A complete guidance for CA Articleship

The articleship is one of the most interesting and dynamic parts of the CA journey. It is a practical training of all the theory that a CA student has to learn through his course. A three year period of articleship is mandatory, according to the ICAI, the unique requirement of practical training is instrumental in shaping a well-rounded professional to ensure that students have an opportunity to acquire on-the-job work experience of a professional nature. Such a practical training:


  • Inculcates a disciplined attitude for hard work;

  • Develops necessary skills in applying theoretical knowledge to practical situations;

  • Provides exposure to overall socio-economic environment in which organizations operate; and

  • Develops ethical values.

It is clear that the articleship is absolutely mandatory for a CA student’s understanding of what it means to be a CA. Therefore, it is very important that you choose the right firm for your articleship. There are various pointers to be kept in mind while looking for the right firm or CA.


  • The cultural fit- It is very important for you to be a fit in the firm if you want to grow and learn. One cannot grow where they do not feel like they belong.

  • The kind of work available- Different firms take up different sorts of work. It is important to note which kind of work would you like to be experienced in before you take up the articleship.

  • Size of the firm- Bigger firms have more departmentalized work, whereas the mid sized and smaller firms will offer you a varied experience on multiple aspecs. You need to decide what you would like to work into and what career plans you have in order to make this choice.

  • Transfer- Do you wish to complete your articleship in a single firm or do you wish to transfer mid-way to have more varied experience? This is an individual choice as per the articles as it completely depends on one’s preferences.

  • Metro cities- As a rule of thumb, the CA firms in metro cities will have a lot more work than the ones in smaller towns. Therefore, opting for articleship in metro cities is a good option.

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There are a lot more things to consider for when you choose your articleship apart from the ones listed above. But it all boils down to what you prefer and what your plans for yourself are. Now comes the part where the CA firms accept you as their article. It is not enough for you to know which CA firm you want to complete your articleship in, but the CA firm must also want you as their article.

Let us take a look at what the attributes are which make the employers select their articles:

Conceptual Clarity

As a fresh CA article, the employers obviously do not expect you to know much. But what they do expect is for you to be clear on the concepts that you have learnt so far. No firm will want an article that they have to spend time training on the absolute basics. Therefore, be sure to have a thorough conceptual clarity on at least the important topics like Accounting Standards, Standards on Auditing, Basic Tax rules and Financial Concepts before you apply for articleship.

Basic Communication skills

An article can have a variety for work but is generally  a coordinating factor for the employers. Therefore, employers generally look for an article who has at least basic communication skills. Additionally, the employers may require the article to coordinate with the clients or partners, which also makes communication skills a necessary requirement.

Computer skills

A lot of the documentation work is done digitally now. Additionally, many CA firms use software like Tally for their working. Therefore, relevant computer knowledge is a must especially Microsoft Office for CA students before they apply to the articleship.

Academic achievements

Although, not many employers would stress on good marks as an eligibility criteria, better marks show a good grasp on the subjects and higher understanding. Therefore, a preference would be definitely given to candidates with better academic achievements as compared to those with average scores.

Willingness to learn

Almost all employers look for articles who are willing to learn over those who believe that they already know everything. Remember that no matter how good you are, there is always more to learn and be excited about the opportunity to learn. Treat learning as a stepping stone for your career.

Self-awareness

Employers prefer articles who know their strengths and weaknesses and can use it for their own benefit. Do not try to oversell yourself as it may just lead the employer to believe that you are pompous or ignorant of your weaknesses. Rather be honest about your observations and share your plans with the potential employer. Honesty may have a much deeper impact on a potential employer than your quips to impress them.

Pro-activeness

A lot of people are good at following orders. Doing exactly as you are told is not very difficult. But being proactive at work and taking initiative is a quality that employers look forward to when they are hiring new articles. Therefore, remember to pitch in your ideas or thoughts when discussing anything or to ask questions when you are unclear. This shows that you are interested in what is happening rather than being a passive member in the discussion. The employers are looking for a potential employee not an audience member.

The articleship is an important step towards achieving your dream to be a CA. In this endeavour, be careful of your choices, as they will dictate your future choices and opportunities. A good articleship can make or break your career. We hope that the above mentioned information helps you get a little closer to your goal.

08-Nov-2017




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