The main routes
| Course | What it is | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| CA | Chartered Accountancy: audit, tax, accounting. Run by ICAI, in stages: Foundation, Intermediate, Final, with practical training | Register after Class 10; sit Foundation exams, held twice a year |
| B.Com | A degree in commerce, with accounting, finance, tax and business law | 2nd PUC marks, college by college |
| BBA | A degree in business management | 2nd PUC marks, some use entrance tests |
| CS | Company Secretary (ICSI): company law and governance | Own entry exam; check ICSI |
| CMA | Cost and Management Accountancy (ICMAI): costing and management | Own entry exam; check ICMAI |
| BCA | Computer applications degree | Eligibility varies; some ask for Maths |
| Economics, B.A. or B.Sc | Economics, statistics, data | 2nd PUC marks; Maths helps |
| Law | 5-year integrated law degrees | CLAT and other law tests, open to all streams |
How the CA route works
ICAI allows provisional registration for CA Foundation after a student passes Class 10. The Foundation exams are held in two sessions a year (around May and June, and around November and December). After Foundation come Intermediate and Final, with practical training, called articleship, along the way.
CA is a long road. It rewards steady effort over years, and many students need more than one attempt at a stage. We do not quote pass rates because they change by session. If your child wants CA, plan for a degree alongside it so that there is a qualification either way.
The ICAI site has the current scheme, fees and dates. Read it before you plan.
Degree routes
B.Com is the commonest route. It is usually three years, but colleges differ, so check the length and the specialisation. BBA suits students who want management and sales roles. Both are chosen by the college's own admission, mostly on 2nd PUC marks.
Students who like computers can take BCA after Commerce at many colleges, particularly after CEBA, which includes Computer Science. Students who like data should keep Maths in the combination.
What each Commerce combination keeps open
- MSBA is Basic Maths, Statistics, Business Studies and Accountancy. The Maths and Statistics help with CA and economics.
- SEBA is Statistics, Economics, Business Studies and Accountancy. Economics-heavy, so it suits economics degrees and finance.
- CEBA is Computer Science, Economics, Business Studies and Accountancy. It adds computing for BCA and for roles that mix accounting with technology.
All three lead to CA, B.Com and BBA. The fourth subject nudges the rest. See the Hebbal pages for MSBA, SEBA and CEBA for the detail.
How to choose
- Does your child want CA? Plan to register early and study with a coach who knows the ICAI scheme.
- Is the goal a degree and a job at 21? Pick B.Com or BBA at a college with a good department, and add a professional course on the side.
- Is your child unsure? B.Com keeps CS, CMA, MBA and CA open later.
- Does your child like data? Keep Statistics or Maths in the combination.
Commerce does not lead to engineering or to NEET medicine. Both ask for Science in Class 12. If your child wants either, see which stream after 10th before choosing.
Sources
Official pages, checked 20 October 2026. Rules and dates change, so read the current notice before you plan.