1. I passed C.A. Final Examination recently. For membership enrolment what I have to do ?

Apply in Form No. 2 alongwith requisite fee of Rs.2400/- ( with COP) Rs1600/- (without COP) through Demand Draft favouring Secretary, ICAI, payable at Regional /Decentralised Office of ICAI. The above amount includes Rs.1000/- towards Life Membership of Chartered Accountants Benevolent Fund. Form 2 can be obtained from any office of ICAI or may be downloaded from ICAI Web Site  www.icai.org.

2. What are the enclosures to submit with Form No. 2

Attach copy of articleship completion letter, GMCS Completion certificate date of birth certificate, final passing certificate and certified copy of additional qualification.

3. How long my Membership is valid ?

Membership once granted is valid till its holding. However, a member is required to renew his membership every year by paying Annual Membership fee. Membership can also be surrendered or can be removed by the Institute against Disciplinary Action.

4. Is Certificate of Practice is compulsory for me ?

No. But to join audit profession or working as an auditor or to run a C.A. firm COP is must.

5. Can I hold Certificate of Practice alongwith my employment ?

Yes.  However, a member in employment and holding Certificate of Practice cannot perform audit certification and will not be entitled to train articled clerk.

6. When I will get my Membership and Certificate of Practice scripts ?

Membership is granted from the date of receipt of Form No. 2 and requisite fee. ICAI Office immediately issues letter intimating permanent membership enrolment number and date of registration having which a member  can act as an auditor. However, membership certificate and certificate of practice scripts are issued within 2-3 months time.

7. Can I do audit profession in Individual name ?

Yes. On receipt of membership letter and certificate of practice you can start audit profession as a Chartered Accountant by intimating the same to the ICAI Office.

8. When Membership and COP fee become due for payment ?

The Annual Membership and COP fee is due and payable on 1^st April of every year. If the fee is not paid by 30^th September the name will be removed and COP will be cancelled.  Fee can be paid through designation branches of Central Bank of India, ECS facility , payment Gateway or directly forwarding to the concerned Regional Office or Decentralised Office of ICAI.

9. What is the consequence of removal of Membership and cancellation of COP?

On removal of name, member will not be entitled to continue audit profession, cannot train articled/audit clerk , his partnership with a C.A firm will be ceased and sole proprietory firm will be closed. 

10. My membership and COP is cancelled due to non-payment of fee ? what is the remedy ?

Apply in Form NO. 9 alongwith Membership Fee and COP fee alongwith Rs.100/- towards restoration fee.  The same must reach ICAI before 31^st March of the succeeding year in order to restore the same with retrospective date.  This will restore members status and related matters as earlier in the record of the Institute.

11. My name was removed and COP was cancelled since several years. Can it be restored ?

Yes.  Name can be restored prospectively and fresh certificate of practice will be issued on submission of Form No. 9 & form No. 6 alongwith membership fee & COP fee  for the year of removal and year of restoration, and Rs.100/- towards restoration charges. In such case the date of restoration will be effective from the date of receipt of fee and Form No. 9 and Form No. 6,

12. Can I surrender my COP ?

Yes. A member can surrender COP by forwarding original script of Certificate of Practice and fee for Certificate of Practice if the same is surrendered after 1^st April. The effective date of surrender of COP will be the date of receipt of intimation for the same or 30 days earlier.

13. Can I surrender my membership ?

Yes. A member can also surrender his membership. However,  member may get membership restored thereafter by applying in Form No. 9 alongwith requisite fee.  In such case the membership number will remain the same and will be restored from the date of receipt of the form 9.

14. What is the requirement of Fellowship ? Is fellowship automatically granted ?

No. Fellowship is not automatic and granted from the date of receipt of form NO. 3 and Form No. 6 alongwith requisite fee as applicable. A member having five years continuous profession or salaried employment in supervisory or managerial cadre in Finance & Acconts etc.  may apply for grant of fellowship. A combination of employment and practice for five years in totality can also be considered for grant of fellowship.

15. What is the benefit of fellowship status ?

Fellowship stands for seniority in ICAI Membership and attracts certain benefits in audit empanelment. 

