Importance of Articleship in CA: Necessity or Burden

The importance of Articleship in CA is as vital as giving examinations in CA. The Articleship period earlier was three years now in the new scheme introduced by icai the articleship period has been shortened from three years to two years giving many benefits to CA Aspirants, but the struggle doesn’t end here because often it is observed that CA Aspirants takes their articleship period lightly or choose dummy option for their articleship which may benefit them in the short run but prove to have repercussions in long run.

In this article, we will acknowledge the fact of whether the Importance of Articleship in CA is a necessity or a burden.

Articleship in CA: Reasons for Necessity 

• Practical Exposure: Articleship in CA provides practical exposure and hands-on experience in various subject-related matters like GST, Income Tax, and other financial matters which will help you shortly and make you job-ready. 
• Competitive  Environment:   Articleship in CA develops a competitive environment for CA Aspirants as they get a chance to interact and work with fellow CA Aspirants which develops a competitive edge among students and the desire to grow themselves and transform themselves into working professionals.
• Differentiated Learnings: Articleship in CA focuses on differentiated learnings, students are allowed to work on different tasks and gain practical exposure, and they are not restricted from doing the same work for the entire duration of their articleship period.
• Client’s Interaction: Articleship in CA helps students with client interaction during business meetings they are allowed to sit and analyze the complexities faced by a client and drive their necessary feedback this exercise not only helps students to learn opportunities but also develop strong analytical skills required to tackle client and their demands.
• Regular Audit Exposure: Articleship in CA allows students to visit different locations and cities during Audit Season for regular audit exposure to students which is not only a thrilling experience in itself but a real-life example of how Audit Work is done. 
• Strong built-in profile: Articleship in CA develops a strong built-in profile which helps students while building resumes or developing LinkedIn profiles as it creates an impactful appearance in front of employers and investors also it ensures trust and credibility.
• Networking: Articleship in CA helps in building networking with other co-fellow CA students and qualified CA professionals which in the long run helps build a strong community, in business and while doing partnership business with other CA students.

Articleship in CA: Reasons for burden 

• Long Work Hours:  Articleship in CA is often considered a burden because of the dedicated commitment to long work hours of eight hours which student finds difficult to handle with their studies and manage the office altogether in one.
• Regular Updates: Articleship in CA is considered a burden because of the regular updates to be known to articleship students, which creates a baffle between what to study and what not 
• No Personal Life: Articleship in CA extracts all the personal life because of the hectic work and study schedule, CA Articleship students are left with no personal life or leisure which is often considered as a burden.
• Un-Manageable Study Schedules:  Articleship in CA leads to Un-Manageable Study Schedules due to varied reasons be it fatigue, illness, or any other concerned reasons. 
• Toxic Work Culture: Articleship in CA is not always a cakewalk, many CA Articleship students face Toxic work Culture due to excessive work pressure which students are not able to handle.
• Deadlines: Articleship in CA comprises deadlines to be met which is common in work culture if you miss deadlines then students are answerable to their principal with a justified reason for not completing work.

Conclusion 

Importance of Articleship in CA whether a Necessity or burden depends on the perspective of CA Aspirants if students want to grow in their careers it is advisable to generously complete their articleship period as it gives them exposure to learn and apply the same in real life what they have learned but many students considered it as a burden and choose dummy articleship which may benefit them in studies but not make them job ready so articleship in CA should help students to learn and develop soft skills.