 on direct entry, if you clear every exam at the first attempt. That figure covers registration, exam fees and the two compulsory soft-skills courses. It excludes coaching, which ICAI does not price, and a few charges ICAI does not publish in the documents we could read.
Search results for this question vary from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh, mostly because some pages include coaching and others do not, and some quote fees that no longer apply. This page uses only ICAI’s 2026 prospectus, its FAQ on the new scheme and its current fee charts, all read in October 2026. It covers money only. For eligibility, papers and exams, see the main guide to the CA course, and for the order of steps, how to become a chartered accountant.
What is the total fee for the CA course?
On ICAI’s published fees, the total is about Rs 84,500 from Foundation, or about Rs 74,000 for graduates entering at Intermediate, assuming you pass every exam at the first sitting. Each retake adds a further exam fee. The table shows how the figure is built.
| Item | Foundation route | Direct entry | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation registration | 9,000 | Not needed | ICAI Prospectus 2026 |
| Intermediate registration (both groups) | 18,000 | 18,000 | ICAI Prospectus 2026 |
| Final registration (both groups) | 22,000 | 22,000 | ICAI Prospectus 2026 |
| Foundation exam | 1,500 | Not needed | ICAI fee chart, Jan 2027 |
| Intermediate exam (both groups) | 2,700 | 2,700 | ICAI fee chart, Jan 2027 |
| Final exam (both groups) | 3,300 | 3,300 | ICAI fee chart, Sep and Nov 2026 |
| ICITSS (IT course 6,500 plus Orientation 7,000) | 13,500 | 13,500 | ICAI Prospectus 2026 |
| Advanced ICITSS (Advanced IT 7,500 plus MCS 7,000) | 14,500 | 14,500 | ICAI Prospectus 2026 |
| Total | 84,500 | 74,000 | Our addition |
Exam fees are for centres in India. Fees for centres in Kathmandu and the Gulf are higher, and the charts are linked above. All amounts are as of 17 October 2026, and ICAI revises fees from time to time, so check the portal before paying.
How much does each level cost?
Grouping the same fees by level shows where the money goes. Counting ICITSS with Intermediate (you must do it before articleship) and Advanced ICITSS with Final (you must do it before the exam), the Foundation level costs Rs 10,500, Intermediate Rs 34,200 and Final Rs 39,800, which is Rs 84,500 in all. Direct-entry students pay only the last two, Rs 74,000.
| Level | Registration | Exam | Soft-skills course | Level total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 9,000 | 1,500 | None | 10,500 |
| Intermediate (with ICITSS) | 18,000 | 2,700 | 13,500 | 34,200 |
| Final (with Advanced ICITSS) | 22,000 | 3,300 | 14,500 | 39,800 |
When do you pay each fee?
The fees are spread over about four years, not paid at once, and the biggest single payments come before and after articleship. The order below follows ICAI’s sequence of steps, with a running total for the Foundation route.
| Stage | Fee | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 or in school | Foundation registration | 9,000 | 9,000 |
| Before the Foundation sitting | Foundation exam form | 1,500 | 10,500 |
| After Foundation and Class 12 | Intermediate registration | 18,000 | 28,500 |
| Before the Intermediate sitting | Intermediate exam form (both groups) | 2,700 | 31,200 |
| Before articleship starts | ICITSS | 13,500 | 44,700 |
| Any time after passing both Intermediate groups | Final registration | 22,000 | 66,700 |
| After articleship, before Final | Advanced ICITSS | 14,500 | 81,200 |
| Before the Final sitting | Final exam form (both groups) | 3,300 | 84,500 |
A direct-entry student starts at the Intermediate registration row, which is why the total there is Rs 74,000. Foundation and Intermediate exam forms open about two months before the sitting, while Final windows are announced separately (for November 2026 the form opened on 6 July 2026). The exam fee is calculated automatically from the centre and zone you select (ICAI Prospectus 2026).
What are ICAI’s registration fees at each level?
Registration fees are Rs 9,000 for Foundation, Rs 18,000 for Intermediate and Rs 22,000 for Final, and each is paid once, when you register for that level. The Foundation fee includes the CA prospectus and the Foundation study material (ICAI FAQ).
The Intermediate fee covers both groups. ICAI’s FAQ says you can appear in one group at a time but must register for both, so a “single-group registration” fee is not something ICAI charges. The self-paced online modules of the Final level carry no separate registration fee. If you are on the Foundation route and later qualify for direct entry, you can convert by paying the Intermediate registration fee only.
