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ICAI’s AI course for chartered accountants is called AICA, the Certificate Course on AI for CA’s. Level 1 is a 3-day classroom course at ICAI branches for Rs 5,000 plus GST, with 18 structured CPE hours. Level 2 is a 5-day course (2 days online, 3 in person) for Rs 10,000 plus GST and 30 structured CPE hours, open only to those who have the Level 1 certificate.
CA students cannot join AICA, which is for members. ICAI’s Board of Studies runs a separate online workshop for students called AURA. This page explains all three: what each one teaches, how the assessment works, what it costs and who should take it. Every fact comes from ICAI’s own AI portal and course reference documents, read on 13 November 2026. ICAI updates batches every few weeks, so check the portal before you plan around a date.
What are ICAI’s AI courses, at a glance?
| AICA Level 1 | AICA Level 2 | AURA (students) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can join | Chartered accountants | CAs holding the AICA Level 1 certificate | CA students at Foundation, Intermediate or Final |
| Fee | Rs 5,000 + GST | Rs 10,000 + GST | Rs 100 for one year |
| Format | 3 days, physical, at ICAI branches or Centres of Excellence | 5 days: 2 online on Zoom, 3 physical | Online |
| Daily hours | 10 am to 6 pm | 10 am to 6 pm | Self-paced over a year |
| CPE hours | 18 structured | 30 structured | Not stated |
| Assessment | 3 online tests plus a group demonstration | 5 daily tests, a group presentation and an individual capstone project | Not stated |
| Source | AICA Level 1 document | AICA Level 2 document | ICAI Board of Studies |
ICAI’s Level 1 document also says a Level 3 course “has been launched and will be scheduled soon”. No fee or dates for Level 3 were published when we checked.
What does AICA Level 1 teach?
Level 1 covers nine modules over three days, moving from how AI works to hands-on automation for accounting work. The schedule below is from ICAI’s AICA Level 1 reference document (version 19.0).
| Day | Module | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamentals of AI | AI, generative AI, GPTs, large language models, tokenisation, uses for CAs |
| 1 | Prompts and prompt engineering | Structured prompting, hallucination risks, accounting workflows |
| 1 | RAG, projects, skills and connectors | Answering from your own documents, using tools such as Gemini Notebook and Claude Projects |
| 2 | Machine learning and data types | Supervised learning, predictive analytics, data classifications |
| 2 | Vibe coding automation | AI-assisted coding, no-code tools, accounting process automation |
| 2 | Excel automation using AI | VBA, AI add-ins, RPA concepts |
| 3 | Ethics in AI and responsible AI | Privacy, accountability, transparency, professional compliance |
| 3 | AI in finance and audit | Investment analysis, auditing, financial evaluation |
| 3 | Google Apps Script | Automating routine emails through Gmail and Google Sheets with AI help |
The course is practical. You bring your own laptop (ICAI recommends Windows 11, 8 GB RAM and an i3 processor), and ICAI provides the internet at the venue. Batches run at about 50 participants, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 60. Several of these topics have their own guides on this site: AI in Excel, Claude connectors and MCP servers.
How is AICA Level 1 assessed?
You pass Level 1 by clearing two parts, Module A and Module B, according to the Level 1 reference document:
- Module A: three online objective tests, one each day on ICAI’s Digital Learning Hub, 10 marks each. You need 5 of 10 in every test, with two attempts per test. If you miss or fail one, ICAI moves you to a later assessment batch and you retake all three, with up to two special cycles within two months.
- Module B: a 5-minute group demonstration on day 3, worth 20 marks with 10 to pass. Groups are usually four people in alphabetical order. Each member presents for about a minute, because marks are individual.
The digital certificate, titled AI for Chartered Accountants (AICA) Level 1, is downloadable from the Digital Learning Hub about a month after you complete the course.
What is different about AICA Level 2?
Level 2 aims to make CAs able to “design and deploy end-to-end AI solutions at client offices”, in ICAI’s words. It is longer, more technical and more expensive than Level 1. The details below are from the AICA Level 2 reference document (version 7.0):
- Eligibility: only CAs who have completed Level 1 and received its certificate.
