More and more women in India are becoming independent. This marks the beginning of a hike in India’s progress chart. Here is a brief process for women to get into some of the most popular professions.
Law
A lawyer, depending upon the job profile, may represent their clients at court, provide legal assistance and legal consultancy service, join judicial services, indulge in legal research or work on legal drafts and documents. Here are the steps one needs to follow to become a lawyer.
1. Choose the appropriate law course
A bachelor’s in law (BA LLB) from a recognised institute under the Bar Council of India is the minimum qualification to become a lawyer in India. The course can be pursued in two different ways:
- An integrated law course: It can be pursued right after Class 12 and pursued from any recognised board regardless of your stream. It is a five-year dual degree programme. For instance, one can pursue a BA LLB along with B.Com, B.Sc. etc. The student has to be above 20 years of age and have a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in your high school examination.
- BA LLB: It is a traditional course in law and can be pursued after graduation from a recognised university. It is a three-year course. A minimum aggregate of 50% marks is required and there is no age limit.
2. Crack the relevant entrance test to secure admission
In order to secure admission to a university, you need to secure the required marks in entrance tests. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is the most popular law entrance test in India. Other than CLAT, there are State-wise and institute-wise law entrance tests such as AILET, LSAT, AMU and DU law entrance tests.
After cracking the relevant entrance test, you will find a college or university for your course. Depending upon the course, you will spend 3-5 years to complete the degree. Once you complete it, you may either start practising law or go for further studies like LCM, MBL and PG diploma courses.
3. Get enrolled with the relevant State Bar Council
After obtaining your law degree from a BCI-recognised institute/university, if you plan to start a law practice, it is necessary to register with your State Bar Council (SBC). After applying and enrolling with the SBC, one will get a provisional license to practice law. This provisional license will be valid for a period of six months.
4. Appear for the AIBE Exam
After enrolling with the SBC, one may fill an application form for the AIBE exam. It is used to test the aptitude of graduates. The AIBE application has to be sent to the BCI in Delhi. On clearing the exam, the BCI will pass on the result to your SBC. Then your SBC will convert the provisional license into a final license.
Now, you can practice law in any part of India, but the license has to be renewed every five years.
Chartered Accountancy
You can start your path to becoming a chartered accountant (CA) either after your Class 12 or even after completing your graduation or post-graduation. The paths are similar but if you are a graduate or post-graduate, you can skip a few steps that are compulsory for someone who has just completed high school.
Foundation Course route (After Class 12)
- Enrol yourself in the CA Foundation Course after completing school.
- Complete a four-month study period and appear in the CA Foundation Examination.
- Enrol yourself for the CA Intermediate Course after clearing the CA Foundation Exam.
- Complete four weeks of the Integrated Course on IT and Soft Skills (ICITSS). This course needs to be completed before your articleship.
- Complete your eight-month study course of CA Intermediate and appear for the exam. There will be two groups of exams. You need to pass at least one before moving forward.
- Join a three-year article training after passing either of the groups of your CA Intermediate exam and complete the ICITSS before starting your articleship.
- Clear the remaining group of CA Intermediate exam (if any).
- Enrol yourself for the CA Final Course.
- Complete four weeks of AICITSS in the last two years of your articleship before the final exam.
- Appear for the final exam either after completing your articleship or during the last six months of it.
- Complete your article training, in case you decide to appear for the final exam while serving your articleship.
- Clear the CA Final Examination.
- Enrol yourself as a member of the ICAI to be designated as a CA.
Direct Entry Route (After graduation or post-graduation)
- Enrol yourself for the CA Intermediate Course.
- Complete four weeks of ICITSS. This course needs to be completed before your articleship begins.
- Register for a three-year articleship or practical training.
- Appear for the CA Intermediate Examination after nine months of your training.
- Clear both groups of the CA Intermediate Examination.
- Register for the CA final course.
- Complete four weeks of AICITSS in the last two years of your articleship and before appearing for the exam.
- Appear for the final exam either after completing your articleship or in the last six months of it.
- Complete your three-year training.
- Clear the CA Final Examination.
- Enrol yourself as a member of the ICAI to be designated as a CA.
Cost Management Accountancy (CMA)
The CMA programme comprises three levels. One only becomes eligible for a higher level after they have passed the previous level. The following are the three stages of the CMA course:
Level 1: CMA Foundation Level
Level 2: CMA Intermediate Level
Level 3: CMA Final Level
Course Duration
The duration of the CMA course is flexible. This means that there is no designated time period to complete the course. It completely depends upon the person’s ability and focus, and the course can be finished from a period of six months to four years.
Eligibility Criteria For The Three Stages Of CMA
If you want to apply for the CMA programme, you must be well aware of the eligibility criteria for the CMA course.
CMA Foundation Level
- It is mandatory to pass the Class 12 examination.
- You will be eligible if you hold a national diploma in commerce education by the AICTE or any other state board for technical education.
CMA Intermediate Level
- It is mandatory to pass the Class 12 examination.
- You must have passed the Foundation course from ICAI.
- You must also hold an undergraduate degree in any discipline, except fine arts.
CMA Final Level
- You must pass the CMA intermediate level to become eligible for this level.
CMA Course Registration And Fee
The CMA course registrations end at least four months prior to the day of the examination of the intended level. You can only apply for the stage that you are eligible for.
When To Apply For The CMA Course
The registration for the ICAI course is open for the whole year. However, you will have to register four months prior to the intended term. For instance, if you are interested in appearing for the December term exam, you will have to apply before July 31 of the same year. Likewise, if you are interested in the June term exam, you must register before January 31 of the same year.
Where To Apply For The CMA Course
In order to register for the course, you will have to submit a postal application form, along with the relevant documents to your respective Regional Councils. Every Indian state is divided into four regions and comes under the regional council of that area. The Regional Council of Western India is in Mumbai, Southern India is situated in Chennai, Eastern India in Kolkata and Northern India in New Delhi.
CMA Course Registration Fee
The level-wise registration fee for the course is mentioned below.
Company Secretary (CS)
There are three stages in the CS course:
- Foundation Programme
- Executive Programme
- Professional Programme
Eligibility Criteria
- The Foundation Programme can be pursued by 10+2 pass or equivalent students of Arts, Science or Commerce stream (excluding fine arts).
- The Executive Programme can be pursued by a graduate of any stream, except fine arts.
- The Professional Programme can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS course.
So, if you are a 10+2 passed student, you must start with the Foundation Programme and follow it up with the Executive and Professional Programmes. And if you are a bachelor’s degree holder, you may choose to pursue the Executive Programme and follow it up with the Professional Programme.
Admission Process
The CS entrance exams are held twice a year: June and December.
Dates For Admission
For the Foundation programme, the last date to get admission is March 31 (for the December examination in the same year) and September 30 (for the June examination next year)
For the Executive Programme (both modules), the last date to get admission is February 28 (for the December examination in the same year) and August 31 (for the June examination next year).
For the professional Programme (single module), the last date to get admission May 31 (for the December examination in the same year) and November 30 (for the June examination next year).
Course Content And Exam Pattern
- The CS Foundation Programme consists of four papers.
- The CS Executive Programme consists of seven papers divided over two modules.
- The CS Professional Programme consists of eight papers divided into four modules.
Fees
