CA course duration may be reduced

The recommendations to revamp the course are expected to be finalised next month and the new curriculum is likely to be in place by May 2006.

"We are reviewing the entry age into the course and considering a reduction in its duration as it takes nearly five years for a student to complete it. We are also revamping the syllabus," Kamlesh Vikamsey ICAI president told Business Standard.

The proposed changes include reduction in the entry age for taking practical training and an increase in the training period to three-and"�a-half years from the existing three years.

Students will be able to begin practical training after passing the PE I exam after school and take up the intermediate course or the PE II course after 18 months of training.

This will reduce the course duration as in the current scheme, students can begin practical training only after clearing the PE II stage.

The students of PE I and PE II,who are currently allowed five attempts to clear the entrance test,are expected to get 10 attempts under the revised course.

ICAI has over 34,000 students each in the PE I and PE II course and over 11,000 students in the final course.

The move to reduce the entry age is a shift to the scheme that was prevalent before 2001 when students could begin practical training after clearing the foundation course.

The revised course will increase emphasis on case studies and business ethics. "We are also examining the number of papers in each group. The report will be finalised soon and then submitted to the government," Vikamsey said.

ICAI has over 1.2 lakh members and the move to revise the curriculum is aimed at making the course attractive for students.