Career options after 12th Commerce

Commerce is a branch of business that is concerned with the exchange of goods and services and includes all the activities that directly or indirectly facilitate the exchange. Whatever is produced must be consumed, so there must be a distribution channel to facilitate this consumption. Commerce is concerned with smooth buying and selling of goods and services. It is the only backbone which may cause the market and economy of the company.

Commerce is one of the three basic and broad fields of education. This field of education is a choice of a large community of students who wish to work in a corporate world. Commerce is a vast field, where one has plenty of options to choose from. Besides BBA and B.Com, there are other courses also available which can lead to a bright career. This field is very advantageous as there is an option to pick the traditional commerce course as well as the courses that are not strictly related to the field such as language and arts.

Some of the fields in commerce are- Finance, Accounting, Law, Taxation, Auditing, Management, Investing, Insurance, Consulting, Supervising, Reporting, Decision making, General banking, Investment banking. Compulsory courses in the degree build a strong foundation of business skills that will be applied while making decisions and solving issues in the business environment. Integrated MBA can be done through JEE, NMAT.

The fate of a student’s career depends upon the stream they choose. Some of the stream-specific careers are- Accountant, CA, Banker, Manager, Economist, Government employee, Statistician, Company Secretary, Teacher, Lecturer, ICWA professional, Social worker, Hospitality management professional, Stockbroker.

Most of the colleges offer admissions to students on basis of 12th merit. Some colleges and universities provide admissions through entrance exams. Commerce field is one of the top career options offering a handsome salary package to deserving candidates. Making the right career choice is a stepping stone for building a successful career, what matters is the one you choose and prove it the best for yourself.

List of Career after 12th Commerce

• Bachelor of Commerce - B.Com:  Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) is available in 3 modes-B.Com (pass the course), B.Com (Honours) and B.Com (vocational). Duration of the course is 3 years. The course focuses on an overview of the field of commerce and provides a variety of managerial skills. Students can choose a combination of subjects apart from few compulsory ones. Some of the new programs and specialization courses are also being offered-B.Com in Computer Application, Information Technology and in E-Commerce, Office management, Advertising, etc.
  Students can further go for M.Com, MBA, CA, CS, CFA, Law, CMA, CFP, and Actuarial Science. There are numerous job opportunities in private and government sectors and roles in administration, hospitality, accounting, marketing, retailing, production, and planning field.
  Top Institutes-Sri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi and St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
• Bachelors of Commerce - B.Com (Hons.): Bachelor of Commerce Honours is 3 years program. This is similar to B.Com but is an extensive form. The course allows to specialize in a specific domain of commerce subjects and there is in-depth analysis –Accountancy, economics or management. The industry demand for Honours is better than B.Com. Also, the admission and eligibility is similar for both but may vary slightly for different universities and colleges.
  Top Institutes-Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), New Delhi and Christ University, Bangalore.
• Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA: BBA is 3 years long Degree course for business and management aspirants. Students get an exposure to various business aspects and explore the functional area of the business environment. This course helps to build a base in business disciplines and career in financial and business management field. It has a vast area of specialization (in MBA). Students from any stream can get admission to BBA. All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) is the accredited body for BBA.
  After BBA, students may strengthen their qualification by pursuing M.Com or MBA in finance or with specialization in the field of their choice. Jobs are available for BBA in both government and the private sector.
  Top Institutes- IGNOU and Sikkim Manipal University.