Foreign students pay in dollars: $720 for Foundation, $1,000 for Intermediate and $1,100 for Final, while students from SAARC countries pay the regular rupee fees (ICAI Prospectus 2026). If you register provisionally as a final-year graduate and your marks fall short, the registration is cancelled, and the Prospectus says the Council may permit a refund of the registration and tuition fee as it decides from time to time, so it is not automatic.
How much are the CA exam fees?
For centres in India, a Foundation attempt costs Rs 1,500. Intermediate costs Rs 1,500 for one group or Rs 2,700 for both, and Final costs Rs 1,800 for one group or Rs 3,300 for both. A late fee of Rs 600 applies if you miss the normal form deadline.
| Level | One group | Both groups | Late fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 1,500 (no groups) | 1,500 | 600 |
| Intermediate | 1,500 | 2,700 | 600 |
| Final | 1,800 | 3,300 | 600 |
The next sittings show the timing. For January 2027, the Foundation and Intermediate form window was 3 to 16 November 2026, or to 19 November with a late fee (ICAI important dates). The Final sitting announced for November 2026 had its form window in July 2026. Exam fees change by sitting, so use the chart for the sitting you are applying for.
The cost of a retake is easy to work out. Failing Intermediate once and retaking both groups adds Rs 2,700. Retaking only one group adds Rs 1,500. For Final the figures are Rs 3,300 and Rs 1,800. The fee for retaking is small beside the cost in time, which is why repeated attempts are a bigger burden than the fees suggest.
What does a typical retake budget look like?
Because pass rates are low, it is sensible to price one lost sitting at each level. The table adds the exam fee again for a repeat attempt (our arithmetic on the published exam fees).
| Scenario | First-attempt total | Extra for repeats | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation route, repeat both groups where there are groups | 84,500 | 1,500 + 2,700 + 3,300 = 7,500 | 92,000 |
| Direct entry, repeat both groups | 74,000 | 2,700 + 3,300 = 6,000 | 80,000 |
| Foundation route, repeat one group only at Intermediate and Final | 84,500 | 1,500 + 1,500 + 1,800 = 4,800 | 89,300 |
A missed form deadline adds the Rs 600 late fee. These totals still exclude coaching, books, travel to the exam city and the extra months of living costs, which are usually the larger part of a retake. What a repeat does to your timeline is in CA course duration.
What other charges does ICAI levy?
The main ones are the two soft-skills courses, Rs 13,500 for ICITSS before articleship and Rs 14,500 for Advanced ICITSS after it. Both are compulsory. Each runs for about four weeks and the fees include course material (ICAI Prospectus 2026).
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Revalidation of Intermediate registration | Rs 400 | Once, after the five-year validity ends |
| Revalidation of Final registration | Rs 500 | Every ten years |
| Business Accounting Associate (BAA) certificate | Rs 500 | Optional, after Intermediate, training, Advanced ICITSS and the online modules |
| Four-week residential soft-skills programme | Rs 48,000 | Optional; replaces the MCS course and counts towards training time |
| Paid Live Virtual Classes from ICAI | Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per level | Optional |
The sources are the prospectus, the FAQ and ICAI’s live classes FAQ, which lists Foundation at Rs 1,000, Intermediate at Rs 1,000 for one group or Rs 2,000 for both, and Final at Rs 1,500 for Group I, Rs 1,000 for Group II or Rs 2,000 for both.
ICAI’s Prospectus and FAQ give no amount for the articleship registration fee or the membership fee, so this page quotes none. Check both on ICAI’s Self Service Portal when they fall due.
What do coaching and study material cost?
ICAI does not set or publish coaching fees, so no official figure exists. Estimates you will see, from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh over the whole course, are what coaching businesses and aggregators say, not ICAI data, and they cover everything from self-study with a few paid classes to full classroom programmes.
What ICAI does provide is the core material. Foundation study material is available on ICAI’s BoS Knowledge Portal, and hard copies can be ordered through its Centralised Distribution System after registration. Videos for the self-paced online modules are also provided. That means a disciplined student can complete the course on ICAI’s material plus the optional paid classes above, and many choose coaching anyway for structure.
If you do buy coaching, ask for these in writing before paying:
- The fee per level, not a package price, and what happens if you need to repeat the level.
- Whether the price includes notes, test series and doubt-clearing, or whether these are extra.
- The refund terms, in writing, if you stop partway.
- Whether the batch covers the current scheme, not the old one.
Are there fee concessions and scholarships?
