ICAI Pauses Self-Paced Module Tests from October 11-20, 2026 for SPMT Portal Upgrade
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will not conduct Self-Paced Online Module Tests (SPMT) from 11 October 2026 to 20 October 2026. According to the ICAI Examination Department announcement dated 24 August 2026, issued by the Joint Secretary (Examinations), the pause is due to maintenance and software upgradation of the SPMT portal. Slot booking for SPMT will resume from 21 October 2026.
Dates at a glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Announcement by ICAI Examination Department | 24 August 2026 |
| No SPMT tests conducted | 11 October 2026 to 20 October 2026 |
| Slot booking resumes | 21 October 2026 onwards |
What the Self-Paced Online Modules are
Under ICAI's current scheme, students registered in the CA Final course complete four Self-Paced Online Modules (SPOM), Sets A to D, at their own pace on the ICAI Digital Learning Campus. ICAI's SPOM FAQ, last updated on 15 May 2026, describes them as follows:
| Set | Content | Learning hours |
|---|---|---|
| Set A | Corporate and Economic Laws (100 marks) | 40 |
| Set B | Strategic Cost and Performance Management (100 marks) | 40 |
| Set C | One elective from ten options, including Risk Management, International Taxation, Forensic Accounting, Valuation, Insolvency Code, Arbitration and Financial Services | 20 |
| Set D | One multidisciplinary module from four options, including Entrepreneurship and Digital Ecosystem and Controls | 20 |
How the SPMT works
A student must first complete the prescribed learning hours for a module on the ICAI learning management system (lms.icai.org). Only then can the student register and book a slot for the module test on the SPMT portal (spmt.icai.org). The FAQ states that a minimum of 50% marks is needed to qualify each module, there is no negative marking, and there is no restriction on the number of attempts. Marks in the modules are not added to CA Final examination marks. There is no separate fee for SPOM registration, as it is included in the Final course registration.
Students facing difficulty in getting a test slot can write to the SPMT examination helpline, spmt_examhelpline@icai.in. Queries on the e-learning modules go to helpdeskspom@icai.in.
What students should do
- If you have completed the learning hours for a module and planned a test in mid-October, book and take the test before 11 October 2026, subject to slot availability.
- If you miss that window, plan to book a slot from 21 October 2026, when booking reopens.
- Use the pause to complete pending learning hours on the LMS, since a test cannot be booked until the hours are done.
- Keep an eye on ICAI's Examination Department announcements for any change to the maintenance window.
Because there is no limit on attempts, a missed October slot costs time rather than an attempt, but students who need module results for their own timelines should factor in the ten-day gap.
Updated on 27 September 2026: linked the ICAI announcement of 24 August 2026, merged duplicate reports, and added the SPOM set structure, learning hours, 50% qualifying mark, attempt rules and helpline details from ICAI's SPOM FAQ.
