The ITSS and Advance level ITSS training are before and after practical training. The first training is after CA intermediate and before practical training. The second level of practical training is after two years during the CA final. The period of training is two weeks. The advanced level course has a practical implication. Here the students learn about a database system and ERP system as the base to IT skills. The amendments made to the chartered accountant’s regulations, 1988 in 2022 is called chartered accountants regulations, 2022. The word in the regulation 29D regarding article ship training is “for becoming eligible for final examination” will be replaced by the word “before applying for membership of the institute”. The students appearing for the 2022 final examination, need to apply for article ship training before May 31, 2022. The students complete the CA final examination and then apply for the advanced level IT and soft skill training. After completing the training, the students take up the online examination for the assessment. This blog talks about the amendment and the importance of IT and soft skills training. Read further about Complete Information & FAQs about AICITSS issued by ICAI.
2022 soft skill training for Chartered accountancy students:
Scheme of education and training – ICAI had recently announced the residential program on soft skill development. The fee is 48,000. The venue for girls is the Centre of Excellence, Hyderabad. The venue for boys is the centre of excellence, Jaipur. The training starts on the 4th of April and ends on the 30th of April. The students who have completed the practical training on December 2021 or January 2021 are eligible to write the assessment on March 26 to 28, 2022. The registration window is open from the 3rd of March. The registration window is closed on the 10th of March. The final mark sheet of the students includes the grades from the practical assessment.The student needs to attend to the questions of objective, subjective type and submit the project report after the training.
Amendment:
The recent amendment from ICAI conveys that without including practical training assessment the institute will do the final level of assessment. The assessment marks are awarded to the students after completing the final level. The students who have completed intermediate and first year of article ship training can join the four weeks of the residential program. Amendment No.1-CA (7)/198/2021 dated 4th March 2022 States that an IT and soft skill completion certificate is not mandatory for applying for CA membership.
FAQs on the ICAI computer-based test:
Home-based online test tests the candidate from home or remote proctoring. For writing home-based online examinations, students need four hours of power backup, desktop or laptop, 1920X1080 screen resolution, windows seven operating system, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox with the latest version, 1.00 Mbps speed internet connection. There is only a minimal difference between the home-based and centre-based examinations. Students need to write the first-level practical assessment test for two hours with 75 marks. The second level is for hundred marks and two hours. The compulsory and the selection module are the two types of modules. The subjects available for the selection module are direct tax, internal audit and indirect taxation. The compulsory module consists of a test with fifty marks. The next level is the selection module. It examines the students with 25 marks. Accounting and auditing are the compulsory modules of the examination. If the grades are poor, the student can re-appear with a fee of 200 rupees. Practical training certificates has four types of grades. The following discrimination explains the grades: A grade awarded for 80 percentage marks, B grade is for sixty percentage mark, C grade is for forty percentage mark, and D grade is for below forty marks. The grade of the students expresses their dedication to the job.
Importance of IT skills and communication skills:
The demand for the complete advanced integrated course on IT and soft skills differ according to the corporate world dealings. Article ship is the golden period in the life of a CA student. They learn the importance of communication and technology only during the practical training. The following points entertain the readers about IT and communication skills:
• Leadership and creativity skills develop the soft skills required for the chartered accountancy profession. Team co-ordination and precise presentation are essential for the auditing profession.
• IT skills help the auditors to manage time efficiently.
• Communication skills develop the focus towards the detail and develop the problem-solving skills.
• IT skills help the auditors to handle the multi-tasking environments.
• Communication skills improve the client relationship and business intelligence.
• Chartered accountants adapt to the challenges of the workplace with experience and skill-based training. The nightmare with the high profile job is easy to handle with the IT and soft skill training.
• Reading the client’s mind-set and adapting to the situation will ease the students to communicate the findings efficiently.
• The auditor’s views help for the internal control. Professional scepticism of the auditor helps the shareholders and stakeholders of the organization.
• IT skills help for continuous professional development. Technology is the dynamic backup support for the finance industry. So, by gaining IT skills students visualise continuous development.
Final words:
The article ship training underwent before and after the examination has no differences. Article ship training is for acquiring the dedication and practical learning mind-set. Students will understand the corporate world after completing practical training. In any profession, the knowledge and professional attitude differ. IT and soft skills reflect the professional attitude of the student. The amendment from ICAI regarding soft skills and IT training helps the students to plan their studies. The management team or auditors team require technical knowledge and communication skills. The IT and soft skill training bridge the gap in the chartered accountancy course.