Yes. ICAI offers a 75% registration concession to students from certain regions, a 100% exemption for students with qualifying disabilities, and monthly scholarships from Intermediate onwards. These can change the real cost substantially, so check them before assuming the full amount.
| Scheme | What it gives | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Regional concession | 75% off registration at all levels | Students from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and 8 North-East states; the registration-fee pages of the Prospectus say it is extended to 31 March 2028, so confirm on the portal |
| Wards of deceased members | 75% off registration: Rs 2,250, Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,500 payable | Documents on the Self Service Portal |
| Disability exemption | 100% exemption from course fees, including registration, ICITSS and Advanced ICITSS | Disability of 40% or above, with a government hospital certificate |
| Merit scholarship | Rs 2,500 a month for up to 30 months | Intermediate rank holders (top 10); must register for Final |
| Merit-cum-need scholarship | Rs 2,000 a month for up to 30 months | Other Intermediate rank holders; parental income up to Rs 3 lakh |
| Need-based scholarship | Rs 1,500 a month, at Intermediate and Final | Parental income up to Rs 3 lakh |
| Class 12 board toppers | Foundation fee refunded in six instalments | First two ranks in a senior secondary board; join CA within a year |
Details and application steps are in the prospectus and ICAI’s scholarship scheme notice. Applications go through the Self Service Portal.
Does the articleship stipend offset the cost?
Only slightly. ICAI’s minimum stipend is Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 a month under its FAQ, with a revised Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 for the two-year scheme still in draft in July 2026 (ICAI announcement). Over two years it is unlikely to cover ICAI fees and living costs together, so plan those years as largely funded by family or savings. The articleship rules are in the CA course guide.
Why do other websites show different totals?
Three reasons recur. Some pages still use old-scheme fees and a three-year articleship. Some list Rs 13,000 for a single Intermediate group, while ICAI’s FAQ lists Rs 18,000 for both groups and requires registration for both. And some totals add coaching, travel or hard-copy material that others leave out. Every figure here carries its source and date for that reason.
How do CA fees compare with CMA, CS and ACCA?
On published first-attempt fees CA is the highest of the three Indian bodies, but the figures are not like for like. ICAI’s total of about Rs 84,500 excludes coaching, while the CMA guide shows ICMAI’s fees of about Rs 64,100 from Foundation (Rs 56,600 for graduates) with ICMAI’s coaching included. The CS guide shows about Rs 54,000 via CSEET and Rs 50,000 for graduates entering directly. ACCA publishes fees in pounds only, and its charges for the full qualification come to about Rs 2.89 lakh before tuition and resits.
The gap narrows once coaching is counted, because ICMAI’s figure includes it and ICAI’s does not. Each comparison is explained in CMA course fees, CS course fees and ACCA course cost in India, and the routes side by side in CA vs CS vs CMA vs ACCA.
Is the CA course worth the money?
The larger costs are years of effort and repeated attempts, since pass rates in the May 2026 sittings were roughly 8% to 20% across the three levels (results are in the main guide). What the qualification can earn is in CA salary in India. For shorter, cheaper routes see which accounting course to take and what to do if you do not clear CA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total fee of the CA course in India?
ICAI’s published registration, exam and soft-skills fees total about Rs 84,500 from Foundation and Rs 74,000 for direct entry, on first attempts. Coaching, study costs and some charges ICAI does not publish in its prospectus are extra.
What is the CA Foundation fee?
Registration is Rs 9,000, which includes the prospectus and Foundation study material, and the exam fee is Rs 1,500 for India centres. A late fee of Rs 600 applies after the deadline.
What is the CA Intermediate fee?
Registration is Rs 18,000 for both groups. The exam fee is Rs 1,500 for one group or Rs 2,700 for both. You must register for both groups even if you appear in one at a time.
What is the CA Final fee?
Registration is Rs 22,000. The exam fee is Rs 1,800 for one group or Rs 3,300 for both, per the fee chart for the September and November 2026 sittings.
Can I do the CA course without coaching?
ICAI provides study material and some optional paid live classes, so it is possible. Whether it works for you depends on how well you manage your own study. ICAI does not publish data comparing the outcomes of coached and self-taught students.
Is there any scholarship for CA students?
Yes. ICAI gives merit, merit-cum-need and need-based scholarships of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 a month from Intermediate, a Foundation fee refund for the top two Class 12 board rankers who join within a year, and concessions for specified groups.
How much does a CA Intermediate retake cost?
Rs 2,700 for both groups or Rs 1,500 for one group at the India centres, plus a Rs 600 late fee if you miss the form deadline. The registration is not charged again while it stays valid.
Do foreign students pay different CA fees?
Yes. ICAI lists $720 for Foundation, $1,000 for Intermediate and $1,100 for Final registration for foreign students. Students from SAARC countries pay the regular rupee fees.
Still deciding?
Fees are only one input. If you are weighing CA against a degree, a shorter accounting course or something else entirely, talk it through with a counsellor first. See career counselling, or call 9212008787 or message us on WhatsApp.