- Format: 2 days online on Zoom with your camera on, then 3 days in person. You must use the same laptop for both. ICAI says MacBooks are not permitted for Level 2 because some applications may not be compatible.
- Extra requirements: admin rights to install software, and a card enabled for international payments, because faculty may ask you to activate free or paid AI tools. An Android phone with at least 8 GB of RAM is listed as optional, for exercises with offline AI models.
- Assessment out of 100: five daily tests (50 marks), a group presentation (20 marks, 10 to pass) and an individual capstone project submitted within 10 days of the batch.
- Tools: temporary access to ICAI’s own AI platform, the “ICAI AI Agent”, which ends after the capstone deadline.
How much does the ICAI AI course really cost?
The listed fees are Rs 5,000 plus GST for Level 1 and Rs 10,000 plus GST for Level 2. ICAI’s pages do not print the GST amount. If GST is charged at 18%, the totals would be about Rs 5,900 and Rs 11,800. That is our arithmetic, not an ICAI figure, so check the amount at checkout. Budget for these extras too:
- Travel and stay if your branch has no batch. ICAI’s Centres of Excellence offer rooms at Rs 1,000 a day, plus GST where it applies, subject to availability.
- A paid AI subscription during or after Level 2, if you want to keep using the tools. ICAI tells participants not to depend only on its temporary platform.
- Your time: 3 full days for Level 1, 5 for Level 2, plus capstone work.
Refunds work differently from most courses. For Level 1, ICAI says a participant who attends none of the three days is refunded automatically within 15 days of the batch ending, and the fee cannot be moved to another batch.
Should you take AICA, and when?
AICA suits a practising or working CA who wants a structured, ICAI-recognised start with CPE hours, and who learns best in a classroom. It is less useful if you are already comfortable with AI tools and only want one specific skill, such as AI in Excel. A short self-study route may be faster in that case.
| You are | Best first step |
|---|---|
| A CA student | AURA (Rs 100), plus strong Excel skills. See Excel for accountants |
| A newly qualified CA | AICA Level 1, then practise for a few months before Level 2 |
| A CA who wants to advise clients on AI | Level 1, then Level 2 |
| An accountant who is not a CA | Free and low-cost options in AI course fees in India |
If you are still on the way to qualifying, our guides to the CA course and CA course fees cover the main route. For how AI fits day-to-day accounting work, read AI for accountants in India.
How do you register?
- Open the course list on ICAI’s AI portal: AICA Level 1 or AICA Level 2.
- Pick a batch whose registration is open. Batches fill quickly in large cities, and many showed registration closed when we checked.
- Sign in, pay, and join the WhatsApp group ICAI shares after registration.
- Log in to the Digital Learning Hub at least two days before the course, because the tests and certificate are there.
For queries, ICAI lists the email ai@icai.in on its course documents.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fee for the ICAI AI course?
AICA Level 1 is Rs 5,000 plus GST and AICA Level 2 is Rs 10,000 plus GST. The student workshop AURA is listed at Rs 100 for a year.
Can CA students do AICA Level 1?
No. ICAI lists Level 1 participants as chartered accountants. Students can take the AURA online workshop from ICAI’s Board of Studies instead.
Is AICA Level 1 online?
No. Level 1 is physical only, at ICAI branches or Centres of Excellence. Level 2 has 2 online days and 3 physical days.
How many CPE hours does AICA give?
Level 1 gives 18 structured CPE hours and Level 2 gives 30, according to ICAI’s course documents.
Is there an exam in the ICAI AI course?
There are short online objective tests each day (5 of 10 to pass) and a group demonstration. Level 2 adds an individual capstone project.
Do I need coding knowledge for AICA?
No. ICAI asks for basic computer and Microsoft Office skills, an understanding of finance, audit and statistics, and problem-solving ability. Level 2 expects hands-on comfort with installing software and using cloud storage.
Is there an AICA Level 3?
ICAI’s Level 1 document says Level 3 has been launched and will be scheduled soon. No fee or dates were published when we checked on 13 November 2026.
Still deciding?
If you are weighing AI skills against finishing a qualification or changing roles, a counsellor can help you order the steps. Book online career counselling or call 9212008787.
