ICAI Revises Eligibility Criteria for Empanelment of Industrial Training Organisations
ICAI has now mandated higher financial thresholds and among other renewed norms to ensure competent industrial exposure for articled assistants.
The Members & Students Services Directorate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced a revision of the applicable eligibility criteria for empanelment of organisations authorised to impart Industrial Training to articled assistants undertaking the CA course.
The revised norms, which have been introduced under Regulation 51(2)(b) of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988 shall be retrospectively effective from 1st January 2026 and is a step taken by the Institute to provide uniform quality and training structure in industrial training opportunities to articled assistants.
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Following are the revisions brought about by the ICAI:
As per the revised guidelines, any financial, commercial, or industrial undertaking may qualify for empanelment if it fulfills any one of the following financial criteria laid down by ICAI:
- Minimum fixed assets of ₹10 crore, or
- Minimum total turnover of ₹50 crore, or
- Minimum paid-up share capital of ₹1 crore and net worth of ₹5 crore (to be met jointly).
Additionally, eligible organisations must have a minimum of two full-time Chartered Accountants, each having been a member of ICAI for a continuous period of at least three years.
Industrial training must be undertaken under a member of ICAI, provided that the articled assistant has informed their principal at least three months in advance to the date of commencement of the Industrial Training.
The duration can range from nine to twelve months, ensuring adequate industrial exposure before qualification.
Eligibility for Industrial Trainers and Trainees
Articled assistants who have cleared the Intermediate (Professional Competence) or IntermediateExamination and completed at least twelve months of practical training shall be eligible for industrial training.
An Associate who has been a member of the ICAI for a period of at least three years may train one industrial trainee at a time, while a Fellow Member can train two.
Validity and Renewal
Eligible organizations will receive Empanelment for a period of five years, following which renewal is mandatory subject to prevailing eligibility norms. Organisations completing five years are required to apply afresh to continue engaging trainees, and have been advised by the institute to ensure timely compliance to prevent disruptions.
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Other Key Provisions
- An Agreement of Training shall be entered into in the form 104 approved by the Council.
- On satisfactory completion of Industrial Training, the member imparting such training shall forthwith issue a Completion Certificate to the trainee in the form 105 approved by the Council and forward a copy thereof to the Secretary.
- The period of Industrial Training under this regulation shall be treated as service under articles for all purposes of these Regulations, provided the prescribed completion certificate is submitted.
- An articled assistant may also serve as an industrial trainee for a period from six to twelve months in any foreign Country under a member of the accountancy body in that country recognized by the International Federation of Accountants in such manner as may be determined by the Council from time to time.
- A member may depute an industrial trainee for a period of up to three months in any foreign country in such manner as may be decided by the Council.
- Industrial trainees shall be paid a monthly stipend as mutually agreed, subject to a minimum of ₹15,000 per month.
- In the event of any violation of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988, including those relating to excess leave during Industrial Training, ICAI reserves the right to discontinue further registrations and to de-empanel the organization from imparting Industrial Training.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in this regulation, an articled assistant who is already undergoing industrial training, on or before the commencement of the Chartered Accountants (Amendment) Regulations, 2023, shall be eligible to continue and complete the remaining period of industrial training as per agreement of training entered into under sub-regulation (6).
ICAI has also advised any queries regarding the renewed eligibility criteria to be directed to sroart@icai.in.
This structured revision marks ICAI’s continued effort to maintain a balance between academic rigor and practical exposure, reinforcing its commitment to fostering professional competence among trainees.
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