CMA Foundation

Eligibility for Admission

1. A candidate should have passed Class 10 or equivalent from a recognized Board or Institution ; or
2. Passed the Senior Secondary School Examination under the 10+2 scheme of a recognized Board or an Examination recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto or has passed the National Diploma in Commerce Examination held by the All India Council for Technical Education or any State Board of Technical Education under the authority of the said All India Council, or the Diploma in Rural Service Examination conducted by the National Council of Rural Higher Education;
3. Any Candidate who has passed the Foundation examination conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India will be exempted from Foundation Course & vice versa ; or
4. Any Candidate who has passed the Intermediate Examination (by whatever name called) conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India will be exempted from Foundation Course. Similarly, any candidate who has passed the Intermediate examination will be exempted from Common Proficiency Test (i.e. entry level examination, by whatever name called) conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Exemption from CMA - foundation

A person desirous of becoming a Registered Student need to apply to the Institute in the prescribed Form, (enclosed herewith), with appropriate fees and to produce documentary evidence to the satisfaction of the Council that he/she has passed any of the following Examinations :

1. A degree Examination of any recognized University or equivalent;
2. A degree (honours) Examination of any recognized University;
3. Pursuing Engineering Course (having completed 2nd year/ Semester IV/equivalent) or Qualified Engineers-Direct Admission to Intermediate Course.
4. A Master Degree Examination of any recognized University or any of the Indian Institute of Management;
5. The Final Examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India or England and Wales, or Scotland or Ireland or the Final Examination of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, London, or of the Final Examination of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India; Final Examination of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, U.K.
6. The Foundation Course Examination of this Institute;
7. Entry Level-Part I Examination of Certificate in Accounting Technicians (CAT) course of this Institute;
8. Entry Level-Part I Examination and Competency Level Part II Examination of Certificate in Accounting Technicians (CAT) course of this Institute can seek admission to Intermediate Course of Institute;
9. Section ‘A’ and Section ‘B’ Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India) or equivalent;
10. Subordinate Accounts Service Examination conducted by the Central/State Government Organisations;
11. Part-I and Part-II of Banking Examinations styled C.A.I.I.B.;
12. Any other examinations as may be recognized by the Council for the purpose of admission as a registered student of the Institute.
13. Qualified in the Foundation Course Examination conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
14. Intermediate (by whatever name called) Examination qualified students of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Procedure to take admission in CMA - foundation

1. Prospectus along with the Admission Form will be available at Regional Council Offices, Chapters, Recognized Oral Coaching Centres (ROCCs) & CMA Support Centres
2. A candidate seeking admission as a student should submit duly filled in Admission Form and Identity Card (which are enclosed in the prospectus) to the concerned Regional Council/Chapter/ Recognized Oral Coaching Centres (ROCCs)/ CMA Support Centres
3. AStudents from foreign countries should submit the forms to the Headquarters only
4. Copies of document giving the proof of qualification and age are also to be furnished
5. Admission must be completed at least (4) four months prior to the commencement of Examination
6. A student will be issued an Identification Number which will be valid for 3 (three) years along with the Identity Card
7. Admission can also be taken online. For details visit https://eicmai.in/students-new/Home.aspx

Documents to be enclosed with application form

1. Passport Photo (JPG/JPEG | 200 KB)
2. Specimen Signature (JPG/JPEG | 100 KB)
3. Age Proof (PDF | 300 KB)
4. 10th Pass Marksheet (PDF | 300 KB)
5. 12th Pass Marksheet (PDF | 300 KB)

When to apply

For June term examination

31st January of the same calendar year

For June term examination

31st July of the same calendar year

FEE details

1. Registration Fee of CMA Foundation Course Rs.6000.
2. Examination Fee of CMA Foundation Course Rs.1200.

Syllabus for CMA Foundation Course have been divided into four Papers

1. Fundamentals of Economics and Management (Paper-1)
2. Fundamentals of Accounting (Paper-2)
3. Fundamentals of Laws and Ethics (Paper-3)
4. Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics (Paper-4)

Oral Vs. Postal Scheme

Postal Coaching

• A student desirous of undergoing Postal Coaching need to opt for same at the time of admission in Foundation
• Foreign Student shall have to undergo Tuition through Postal Coaching only.
• Application in the prescribed form must be sent at Headquarters to Directorate of Studies,
• “THE INSTITUTE OF COST ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA”, CMA Bhawan, 12, Sudder Street, Kolkata-700016, India
• The Identification Number/Registration Number should be clearly and correctly quoted in all correspondence with the Directorate of Studies, Kolkata and the Regional Council
• Any change in student’s address should immediately be communicated to the Directorate of Studies at Headquarters and the respective Regional Council
• Enrolment for coaching (Postal or Oral) must be completed at least 4 (four) months prior to the month of Examination
• Study Materials for each subject are provided to the students

Oral Coaching

• A student desirous of pursuing the course under Oral Coaching has to get admitted in a Regional Council or Chapter or Recognized Oral Coaching Centre or CMA Support Centre with coaching facilities at the time of admission in Foundation
• Duration of Oral Coaching for Foundation course or a group in Intermediate/ Final Course is 4 months having a minimum of 240 lecture hours for Lectures and Tutorial classes per group
• Each lecture hour shall be of 45 minutes duration
• A student has to appear for examination for each subject conducted by the Regional Council/ Chapter/ Oral Coaching Centre.

A. “Students opting Postal Coaching Scheme can –

• Register and pay on-line, either by credit card, debit card or Net Banking;
• Intermediate & Final Students can avail the installment facility under Syllabus 2016.
• Deposit the prescribed fee in cash at any branch of Punjab National Bank, IDBI Bank or Central Bank of India (on specified challan, available in the students download section at www.icmai.in)

B. Students opting Oral Coaching Scheme can –

• Register and pay on-line, either by credit card, debit card or Net Banking;
• Intermediate & Final Students can avail the installment facility under Syllabus 2016.
• Deposit the prescribed fee in cash at any branch of Punjab National Bank, IDBI Bank or Central Bank of India (on specified challan, available in the students download section at www.icmai.in).

Passing Criteria

It is compulsory to score a minimum of 40 marks in each paper and obtain an aggregate of 200 marks taking all four papers together.