Now that you are on the verge of clearing class 12th, you must be searching the best Career options for you. Choosing a career is a crucial decision as it can impact your whole life. The right choice can result in a fulfilling and successful career whereas the wrong choice can cause dissatisfaction in your professional as well as personal life.

If you possess good aptitude with numbers, good communication skills, good analytical skills and have basic knowledge of computer software used in business and economics, then Commerce can prove to be an ideal stream for you. Due to inadequate information, most people deem Chartered Accountancy as the only lucrative career option in commerce stream. But besides the CA course, there are plenty of commerce courses after 12th to choose from based on your interest and capabilities. Having an in-depth knowledge of the list of courses for commerce students can help you make an informed career choice.

Below is the list of professional courses after 12th commerce:

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

After 12th commerce, to acquire a variety of managerial skills, you can select the popular 3-year degree of B.com. You get to learn various subjects like Accounts, Economics, Finance, Cost Accounting etc. A normal B.com degree can help you pursue other professional courses and also makes you eligible for most of the bank exams. After B.Com, you can get hired in various industries for jobs in administration, hospitality, accounting, marketing, retailing, production planning etc

Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA)

Those who aspire to join software companies and build a bright career in the IT industry can choose this 3-year undergraduate programme. Students will get to learn programming languages, database management, computer networks, software development, etc.

BBA- Bachelor of Business Administration

To develop decision-making capability and enhance your communication skills, this 3-year undergraduate degree program is apt for you. You get to learn subjects like Accounting, Business law and Ethics, Economics and many others.Through this course, you can have a career in various fields like international business, finance, real estate, computer information systems, or accounting.

Bachelor of Business Management (BBM)

If you wish to attain professional skills early on in your career, choose the 3-year management degree program of BBM that includes a study of practical and theoretical facts of business. You get to learn subjects such as Principles of Management, Business Communication and soft skills, Business Statics and many others. The field offers many career prospects such as Business Development Manager, Relationship Manager, Business Analyst, Delivery Manager, Associate Manager and others.

LLB (Bachelor of Law)

If you wish to become a legal professional, a 3 years bachelor’s degree program in law is ideal for you.  The course includes various subjects like legal methods, code of civil procedure, litigation advocacy, political science, Legal Methods, Human Rights & International Law, Legal Writing, Criminology, Banking Law, Law of Taxation, Intellectual Property Law, Law of Evidence and contracts. You can gain employment in Court and Judiciary, Law firms, MNCs, Legal department of banks, etc.

Apart from the above-mentioned courses, other courses like Bachelor of Foreign Trade, Hotel Management Courses, Bachelor degree in Travel and Tourism and Event Management and ideally are the best courses after 12th commerce for girls as well.

If maths isn’t your forte, the above courses are the best commerce courses after 12th without maths. If maths is your strong suit, a plethora of career options are available for you like Company Secretary, Finance Analyst, Finance Manager, Financial Planner, Investment Analyst, Tax Auditor, Tax Consultant, Actuary, Foreign Trade, Stock Broking, Cost Accountant, Portfolio Manager, Economist, Statistician, etc.

Things you need to know before picking the CA course

Chartered Accountancy is undeniably the most reputed course in the commerce stream. Only the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is authorized to give the Chartered Accountants degree throughout India.

A candidate is eligible to register for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) of the CA programme after successful completion of Class 10th. He/she can appear for CPT exam after passing 10+2. It is held twice in a year and consists of subjects like General Economics, Mercantile law, Accounting etc.Once candidates have passed the CPT, they can register themselves for the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) Exam that is also held twice in a year. It includes 9 months of training that covers most of accountancy and core subjects.

Commerce graduates with 50% marks, non-commerce graduates with subjects other than Mathematics with an aggregate of 55% marks and non-commerce graduates with Maths with an aggregate of 60% marks are exempted from the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) and are permitted to directly register for Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC).

Before selecting the CA course, it necessary to know its pros and cons.

Pros:

1. Chartered Accountants command high respect in the society as they possess have expert knowledge of Accounts, Law, Audit, Taxation and Finance. They are the only ones who can authorise an audit of the Financial Statement of a concern.
2. CA course fees are much low in comparison to other professional courses.
3. Chartered Accountants can receive average earnings of 6-7 Lakhs p.a after passing out the course.
4. The demand for CA professionals is high.  It has been estimated that by the end of 2020 around 20 Lakh Chartered Accountants will be needed.
5. The students who have cleared CA Intermediate are considered as graduates. Those students who have cleared CA Final Exam are recognized as postgraduates.

Cons:

1. CA is a challenging Course and is regarded as one of the toughest courses in India.
2. CA course duration is 4.5 years if all the levels are completed in the first attempt.
3. Completing 3 years of articleship training is mandatory for every CA student. Many students face difficulty in managing studies with the office.

Having a high aptitude for maths and possessing good analytical skills and communication skills are few of the pre-requisites to choose CA as a career. It is imperative to get a thorough understanding of all the CA course details before taking the big step.

Why career counselling is much needed?

Many students have unclear educational goals. They often receive incorrect career guidance from friends and families and feel pressurized to choose popular courses even if they do not fit their personality. Selecting a field that does not suit your interests and match your skill sets can turn out to be disastrous. Parents need to understand the importance of career counselling as career development is a lifelong process.The role of a career counsellor is to eliminate all doubts and assess students based on their individual ability, aptitude and interest. They provide students with all the necessary information about various career options and help them develop a plan to achieve their goals. The right counsel at the right time leads to students heading in the right career path that provides professional and personal fulfilment..

At Vedatma, our team of experienced and certified practitioners provide career counselling for students using globally acclaimed career assessment tools like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) and Strong Interest Inventory® (Strong). By discovering a student’s unique natural potential, we identify best-suited career options for the student. Gain more insight into our process here:

Become your best with Vedatma.

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