Difference between CA PCC, IPCC and CA Intermediate

If you are wondering what is the difference between CA PCC and IPCC, then let us tell you there is none. They both pertain to CA Intermediate course where IPCC is the improvised course of PCC, that came into effect from the year 2017. CA PCC and IPCC are older version of CA Intermediate course.

If you are confused between CA PCC or IPCC and CA Intermediate, then let us tell you there is no difference between them.This CA Intermediate course was previously called CA PCC or IPCC. Over the last 10 years, the ICAI revised the course to meet the changing needs of the market and rename the upgraded course as CA Intermediate. In this article, you will know about the difference between CA PCC, IPCC, and CA Intermediate.

To become a Chartered Accountant (CA), students have to clear three levels of the course. The CA Intermediate course is the second stage of the chartered accountancy curriculum. Aspirants who register for the CA course after completing their Class 12, have to complete the CA Foundation course level to move to CA Intermediate level; however, Commerce graduates can directly register for the CA Intermediate course. 

What is CA Intermediate Course?

The ICAI CA Intermediate course is the second level of the Chartered Accountancy course conducted by the ICAI. The course level trains the aspirants in working knowledge of all the core and allied subjects inlcluded in the CA curriculum and allows the candidate with nine months of preparation before taking up the ICAI CA Intermediate exam.

Significant changes were made ICAI Intermediate exam syllabus, after it replaced the IPC examination in 2017. The subjects that are included in the CA Intermediate new course are:

• Accounting
• Business Laws, Ethics and Communication
• Cost Accounting and Financial Management
• Taxation
• Advanced Accounting
• Auditing and Assurance
• Information Technology and Strategic Management
• Financial Management and Economics for Finance

Also, the ICAI CA Intermediate question paper now has two parts, Part-I comprising of objective questions of 30 marks and Part-II comprising of descriptive questions of 70 marks in each of the respective papers. Students appearing for the CA Intermediate examination should allow themselves at least eight months of study period after exam registration. The ICAI CA Intermediate exams are conducted in January, May and September every year.

Also Read: CA Intermediate exam pattern 2025

To clear the CA Intermediate course level, it is also important to start practical training in Information Technology and Orientation Programme after registering for the CA Inter exam. This training is mandatory for UG and PG students who are taking entry into the Chartered Accountancy course directly. It is mandatory to have 9 months of practical training before appearing for the CA Intermediate exam.

Also Read: CA Foundation vs CPT: What is the difference?

What is CA PCC?

The full form of CA PCC is Professional Competence Course. This course is not in effect anymore. The objective of the erstwhile PCC course was to lay a strong theoretical foundation for Chartered Accountants in their presentation and preparation of financial statements. The course also aimed to familiarize the students with the fundamentals of the computerized accounting system. The contents of the PPC course were:

• Advanced Accounting (100 Marks)
• Auditing and Assurance (100 Marks)
• Law, Ethics, and Communication (100 Marks) 
• Cost Accounting and Financial Management (100 Marks)
• Taxation (100 Marks)
• Information Technology and Strategic Management (100 Marks)

What is CA IPCC? 

The IPCC full form is CA is Integrated Professional Competence Course. The IPCC is an altered name of CA PCC exam under the new scheme of course. The IPCC CA examination can be seen as an improvised version of the PCC examination for Chartered Accountants in India. According to this scheme, a student who has cleared the CA Foundation can register for the IPCC, without article registration. The subjects included in the syllabus of the CA IPCC course were:

After clearing the Group-I papers of the IPCC CA, the aspirant could register for the articles. The period of the Article was for three years with PCC. Under the new scheme of IPCC, the student was eligible to appear for the final year examination during their last six months of their articleship. 

All the candidates who registered for the PCC examination on or before January 2009 were eligible to appear in the new version of the IPCC examination. The candidates had to complete nine months of the study course and a hundred hours of orientation course and Information Technology Training before taking up the final Group-II examination of CA Intermediate course.  

The registration for the CA Intermediate course is valid for only four years and can be revalidated to any number of times, for the next four years by paying a revalidation fee of Rs 400.

Eligibility for CA PCC or IPCC Examinations

• The candidate had to pass the CA Foundation examination
• The candidate had to enrol and register for theCA IPCC course
• The candidate had to complete nine months of study course
• Complete 100 hours of IT training
• Complete the orientation course and pass either Group-I or both the groups of the competence examination
• Register and work as an articled assistant for three years.
• Clear Group-II of the IPCC if not cleared before.

Completing CA IPCC or CA Intermediate will pave way for the CA Final course level:

• Appear for CA Final examination during the last six months of the training period
• Clear botht the groups of the CA Final examination
• Get CA certification
• Register with the ICAI as Chartered Accountant. 

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