16. Is my membership valid abroad ?

Yes.  ICAI membership is valid abroad. However, to become member of accounting body of foreign country member may be required to full-fill their prescribed education and examination related requirements. Besides for audit profession, member also may be required to clear qualifying examination of the country concerned. However, a large number of Indian Chartered Accountant is working abroad.

17. What is the scope of employment after C.A. qualification & membership ? How does ICAI help in this ?

ICAI has a well established system of Campus Interview and arranges campus interview twice in a year at different locations.  A member may register on-line with ICAI for campus interview immediately after passing C.A. examination. A large number of fresh chartered accounts are selected every year through campus interview for public sector, private sector, multi nationals , banking and insurance companies. Good perks and service conditions are being offered by companies participating in ICAI Campus interviews.

18. I am a member holding COP.  Can I do business alongwith my practice? What other occupation I  may opt for ?

Having COP a member is restricted for active engagement in other business. However, member may opt for certain permissible occupation under C.A. Regulations. For the same, a member is required to file a prescribed applications – form for permission for Engagement in other occupation/Directorship under Regulation 190(A) of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988.  A member can also hold honorary , nominated or elected positions in public and government.

19. What is CABF Fund ? How is it benefit to a member ?

Chartered Accountant Benevolent is a corpus fund with ICAI to facilitate a member or his family in their desperate need.  A member or family of deceased member can get financial assistance from the fund by filing a prescribed application form. Benefit of this fund is available to all members.

20. Is contribution towards CABF compulsory ?

No. But a member is expected to become a life member of CABF scheme and also to contribute voluntary on annual basis. Contribution made towards CABF Fund can also be claimed for Income Tax Rebate.

21. Is their any Insurance scheme for members ?

Recently CABF has introduced Group Protection Insurance Scheme. A member residing in India is eligible to join in this Scheme and avail Insurance benefit for accidental death, dismemberment and critical illness on the basis of sum insured. A member willing to join this scheme may file a health declaration alongwith premium applicable through demand draft favouring Secretary, CABF ICAI, Delhi to the Regional Office concerned.

22. Does ICAI offer post C.A. Qualification courses ?

Yes. ICAI Offers various post C.A. qualification courses like CAAT, DISA, DIRM, DWTO, MAC and Diploma Courses in Financial Management and Banking, Taxation and Insurance.

23.  How does ICAI update members knowledge ?

ICAI trust upon continuous updation of members knowledge. For the purpose ICAI regularly conducts Conferences, Seminars, Tele-Conferencing through Regional Offices and Decentralized Offices and branches of Regional Councils. Besides, ICAI regularly publishes member journal and books on audit standards., current economic affairs, fiscal policies and taxation. A member is expected to go through the same,

24. What is CPE hours ? Is it mandatory ?

Yes. CPE Hours is in fact rating of knowledge updation credit. It is mandatory for members who are holding certificate of practice and for others CPE hours is recommendatory. A member is required to score minimum CPE hours in a calendar year or as decided by ICAI. From 2005, CPE Hours is compulsory for all.

25. Can  a member may join Legal Practice as an advocate at the Court ?

A member can be also a member of Bar Counsel and pursue Legal profession. But such member cannot designate himself as a Chartered Accountant and Advocate together in any of the document.

26. Can a member run Management Consultancy Services or become a partner in non-C.A. firm ?

A member can very well offer Management Consultancy services in various fields.  But a member cannot become partner in non-C.A. firm.

27. Can a member advertise for his C.A. profession or firm ?

No. Canvassing for C.A. Profession or C.A. firm is restricted. A member can have his name/firm name on visiting card, letter head, sign board strictly under the guidelines of C.A. Act and Regulations.  Violation of such guidelines may attract disciplinary action.

28. I am a member holding COP. Can I be LIC Agent ?

Yes. A member can hold Insurance Agency only for the renewal of policy  purposes and cannot act as a full fledged Insurance agent. 

29. I am a member holing COP. Can I be a share broker Agent ?

No. A member is not permitted to become a share broker agent