The Institute of company secretaries of India (ICSI) provides the Company Secretary course. The course was officially started to monitor and control a company secretary’s profession through a correspondence course. After completing the company secretary course, candidates who are seeking profitable jobs in the corporate world can make a great career.
In order to obtain the company secretary’s qualifications, candidates interested in taking a course must undergo various programs, as well as 15 months of training in practice. The individual must complete three levels of training and examination, set out by the ICSI, to professionally carry out the secretariat of the company.
- Foundation Program
- Executive Program
- Professional Program
Highlights
| Course Name | Company Secretary |
| Short Name | CS |
| Course Type | Correspondance Course |
| Duration | Foundation – 8 Months Executive – 9 Months Professional – 10 Months |
| Total Fees | INR 26,000 to 30,000 |
Eligibility
Every candidate wishing to be a certified secretary of the Company must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- To register for the first level (Foundation Program) of the Company Secretary course, candidates must have passed Class XII in any stream (except fine arts) from a recognized board or university.
- Candidates who want to pursue CS after graduation will only have to go through two levels: Executive level and Professional level Programs.
- The Foundation Program Examination shall be exempt from any applicant who passes the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) carried out by the India Chartered Accountants Institute.
Skills Required
- Communication Skills
- Time Management
- Multitasking
- Fluent English (written/spoken)
- Negotiation Skills
- Planning Skills
- Organisational Knowledge
Specializations
- Banking Law and Practice
- Capital
- Money Market
- Insurance Law and Practice
- Intellectual Property Rights
- International Business
Admission
Admission to CS Course is available throughout the year. Exams are held twice a year, in June and December. Some important dates for admission to the CS course are:
| Foundation Program | 31st March for those taking the December examination that same year. 30th September for the June Examination the next year. |
| Executive Program | 28th February if taking both modules in the December exams in the same year. 31st May for appearing in a single module in the same year’s December examination. 31st May for appearing in a single module in the same year’s December examination. 31st August for appearing in both modules in the following year’s June examination. 30th November for appearing in a single module in the next year’s June examination. |
Fee Structure
Foundation Program
| Particulars | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Admission Fee | 1,500 |
| Education Fee | 3,000 |
Executive Program
| Particulars | Fees {INR) |
|---|---|
| For Commerce Graduates | 9,000 |
| Non-Commerce Graduates | 10,000 |
| CS Foundation pass | 8,500 |
| CPT passed | 12,500 |
Professional Program
| Particulars | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Education Fee | 12,000 |
Other Fees
| Particulars | Fees (INR) | Late Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| De-Novo Registration | 2,000 | 3,000 |
| Extension of Registration | 1,000 | – |
| Pre-Exam Test Fees | 1,000 | – |
| Examination Fee (Separately for all 3 levels each) | 1,200 | 250 |
| Change in Examination form (centre/medim/module) | 250 | – |
Syllabus
There are 4 papers in CS Foundation Program, 8 papers divided into 2 Modules in the Executive Program, and 9 papers divided into 3 Modules in Professional Program. The detailed information about the CS syllabus is given below:
| Foundation Program |
|---|
| BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND LAW |
| BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, ETHICS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
| BUSINESS ECONOMICS |
| FUNDAMENTALS OF ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING |
| Executive Program |
|---|
| MODULE 1 |
| JURISPRUDENCE, INTERPRETATION & GENERAL LAWS |
| COMPANY LAW |
| SETTING UP OF BUSINESS ENTITIES AND CLOSURE |
| TAX LAWS |
| MODULE 2 |
| CORPORATE & MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING |
| SECURITIES LAWS & CAPITAL MARKETS |
| ECONOMIC, BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL LAWS |
| FINANCIAL AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT |
| Professional Program |
|---|
| MODULE 1 |
| GOVERNANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT, COMPLIANCES AND ETHICS |
| ADVANCED TAX LAWS |
| DRAFTING, PLEADINGS AND APPEARANCES |
| MODULE 2 |
| SECRETARIAL AUDIT |
| CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING |
| RESOLUTION OF CORPORATE DISPUTES |
| MODULE 3 |
| CORPORATE FUNDING & LISTINGS IN STOCK EXCHANGES |
| MULTIDISCIPLINARY CASE STUDIES |
| ELECTIVES (Anyone out of the following for open book test) |
| 1. BANKING LAW AND PRACTICE |
| 2. INSURANCE LAW AND PRACTICE |
| 3. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS– LAWS AND PRACTICES |
| 4. FORENSIC AUDIT |
| 5. DIRECT TAX LAW & PRACTICE |
| 6 LABOUR LAWS & PRACTICE |
| 7 VALUATIONS & BUSINESS MODELLING |
| 8 INSOLVENCY – LAW AND PRACTICE |
Career Options & Salary
Once the Company secretary course comes to completion, the applicant is approved as an Associate Member of the Institute at the ICSI and may use the credibility for the Associate Company Secretary before his/her name. A Company Secretary Course can lead to a variety of opportunities in the worlds of finance and business.
A skilled and certified Company Secretary can serve as an independent counsel to a company for loan, taxes, partnership, government approvals, incorporation, and other procedures, or join a company secretary firm to provide services to its customers.
Freshers who clear the Exam in their first attempt are paid an average salary ranging up to INR 5 LPA by private corporates. Those who take a second attempt are paid an average salary between INR 3 to 4 LPA. Salary of a Company Secretary rises with time and experience. There are many CS who got placed overseas in various countries like Canada, Dubai, Australia, the USA and UK.
Here are few other popular job roles including the average salary for each:
| Job | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | INR 7 to 8 LPA |
| Business Consultant | INR 8 to 10 LPA |
| Corporate Policymaker | INR 8.9 LPA |
| Administrative Secretary | INR 5 to 7 LPA |
| Managing Director | INR 10 to 15 LPA |
CS Course – FAQ’s
Repeated attempts are permitted for a different program of the company secretary course. The following attempts are available for various company secretary courses:
Foundation: 6 attempts
Executive: 10 attempts
Professional: 10 attempts
Both certifications provide unique options, although, in most circumstances, a CA can do anything a CS can. As a result, if you’re just going to earn one certification, you’re better off becoming a chartered accountant. Moreover, a CA can make more money when compared to a CS.
No. They have to qualify CSEET before registering for Executive program.
