CA Foundation · exam guide
CA Foundation Eligibility
Checked against ICAI's official pages, as of 12 October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm on the official site before you act.
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You can register for CA Foundation after passing Class 10, but you can sit the Foundation exam only after you have appeared in the Class 12 (10+2) exam and completed four months of registration.
- Registration in the Foundation Course is open to students who have passed the Class 10 exam of a body constituted by law in India, or an exam recognised by the Central or a State Government as equivalent.
- Students who register while in Class 11 or Class 12 get their first Foundation attempt only after appearing in the Class 12 exam.
- To sit the Foundation exam, a candidate must have passed or appeared in the Senior Secondary (10+2) exam of a recognised board and upload the Class 12 marksheet or admit card on the Self Service Portal.
- A candidate must be registered with the Board of Studies for at least four months before the first day of the exam month.
- Commerce graduates or postgraduates with at least 55% marks, other graduates or postgraduates with at least 60% marks, and students who have passed the Intermediate exam of ICMAI or ICSI are exempt from Foundation and can join CA Intermediate directly.