CA Foundation Course Fee Details: 2025

By IIC Lakshya

24 Sep 2025

The course for Chartered Accountancy (CA) as a profession is one of the most respected in commerce. On completing the Foundation course, one can pursue CA. The Foundation cou₹e is a CA’s first step, and a separate exam is conducted for Class 12 students. A frequently asked question seems to be, “What is the total cost of pursuing the CA Foundation in India?”

This blog aims to shed light on the complete CA Foundation course fees in India and its subdivisions, such as fees for registration, examinations, assistance materials, coaching, and other services, in logical order, while avoiding obscurities.

What is CA Foundation?

The first segment of CA is known as the CA Foundation. It is a course from the Chartered Accountants Institute of India, ICAI. Students from any stream (Commerce, Science, or Arts with Mathematics) can register after Class 12. The subjects in the examination include Accounting, Law of Business, Business, Mathematics, and Economics.

Though we discuss so much about the structure, in this case, it is beneficial to state that the CA Foundation is not arbitrary. The CA Foundation fees are set by ICAI. However, the total expense may vary depending on whether you take coaching and other add-on support.

CA Foundation Course Fees in India (2025)

Compared to many other professional courses, the CA Foundation course fees in India are still quite cheap. Even students from low financial backgrounds can dream about being Chartered Accountants with the ICAI fees of ₹10,700. In this case, the cost difference is primarily due to coaching, which is optional and not mandatory.

Students who wish to undertake CA should have a fee plan, as there is no other way to manage the other expenses. CA is not a cost-centric course, but is more of an investment that provides recognition and career stability all across the world.

The fees for the CA Foundation cou₹e are categorized as follows:

1. Registration Fees

Foundation Registration Fee is set at ₹9,000.

The payment is inclusive of official study material (Books + Online resources) as provided by ICAI.

2. Examination Fees

Special Examination Fees for:

Indian students: ₹1,500
Kathmandu Centre: ₹2,200
Ove₹eas centres: $325
Late Fee (if applicable): ₹600 (INR) / $10

3. Prospectus Fee

A One-time Fee of ₹200 is charged for the prospectus at the time of registration.

4. Journal Membership (Optional)

The students' journal by the ICAI is available at a fee of ₹200 (optional). A large number of students subscribe to it as it contains valuable information, updates & insights about the examinations.

CA Foundation Fee Summary in India

Here’s a summary table for the CA foundation fee:

Particulars	Fees (₹)
Registration Fee	9,000
Prospectus Fee	200
Student Journal	200
Examination fee	1,500
Total	10,900

Additional Costs

Although the official fees charged by the ICAI are quite minimal, students invariably incur extra expenses, which include:

1. Coaching/Tuition Fees

It is quite common for students to take coaching for the CA Foundation. Fees charged are determined by the standards of the institution:

Average coaching fees: ₹20,000 – ₹50,000 (All subjects)
It is common practice to pay less for Online coaching.

2. Study Material & Reference Books

Students who study ICAI material might end up spending ₹1,000 – ₹3,000 on Reference Books, Scanne₹ & Mock Test papers.

3. ICITSS (Not at the Foundation Level)

This training comes later (Intermediate level), which is why there is no extra cost at the Foundation stage.

4. Retake Spending

If one does not clear and needs to face the examination again:

₹1,500 (within the country)
Revalidation fee: After 3 years of registration, ₹500

Total Cost of CA Foundation in India

The ICAI fees, along with the requisite weighted coaching, add up to the baseline cost of the CA foundation.

Without coaching: ₹10,700 – ₹11,000
With coaching (depending on the institution and city): ₹30,000 – ₹60,000

When paired against an MBA, Law, and even International Accounting courses, the CA Foundation is one of the most affordable professional courses in India.

Why is the CA Foundation Course Affordable?

To ensure people from all walks of life can access the course, ICAI receives significant recognition as it is an institution formed from a Parliament-passed Act.
To make it possible, the goal is to ensure talented students from all over India can practice Chartered Accountancy.
The primary variation in cost arises from the fact that students choose private coaching.

FAQs on CA Foundation

What is the total CA Foundation fee in India?

The total CA Foundation fee (including registration and exam fee) is ₹10,700, which is ₹10,900 with an optional subscription to the journal.

Is Coaching Compulsory for CA Foundation?

No, coaching is not a requirement. However, considering the extensive syllabus and the level of guidance that is needed, it is unde₹tandable why so many students choose coaching.