• B.A. (Hons) Business Economics / B.Com (with Specialization in Business Economics): This course is not directly related to commerce but has a great scope in the field of business and financial management. Duration of the course is 3 years. Career fields are banking sector, business financing, Institutes, etc. Job areas are Business Analyst, Business Manager, Professor, etc. Students can further pursue M.A., M.Phil., PhD.
  Top Institutes- B.R. Ambedkar College, New Delhi and Lakshmi Bai College, Delhi.
• B.A. Economics: Duration of the course is 3 years. Students who are interested in economics and want to gain specialization about the economic framework should pursue this course. Through the course, the students experience practical knowledge on various economic concepts, economic policies and analytical methods.
  Students can further pursue M.A, M.Phil, and M.B.A in finance, economics or can specialize in a branch like Micro, Macro, Labour, Industrial and International economics. Economics shall be an added advantage for those who want to prepare for Indian Administrative Services or IAS. Job prospects are Indian Economic Services, Planning Commission, Planning Board and Ministry of Economic Affairs.
  Top Institutes - Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune and Christ University, Bangalore.
• Bachelor of Computer Applications - BCA: Duration of the course is 3 years. Some institutes may also conduct entrance exams for admission to the course. This degree enables you to enter IT world and resulting in high-paying jobs in the Information Technology and consulting field. Students can find a job in IT companies like IBM, Oracle, Google, Infosys, etc. and can work as System engineer, Junior programmer, Web developer or as System Administrator. After BCA, students can pursue MCA and PhD in system management, development, management information system.
  Top Institutes- Punjab University, Chandigarh and Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.
• Bachelor’s in Accounting and Finance - BAF: Duration of the course is 3 years. Accounts and Finance should be studied in class 12th. This is a good course for the students who want to work in the field of accounting and finance. The course mainly focuses on cost accounting, tax, Auditing, business law and economics. Students can pursue higher education in finance and accounting i.e. M.Com, MBA or an MS.
  Top Institutes-Maharishi Dayanand College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai and Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi.
• Bachelors of Financial Markets - BFM: Duration of the course is 3 years. Exposure to Mathematics and economics in 12th are preferred highly. Students who are interested in the stock market should pursue this course. The course focuses on security markets, risk management, investment, mutual funds, equity markets, debt markets and microeconomics. It also provides comprehensive training in the field of Financial Market by interaction, industrial visits, practical training, projects, etc.
  Students can further pursue MBA or M.Com. Certification courses in the financial market provided by NSE or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) can be pursued which increases the skills and employment prospects.
  Top Institutes- IGNOU and Sri Ram College of Commerce.
• Bachelors in Banking and Insurance - BBI: Duration of the course is 3 years. Students who aspire to join banking and finance should pursue this course. The course focuses on financial accounting and management, auditing, cost, banking, business and corporate laws. An MBA or M.Com in banking and insurance after this course improves employability chances.
  Top Institutes- Mithibai College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai and Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.
• B.Stat (Hons)/ B.Sc. (Hons) Statistics: Duration of the course is 3 years. Students should have studied Mathematics till 12th. This program is suitable for students who are interested in mathematics and are good at numbers and data. Students who are interested in the stock market should pursue this course.
  Students can pursue this course from ISI (Indian Statistical Institute). This is a very reputed institute. There is a written entrance test after which the selected candidates undergo an interview. The course teaches topics like statistical methods, permutations, combinations and probability, etc. Students can further pursue Master or Doctoral courses or work as a statistician.
  Top Institutes-Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi and the University of Delhi, Delhi.

