Company Secretary 

The CS course is a professional qualification in corporate governance, offered primarily in India by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). The CS course prepares individuals to perform the role of a company secretary, which involves ensuring that the company complies with legal and regulatory requirements and implementing decisions of the board of directors. The CS course is a comprehensive program designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills required for corporate governance and compliance roles. CS course offers a rewarding career path with significant responsibilities in ensuring the ethical and legal functioning of companies.

To be eligible for the CS course, a candidate needs to pass Class 12 as a minimum qualification. Generally, there are three stages in becoming a CS, i.e. – Foundation Level (replaced by CSEET), Executive Level and Professional Level. Admission to the CS course is open throughout the year, while the CS exam is held twice a year. The CS course spans 8 months for the CS Foundation, 9 months for the CS Executive, and 15 months for the CS Professional levels.  

CS Course Details After 12th

For somebody with the correct motivation, the job prospects for the Company Secretary course are pretty high. CS is a highly regarded career choice in the accounting and business areas. The Company Secretary course encompasses acquiring rights over the stock exchange, corporate affairs divisions, financial auditing industries, legal boards, or governmental authorities.

Interested students can read on to know the complete CS course details:

Why Pursue CS Course? 

• Specialized Knowledge: A Company Secretary course provides in-depth knowledge of corporate laws, governance, and compliance. 
• High Demand for Professionals: Every company, regardless of size, needs to adhere to legal and regulatory standards. As a result, there is a constant demand for qualified company secretaries to ensure compliance and corporate governance.
• Critical Role in Corporate Governance: Company Secretary course graduates play a crucial role in ensuring that companies operate within the law. They are key advisors to the board of directors on matters of governance and ethical business practices.
• Career Advancement: The role of a Company Secretary course graduate is highly respected and offers significant career advancement opportunities. 

Who Can Pursue the CS Course?

• Students with a business background who want to work in a well-known industry might consider pursuing the Company Secretary course.
• There are various desirable skill sets that candidates must have to enrol in the Company Secretary course. Effective interpersonal skills, time management, and teamwork are required, as well as expertise in corporate law, precise planning, and an excellent command of spoken and written English.

Company Secretary Eligibility Criteria

Any student who aspires to become a certified Company Secretary must fulfil the given eligibility criteria to pursue the course:

• The minimum qualification required to register for the first level (Foundation Programme or CSEET) of the Company Secretary course is to pass Class 12 in any stream (excluding Fine Arts) from a recognised university or equivalent.
• The candidate who wishes to pursue CS after graduation will have to complete only two levels: the Executive Programme and the Professional Programme.
• Those who have completed graduation, post-graduation (excluding Fine Arts), or have cleared the Foundation level of Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Cost Accounting course by ICMAI can directly take admission to the CS Executive level.

Company Secretary Admission Process

The Company Secretary course admission process is different for all the 3 levels.

• The first step in the CS admission process is registration for the CSEET exam. The candidates need to fill out the online application and pay the respective fee before the deadline. Course material will be sent once the candidate’s application is approved.
• Next, the students have to clear CSEET, which is organised 4 times a year. Whereas, CS Executive & CS professional level exams are conducted two times a year in June & December.

The Company Secretary course duration is usually between 3 to 5 years, depending on the time taken by students to clear their exams.

Admission to ICSI’s Company Secretary course is open throughout the year. The Company Secretary exam is conducted bi-annually in June and December.  Aspiring candidates can apply according to their choice of exam month.

• Those who wish to appear for the Foundation Programme examination in December (same year) must get themselves enrolled by March 31; those who wish to appear in the June exam next year must enrol themselves by September 30.
• Those who wish to join CS from the Executive Programme level must enrol by February 28 to appear in both modules in the December exam of the same year or by August 31 to appear in both modules in the June exam of the next year.
• In case one wants to appear in a single module in the June Examination in the next year; they must get enrolled in the Executive Programme by November 30.
• A candidate is declared to have passed the Foundation / Executive / Professional examination if he/she secures in one sitting a minimum of 40 per cent in aggregate in each paper and 50 per cent in aggregate in all subjects.

SUBJECTS INVOLVED: