ICAI to launch accounting technician course soon

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) In keeping with the times, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is planning to launch an accounting technician course that will provide a second tier of accounting personnel in the country.

The decision to offer the course has been taken by the Council of ICAI at its meeting here on March 27-29 in response to the demands thrown up by an increasingly demanding economy and vacancies for accountants at the operational level in Business Process Operations (BPOs) and Knowledge Process Operations (KPOs), ICAI President Ved Jain said today.

Now, students can register for the entrance exam of the course after clearing Class X exams and appear for the eligibility test on completion of Class XII level. The test will be held twice a year.

The proposed course structure will comprise papers on accounting, law, general commercial knowledge and business communication, cost accounting and financial management and taxation (direct and indirect).

The ICAI President said approval for the new course is expected withing the next three months and the first sesssion will start from August next.

Practical training will be provided to students numbering between 30,000 and 50,000 and the fees will be "nominal" and are not expected to exceed Rs 10,000.

Details about the proposed course are being worked out and will be ready for launch once it receives the government's nod.

"There is a huge demand for accounting technicians in the country," Mr Jain said, adding that the course will attempt to bridge the gap between theoretical accounting and practical accounting.

So far, the course is available in New Zealand, Ireland, Hong Kong and Britain since 2004.

The institute is further planning to have a three-month residential programme for Chartered Accountant students who have either passed the Final exams or are sittting for the finals to enable them to develop professional skills.

It aims to equip them with corporate communication, strategic management and other job-oriented skills through a multi-disciplinary approach.

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