Professional Courses after 12th Commerce

• Chartered Accountancy - CA: This is the most sort after course for the students pursuing 12th in commerce stream. Students after 12th Commerce may apply for Common Proficiency Test (CPT). This test is managed by ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India). The Head Office is in New Delhi. To become a C.A. one has to complete the Chartered Accountancy Course and become a member of ICAI. After CPT, students have to appear for CA Inter exam and do Information Technology Training course, followed by C.A. Final exam. It requires a lot of hard work and efforts to build a successful career in this esteemed profession. The initial level is slightly easier, but the higher levels i.e. Intermediate (IPCC) and CA finals are tougher. As per the new course Foundation, Intermediate and Final levels need to be completed. Duration is around 5 years.
  The job of a C.A. is to see the financial affairs of business and companies are in accordance with the laws set by the Government. A C.A. has to look into tax affairs, financial transactions through auditing and creating reports. Job prospects are starting working independently, the Finance department in private companies and Government enterprise, private auditor, Tax consultant, an advisor, a financial officer.
  Top coaching Institutes providing coaching for this course are ATM Global Business School, Delhi and ETEN CA, Bangalore.
• Company Secretary - CS: There is a Foundation program for Company Secretary. Duration of the course is 3 years. Students have to appear for the CS course and clear the exams. Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has been asked by the Government to conduct the course as well as examination. To get selected for C.S. course students must go through 3 stage program –Foundation, Executive and Professional Program.
  A CS is responsible for all the regulatory compliances of the company and acts as an in-house legal expert. A combination of CA and CS is a good choice to build a good career. A CS can practice independently or work in the corporate world.
• Cost and Management Accountant - CMA: Earlier ICWAI (Institute of Cost Accountants of India) used to offer the CWA course. Now the name has been changed to CMA (Certified Management Course).CMA, CS and CA courses have few common elements.
  CMA course has 3 levels-Foundation, Intermediate and Final. The course duration is between 2-3 years based upon the aptitude. Both theory classes and practical training sessions are provided. Job opportunities are promising. Certified Cost Accountants maintain accounting records, do cost auditing, help in planning, controlling and costing of products. CMA can practice independently or hold managerial positions in private and govt. sectors.
  Top Institutes-Sikkim Manipal University and IM-Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
• Certified Financial Planner - CFP: Students who are interested in areas of wealth management, insurance planning, mutual fund investing, personal finance may opt for this course. The only requirement is the certification as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Financial Planning Standard Board India (FPSB) is the principal licensing body that provides CFP license. A CFP helps people in their tax planning, insurance, retirement planning, investment planning, etc.
  Top Institute- ICICI Direct Centre for Financial Learning (ICFL), Hyderabad and Bangalore.
• Bachelor of Law - L.L.B.: Earlier only graduates were allowed to pursue L.L.B., but as per the new rules, Commerce students after 12th can pursue Law course from Law schools. They will have to select an integrated Law course that lasts for 5 years. The integrated course is a combination of Degree and traditional L.L.B. course like- B.Com. L.L.B., B.A. L.L.B., B.Sc. L.L.B., BBA L.L.B., etc.
  The Bar Council of India (BCI) is the regulatory body of Law Education in India. BCI provides a certificate of practice after completion of L.L.B. Students need to clear the All India Bar Examination in order to practice.
  Apart from theoretical subjects, regular Court sessions are provided throughout the program. After completion of the course, one may work in any law or consulting firm or can start up one’s own private practice.
  Top Institute-University of Delhi, and ILS Law College, Pune.
• Hospitality Diploma Course: The eligibility criteria for this course is not very strict, even 10^th pass students may pursue this course. The course possesses good value and is job oriented too.
  Top Institute-UEI Global Agra and Chandigarh University.
• Animation and Multimedia Course: There are certificate, diploma and degree courses. The duration may vary from 6 months to 3 years based on the nature of the course program. There are ample job opportunities available as in animation movies, as an animation artist.
  Top Institute-Symbiosis, Pune and Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai.
• Journalism and Mass Communication: Students who wish to enter the entertainment media or advertising world, this is a great course. Opportunities are available in creative and news agencies, also one may get a job in print as well as digital media house. The certificate course varies from 6 months to 1 year, the diploma is for 2 years and a degree for 3 years.
  Top Institutes-Amity University, Gurgaon and NIMS School of Media and Mass Communication, Jaipur.
• Event Management Course: Certificate, Diploma and Degree courses are available for this course. Duration varies from 1-3 years.
  Top Institutes-Gems B School, Bangalore and National Academy of Event Management and Development, Mumbai.
• Fashion Design and Technology: This is a vast field. Students who have creativity and interest towards fashion and designing should choose this course. There are different small sections within this field like apparel and accessories designing. Certificate, diploma and degree courses are available. Duration varies from 1-4 years. Job opportunities are available in private sector or one may start up own work too.
  Top Institute-NIFT, New Delhi, NIFT, Mumbai.
• Hotel Management Courses: This course has elements of hospitality sector but the degree course in hotel management is more valuable than hospitality diploma courses. Course duration is 4 years. Jobs are available in private and government sector.
  Top Institutes-Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development, Delhi and Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai (IHM).   
• Actuarial Science: This field uses statistics and mathematics to find risk in sectors like finance, insurance and other relevant fields. The Governing Body responsible for actuarial education is Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI).To pursue this course there is an entrance test called ACET held by IAI. The course consists of 4 stages- Core Technical, Core Application and Specialist Application stage. There are total 15 papers. There is no fixed duration, the course depends upon aptitude and study schedule.
  Top Institutes- Amity School of Actuarial Science, Noida and Christ University, Bengaluru.

There are numerous other courses for students as per their interests and preferences such as Language courses-Diploma for 2 years and degree for 3 years. French, Chinese, German and Spanish offer bright opportunities, wildlife photography, architecture and various other creative fields. One can also go in for banking course or prepare for UPSC or IAS if interested. Being a commerce student, one can only join Indian Army and not any other branch of the defence forces. Commerce students are eligible to sit for NDA (National Defence Academy) Entrance Exam after completing 12th.

The education you gain today shall accompany you throughout your life, so just follow your passion and interests and work hard to achieve success. Guidance from elders and experienced people helps, but at the end of the day, decide what you have to do and take the right career decision and enjoy your career path.