CA Foundation Registration 2026: Eligibility, Fees, Syllabus & Last Date — Complete Guide

Whether you are a Class 12 student planning ahead, or someone who has just cleared their board exams and is wondering what comes next — this guide covers everything you need to know: eligibility criteria, registration fees, complete syllabus, important dates, the step-by-step registration process, and what to do after you register.

At CAPS Academy, Nagpur’s most trusted CA Foundation coaching institute, we have helped hundreds of students navigate the ICAI registration process and go on to clear the exam. This guide is written from that experience — not just from a website, but from the classroom.

Source: ICAI official website (icai.org). Always verify dates on the ICAI website before registering, as dates may be updated.

Earlier known as the Common Proficiency Test (CPT), the CA Foundation under the new ICAI scheme (effective July 2023) is a more structured, comprehensive examination covering four core subjects. Students who clear the Foundation proceed to CA Intermediate, and then to CA Final — the final hurdle before becoming a qualified CA.

The exam is conducted three times a year — in January, May/June, and September — giving students flexibility to plan their preparation timeline.

Why CA Foundation Matters

• It is the mandatory first step for Class 12 students entering the CA course (except graduates who can directly register for CA Intermediate under certain conditions)
• Clearing it with a good score opens the door to the prestigious CA Intermediate level
• The skills tested — accounting, law, economics, and mathematics — form the backbone of every CA’s professional career
• With India’s growing economy, qualified CAs are in demand across MNCs, Big 4 firms, banking, government, and entrepreneurship

• Students who have passed Class 10 (Secondary School Examination or equivalent) from a recognized board
• Students currently appearing in Class 12 board examinations can register for the Foundation course (provisional registration is allowed)
• Students who have passed Class 12 from a recognized board (CBSE, ICSE, State Boards) or equivalent
• There is no minimum percentage requirement for Class 10 or 12 to register for CA Foundation
• Students from any stream — Commerce, Science, or Arts — are eligible

• You have appeared (or are appearing) in the Class 12 board examinations
• You have completed a mandatory 4-month study period after registration with ICAI’s Board of Studies

This means if you register in January 2026 after clearing Class 10, the earliest you can appear is the September 2026 session (after completing 4 months of study and having appeared in Class 12).

CAPS Academy Tip — Register Early!

Students who register with ICAI right after Class 10 results get more time to complete the mandatory 4-month study period and are better positioned to appear in their preferred exam session. At CAPS Academy in Nagpur, we guide students through the ICAI registration process from Day 1 — so you never miss a deadline or session.

Note: Registration fees are subject to revision by ICAI. Always confirm the latest fee structure at icai.org before making payment.

What Does the ₹9,000 Registration Fee Cover?

• Access to official ICAI study material for all four Foundation subjects
• Registration with ICAI’s Board of Studies (BoS)
• Access to ICAI’s online student resources, RTPs (Revision Test Papers), and mock test papers
• Foundation Prospectus (a guide to the CA course structure)
• Eligibility to appear in the CA Foundation examination

Step 1: Visit the ICAI Official Website

Go to icai.org and navigate to the ‘Students’ section. Look for ‘Foundation Registration’ or ‘New Student Registration’. You can also directly visit the ICAI Online Services portal.

Step 2: Create Your ICAI Account

New students need to create an account on the ICAI portal using a valid email address and mobile number. Keep these credentials safe — you will use them throughout your CA journey.

Step 3: Fill the Online Registration Form

The registration form asks for personal details, educational qualifications, and contact information. Fill all fields carefully — errors in name, date of birth, or category can cause problems later.

• Full name (as per Class 10 marksheet)
• Date of birth
• Father’s name
• Category (General / SC / ST / OBC)
• Correspondence address
• Preferred exam city (you can choose Nagpur as your exam centre)

Step 4: Upload Required Documents

Scan and upload the following documents in the specified format (usually JPG/PDF, under 1 MB each):

• Class 10 marksheet or admit card
• Class 12 marksheet (if passed) or admit card (if appearing — for provisional registration)
• Passport-size photograph (white background, recent)
• Signature (on white paper, scanned clearly)
• Category certificate (if applicable — SC/ST/OBC)

Step 5: Pay the Registration Fee Online

Pay ₹9,000 (for Indian students) through the ICAI payment gateway. Accepted modes include Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, and UPI. Save the payment confirmation receipt.

Step 6: Download the Confirmation / Registration Letter

After successful registration and payment, ICAI will send a confirmation to your registered email. You will also receive a Student Registration Number (SRN) — note this down carefully. You can download your registration letter from the ICAI portal.

Step 7: Receive ICAI Study Material

ICAI will dispatch the official Foundation study material (books for all 4 papers) to your registered address within a few weeks. You can also access digital study material through the ICAI portal.

• Incorrect name spelling — must exactly match your Class 10 certificate
• Wrong date of birth — verify before submitting
• Blurry or oversized document uploads — leads to rejection
• Not saving the payment receipt — always screenshot or download confirmation
• Waiting until the last day — technical glitches are common near deadlines; register at least 5-7 days before the deadline
• Choosing wrong exam city — select Nagpur if you are based in Nagpur

• Theoretical Framework — Accounting Principles, Concepts, and Conventions
• Accounting Process — Journal, Ledger, Trial Balance
• Bank Reconciliation Statement
• Inventories — Methods of Stock Valuation
• Depreciation Accounting — SLM, WDV methods
• Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes
• Accounts from Incomplete Records
• Financial Statements of Sole Proprietors and Companies
• Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organisations
• Partnership Accounts — including Admission, Retirement, Death, Dissolution
• Share Capital, Debentures — Issue and Forfeiture
• Company Financial Statements (Final Accounts)

Paper 1 tip: Accounting requires daily practice. At CAPS Academy, Nagpur, students solve 20-30 practice problems every day in class — this is how toppers are made.

• The Indian Contract Act, 1872 — Essentials, Void Agreements, Breach, Remedies
• The Sale of Goods Act, 1930 — Contract of Sale, Conditions and Warranties, Transfer of Property
• The Indian Partnership Act, 1932 — Formation, Rights and Duties of Partners, Dissolution
• The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 — Formation and Structure of LLPs
• The Companies Act, 2013 — Introduction, Types of Companies, Incorporation
• The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 — Cheques, Bills, Notes

Paper 2 tip: Business Laws is a memory-intensive subject. Focus on definitions, sections, and illustrations. Regular reading of bare acts alongside ICAI study material builds conceptual clarity.

• Business Mathematics:
  • Ratio and Proportion, Indices, and Logarithms
  • Equations — Linear, Quadratic, Simultaneous
  • Simple and Compound Interest, Annuities
  • Time Value of Money
  • Permutations and Combinations
  • Sets, Functions, and Relations
  • Limits and Continuity, Differentiation, Integration
•       Logical Reasoning:
  • Number Series, Coding and Decoding
  • Direction Tests, Blood Relations, Seating Arrangements
•       Statistics:
  • Statistical Description of Data, Frequency Distribution
  • Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
  • Correlation and Regression
  • Index Numbers, Time Series Analysis

Paper 3 tip: Quantitative Aptitude separates good students from toppers. Regular mock test practice under timed conditions is essential. Our students at CAPS Academy practice 50-60 MCQs daily in the final 30 days before the exam.

• Introduction to Business Economics — Meaning, Nature, Scope
• Theory of Demand and Supply — Determinants, Elasticity, Market Equilibrium
• Theory of Production and Cost — Production Function, Cost Curves, Returns to Scale
• Price Determination in Different Markets — Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Oligopoly
• Business Cycles — Phases, Theories, and Management
• Determination of National Income — Concepts, GDP, GNP, NNP
• Public Finance — Fiscal Policy, Government Revenue and Expenditure
• Money and Banking — Functions of Money, Commercial Banking, RBI and Monetary Policy
• Indian Economic Development — Structure and Key Features

Paper 4 tip: Economics MCQs are very concept-based. Avoid rote learning — understand cause-and-effect relationships. Graphs and diagrams (demand-supply, cost curves) are frequently tested.

Important: You need BOTH 40% in each individual paper AND 50% overall. Many students score well overall but fail because of one weak paper — this is the most common reason for not clearing CA Foundation in the first attempt.

1. Download and study the official ICAI study material for all four papers — this is your Bible for the CA Foundation exam. Supplement with coaching notes, never replace.
2. Build a daily study schedule — minimum 6-8 hours of focused study per day for the 4-month preparation period. Divide time based on your weak subjects.
3. Solve ICAI’s Revision Test Papers (RTPs) and Mock Test Papers (MTPs) — these are released before every exam and are the closest replica of actual exam questions.
4. Join a structured CA Foundation coaching class — this is where most students make or break their attempt. The right coaching provides accountability, doubt resolution, and test series that ICAI study material alone cannot.
5. Fill the CA Foundation Exam Form on time — registration and exam form filing are separate. Even after registration, you must fill the exam form before each attempt’s deadline and pay ₹1,500.
6. Take at least 3 full mock tests under exam conditions in the 30 days before the exam — timing, stamina, and accuracy all need to be practised together.

Most students need 4-6 months of focused preparation to clear CA Foundation in their first attempt. The mandatory ICAI study period is 4 months — but serious students start their conceptual preparation even before registration, especially for Accounting (Paper 1), which requires the most practice.

Ready to Start Your CA Journey in Nagpur?

Join CAPS Academy — Nagpur’s trusted CA Foundation coaching institute. Our next batch for the September 2026 CA Foundation exam is now forming. Seats are limited.

Visit: capsacademy.in | Call us to know batch dates, timing, and fees for CA Foundation coaching in Nagpur.