NAGPUR: The Indian Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has relaxed the norms for students aspiring to become chartered accountants. Until now an aspirant had to clear common proficiency test for chartered accountancy (CPT) after Std XII or graduation. Now there is an option of becoming a CA without clearing CPT. The existing option will continue to be available.

ICAI president G Ramaswamy told the media on Saturday that students who have completed two years of graduation can directly appear for Intermediate Proficiency Competency Course (IPCC) - which is the final step in becoming a CA - after doing apprenticeship. Even those students who have not appeared for Std XII exam but have done a diploma and a vocational course followed by two years of graduation also need not appear for CPT.

Ramaswamy further said that ICAI would not provide question papers to students 15 minutes before the examination began so that they go through the question papers and strategize their answers.