CA Foundation Exam Dates May 2026: Check the Latest ICAI Schedule

ICAI releases the CA Foundation exam dates for the May 2026 attempt. Candidates can check the details related to exam dates, timing, registration, and deadlines.

ICAI has officially announced the date of the CA Foundation Examination for the  May 2026 examinations. The dates of the Foundation Examination are from 14 May to 20 May, 2026. The Foundation Examination Form for the May 2026 session will be available from 03 March, 2026. Students will have to fill out the examination form by 16th March 2026, to avoid late fees.

The dates of the CA Foundation exams should be carefully reviewed by prospective candidates, and their preparation should be scheduled appropriately. The CA Foundation test is administered by ICAI three times a year, in January, September, and May/June. 

Candidates should frequently check the ICAI notifications to stay up to date on all the details of the 2026 CA Foundation test. A new education and training program was also introduced by ICAI, and it went into effect on July 1, 2023. The first meeting to use this new system was the June 2024 CA Foundation session. 

CA Foundation Exam Dates May 2026

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has declared the May 2026 CA Foundation exam dates. It will be attempted on May 14, 16, 18, and 20, 2026. Exam forms will be available from March 03rd, 2026, and must be submitted on or before March 16, 2026, without paying a late fee.
An additional late fee of Rs 600 will be charged on forms received from March 16 to 19, 2026. Also, ICAI has introduced a window from March 20 to 22, 2026, for correcting the forms. The candidates need to note these dates and prepare accordingly.

Important Dates of the CA Foundation Exam for the May Session

The CA Foundation May 2026 session's key dates and deadlines, such as the exam dates, admit card issuance, and exam form submission, are listed in the table below. 

CA Foundation May 2026 Important Dates
Particulars Dates
Last date to register Jan 01, 2026
Availability of CA Foundation exam form March 03, 2026
Deadline for filling CA Foundation exam form without late fee March 16, 2026
Deadline for filling out CA foundation exam form 2026 with late fee (of Rs. 600) March 19, 2026
CA Foundation Exam Form Correction window March 20 to 22, 026
Availability of CA Foundation admit card Two weeks before the exam (tentative)
CA Foundation exam date May 14, 16, 18, and 20, 2026 
Announcement of CA Foundation result To be notified

CA Foundation Exam Highlights 

ICAI CA is a professional course that enables candidates to pursue chartered accountancy as a career. It deals with the fundamentals of accounting and taxation. The first level of the course is the CA Foundation. Below is the table showing important highlights of the ICAI Foundation CA exams and course:

ICAI CA Foundation Exam Features Details
Exam Name ICAI CA Foundation Exam
Conducting Body Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Exam Level National
Exam Frequency Thrice a year
Exam Mode Offline and Online
Exam Duration Three hours
Exam Purpose Training and certifying Chartered Accountants in India
Course Offered Chartered Accountancy
No. of Test Cities 301 cities in India and 9 cities abroad
Exam Helpdesk No. 1800 419 2929
Exam Website icaiexam.icai.org

CA Foundation Exam Date & Time Duration 

For effective preparation for the CA Foundation exam, the first step in the Chartered Accountancy program, it is imperative to comprehend the exam dates. The table below displays the dates of the CA Foundation Exam by session.  The next CA Foundation May 2026 exam schedule is shown in the table.

CA Foundation Exam Dates May 2026
Paper(s) Exam Dates Exam Timings Duration
Paper 1 May 14, 2026 2 pm to 5 pm 3 hours
Paper 2 May 16, 2026 2 pm to 5 pm 3 hours
Paper 3 May 18, 2026 2 pm to 4 pm 2 hours
Paper 4 May 20, 2026 2 pm to 4 pm 2 hours

Timing of the CA Foundation Exam for the May 2026 Session 

The complete schedule and timings of the CA Foundation test for the 2026 session, including dates and session timings, are shown in the table below.

CA Foundation Exam Timings
Particulars Time for Papers 1 and 2 Time for Papers 3 and 4
Reporting Time 1:30 PM 1:30 PM
Exam Start Time 2 PM 2 PM
Exam End Time 5 PM 4 PM

CA Foundation Registration Dates for May 2026

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) provides year-round registration for the CA Foundation examination. Candidates are advised to verify that they qualify for the application and keep significant deadlines in view. For May 2026, the CA Foundation Registration had a deadline of Jan 1, 2026.

CA Foundation Exam Form Dates 2026

ICAI will make the CA Foundation May 2026 exam form window available on March 03rd, 2026. Eligible candidates should fill out the forms by March 16, 2026, on the official website, icai.org.   Careful filling of the exam form is important since uniform details have to be maintained at every stage of the admission process. The last date for submission with a late fee is March 19, 2026.

Correction Window 2026: ICAI shall offer an online correction window between 20th March to 22nd March 2026. It is a facility in which candidates can make any sort of amendments or rectifications to their uploaded exam forms. But this facility is provided once prior to the exam.

Admit Card of CA Foundation 2026 

The CA Foundation Admit Card for the May 2026 exam will be out 15 days before the exam date. The admit cards need to be downloaded by the candidates from the official website of ICAI, as entry into the exam center is only possible with the physical admit card. No candidate will be permitted entry into the examination hall without the physical admit card. Keep an eye on the CA Foundation exam dates to get updates regarding the admit card release.

CA Foundation Result 2026

The CA Foundation Result generally comes out within 45 days of the exam. The May 2026 exam results are likely to be declared within this period. Candidates can view their results on the official ICAI exam website, icaiexam.icai.org, by logging in to their account. In addition to the results, ICAI will also declare the CA Foundation pass percentage for May 2026.

Summary 

CA Foundation May 2026 exam dates have been declared. The examinations will be conducted on certain dates in May 2026. The students can find the exact schedule, dates, and timings of the examinations to prepare accordingly. The exam dates are subject to change, and students should keep an eye on the official website for further information.

FAQs

What are the official CA Foundation Exam dates for May 2026?

The CA Foundation Exam May 2026 is officially scheduled on 14th, 16th, 18th, and 20th May 2026 for all four papers as released by ICAI in the exam timetable.

How many days will the CA Foundation Exam May 2026 span?

The CA Foundation Exam for May 2026 spans four days, with one paper conducted on each alternate day between 14th and 20th May 2026.

What is the CA Foundation registration last date for May 2026?

For CA Foundation May 2026, registration is generally open year-round but must be completed by 1st January 2026 for exam eligibility in May.

When does the CA Foundation exam form open for May 2026?

The CA Foundation Exam Form for May 2026 opens on 3rd March 2026, allowing candidates to apply for the examination process.

What is the last date to submit the CA Foundation exam form without late fee?

The last date to submit the CA Foundation exam form without a late fee is 16th March 2026.

Can I submit the CA Foundation exam form late for May 2026?

Yes, but with a late fee. CA Foundation forms can be submitted until 19th March 2026 with late fee charges applied.

Will there be a correction window for the CA Foundation May 2026 form?

Yes, ICAI provides a correction window from 20th to 22nd March 2026 for updating exam form details after submission.

When is the expected CA Foundation admit card release for May 2026?

The CA Foundation admit card for May 2026 is expected to be released around April 2026, typically about two weeks before the first exam date.

Are the CA Foundation papers conducted in afternoon sessions in May 2026?

Yes, papers for May 2026 are usually held in the afternoon session, starting at 2:00 PM for each day’s scheduled paper.

How many papers are there in the CA Foundation May 2026 exam?

There are four papers in the CA Foundation May 2026 session, each held on separate days as per ICAI’s published schedule.