Articleship
The mandatory practical training period, currently two years, that CA students must complete under a practicing chartered accountant before becoming eligible to qualify.
Articleship is ICAI's mandatory practical training requirement for CA students, currently two years under the latest scheme, served under a practicing chartered accountant, the 'principal,' at a firm. It's meant to pair the technical syllabus with hands-on exposure to audit, tax, and advisory work.
Students become eligible to appear for the CA Final exam during the last part of their articleship rather than only after it ends, which is why the practical experience is designed to overlap with Final-level exam preparation, not follow it. The quality of this training varies significantly by firm and principal, since the day-to-day work assigned isn't standardized the way the exam syllabus is.
This glossary entry is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax, legal, or financial advice. Rules and rates change, so consult a qualified Chartered Accountant for advice specific to your situation.