A career as a Company Secretary is not only prestigious and financially rewarding but also carries with it a high level of job satisfaction. There are 3 stages in Company Secretary Course i.e. Foundation, Executive and Professional. So if you want to become CS, you should complete these 3 stages.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is a premier National Professional body established by the Act of Parliament to develop and regulate the Profession of Company Secretaries. ICSI imparts training in Company Secretaryship by Distance Learning (by correspondence) enabling students to qualify Company Secretary Course. The Institute provides “Company Secretary Course Material” for all the subjects at the time of registration. There is also provision for optional oral coaching classes.
A Company Secretary or a Qualified CS is:
- An in-house legal expert; a compliance officer of the Company.
- An expert in corporate laws, securities laws & capital market and corporate governance
- Chief adviser to the board of directors on best practices in corporate governance.
- Responsible for all regulatory compliance of the company
- Corporate planner and strategic manager
About CS
Company secretaries (CS) look after company law, corporate strategies, security markets, and other similar issues. Is a company’s compliance with regulations and its smooth running depends heavily on company Secretaries? If you have an inclination towards challenging job profiles and want to make a career as a Company Secretary, CS qualification is the degree to look forward to. CS qualification can be obtained by giving the CS exam organized by the Institute of Company Secretaries (http://www.icsi.edu/). The ICSI membership plays a vital role in job openings in the corporate world and for recruitment in state and central government posts.
ICSI offices across India
The ICSI has its Headquarters at ICSI House 22 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi and Regional offices at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai & New Delhi and 69 Chapters in various cities in India. ICSI has 66 Examination Centers scattered all over India, including one overseas centre in Dubai.
Roles of a Company Secretary
- To report to the Board about compliance with the provisions of the company’s Act.
- Make sure that the firm complies with the applicable secretarial standards;
- Provide guidance to the directors of the company, as they may require, regarding their power, duties and responsibilities.
- Collaborate and advise the Board in ensuring good corporate governance and encouraging the firm to follow healthy practices.
- Responsible for all regulatory compliances of the company
Today, Demand for Company Secretary is on a rise in India. According to a report in Hindustan Times, there is a demand of approximately 7,000 company secretaries in India and the demand is only expected to increase in years to come. The greater demand for company secretaries is also because of the focus on good governance amongst the new-age companies and the next generation corporate leaders.
Existing practical experience and training requirements
The students are required to undergo the following training:
7 days Student Induction Program (SIP) – within six months of Registration in Executive Program or exempted therefrom for becoming eligible to seek enrolment to appear in Executive Program Examination.
70 hours compulsory computer training program- for becoming eligible to seek enrolment to appear in Executive Program Examination.
8 days Executive Development Program (EDP) – after passing the Executive Program and before the commencement of 15 months training.
25 hours of professional development program (PDP) during 15 months training
15 months training after passing the Executive Program or Professional Program on completion of the Student Induction Program and Executive Development Program with companies and Company Secretaries in Practice registered with the Institute for imparting training
3 months practical training is required to be undergone by the student if the student completes the professional program examination and exempted from undergoing at least 12 months of training based on Company Secretaries Regulations,1982, as amended on submitting the documents to the Institute and fulfills the requirement of Regulation 48. This training will be exempted from the students who have undergone 15 months of training.
15 days training in a specialized agency such as the Registrar of Companies (ROC) / Stock Exchange / Financial and Banking Institution/Management Consultancy Firm can only be commenced if the student completes SIP, EDP, 15 months training and having passed professional program examination.
15 days Management Skills Orientation Program (MSOP)- after Professional Program and on completion of the Executive Development Program and 15 months training
1. The students can be exempted from undergoing training totally or partially depending on the practical experience possessed by them on fulfilling the requirement of the Company Secretaries
2. Regulations,1982, as amended, on submitting the relevant documents.
After a student passing the Professional Program may enroll as ‘Licentiate ICSI’ at his/her option until completion of training requirements.
Practical training structure for CSEET students
Any student appearing in CSEET and clearing Executive examination
thereafter shall fall under the new training structure.
Under New Training Structure, there shall be uniform training for 24 months
applicable to all executive pass out students in the following manner:-
- 0ne month EDP (i.e. 15 days direct and 15 days online mode) and
- 21 months practical training in company or PCS and
- Corporate Leadership Development Programme not less than 30
days but not exceeding 60 days as determined by the Institute.
Membership
After qualifying the CS Professional Program and on completion of training as provided under the CS Regulations, a candidate is enrolled as an Associate Member of the Institute and he can use the descriptive title “ACS” after his / her name.
Further Academic Pursuits:
- The Company Secretary Course is recognized by the various universities for admission to the Ph.D. course.
- Utilization of services of members by various professional/educational bodies for academic activities
- ICSI conducts Post Membership Qualification (PMQ) Course in Corporate Governance.
Placement
The Headquarters and Regional Offices offer placement services to the Members of the Institute:
- Names of candidates are sponsored by prospective employers on request
- Members looking for a job may register online on the Institute’s Website: www.icsi.edu for availing Placement help.
- Vacancies received from companies are also displayed on the website www.icsi.edu
- Campus Interviews are conducted to assist members for a job and students for 15 months of training.
Financial Assistance/ Scholarship
Prizes, Merit Scholarship and Merit-cum-Means Assistance
- The Institute awards Prizes, merit scholarships to the meritorious students
- Merit-cum-Means Assistance is granted to the economically weaker students
How to become CS | Company Secretary Course Details
Phases to become a Company Secretary
Foundation program: Students looking to do CS after 12th need to go through this stage.
Executive program: This course is for Graduates of all streams with the exception of Fine Arts.
Professional program: One can complete this after completing the intermediate exam of the CS course.
CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET): If you’re a 10+2 passed student, you can take the CSEET and gain direct entry into the CS Executive programme. All Graduates/Post Graduates who were hitherto eligible for registration directly to CS Executive Programme, are also required to pass the CSEET to become eligible for registration to the Executive Programme.
The Student who would like to join the Course after passing the Graduation has to undergo two stages of the Company Secretaryship i.e.
Executive Programme
Professional Programme
Foundation Programme can be pursued by 10+2 pass or equivalent students of Arts, Science or Commerce stream (Excluding Fine Arts)
Executive Programme can be pursued by a Graduate of all streams except Fine Arts.
Professional Programme can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course.
“ADMISSION TO THE CS COURSE is open throughout the year. Examinations are held twice a year in June & December.”
Subjects for CS Course –
CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET):-
a) Computer Based Test of 120 Minutes consisting of four parts viz.
(i) Business Communication;
(ii) Legal Aptitude & Logical Reasoning
(iii) Economic and Business Environment &
(iv) Current Affairs; and
b) Viva Voce of 15 Minutes on “Presentation and Communication Skills”
CS Course Fee Structure
1.CS Foundation Programme – Rs.4500/-
2. CS Executive Programme
Rs.9000/- for Commerce Graduates
Rs 12,500/- for CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation passed of ICAI-CMA
Rs 10,000/- for Non-Commerce Students
Rs 8,500/- for CS Foundation passed students
3. CS Professional Programme – Rs.12,000/-
Examination fee
Foundation Programme – Rs 1200/-
Executive Programme – Rs 1200/- per Module
Professional Programme – Rs. 1200/- per Module
4. CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) – Rs.1,000/- per attempt
Last date for submission of application for appearing in the examination
25th March (with a late fee of Rs. 250/- till 9th April)
25th September (with a late fee of Rs. 250/- till 10th October)
Few Important Links for CS Students
https://blog.superprofs.com/cs/how-to-clear-cs-exam-in-the-first-attempt/
You can watch a few demo lectures by SuperProfs for CS and see if you would want to consider subscribing to our video series for a better shot at clearing the CS examination.
Click Here To Get a FREE Demo
Also Read:
CS Executive Previous Year Question Papers
CS Foundation Previous Year Question Papers
Watch Videos Lecture Offline
FAQs regarding Company Secretary course details
The roles of a Company Secretary in an organization are:
1) To report to the Board about compliance with the provisions of the company’s Act.
2) Make sure that the firm complies with the applicable secretarial standards.
3) Provide guidance to the directors of the company, as they may require, regarding their power, duties and responsibilities.
4) Collaborate and advise the Board in ensuring good corporate governance and encouraging the firm to follow healthy practices.
5) Responsible for all regulatory compliances of the company
The training structure applicable for CS students who appeared for, or will appear for CS Foundation exams, is the scheme applicable since April 2014. You can find all the details for this training structure here.
For CS students who take the CSEET, the new training structure is applicable. You can find all the details for this training structure here.
According to the old scheme of exams, there are the following 3 exam levels:
1) Foundation level
2) Executive level
3) Professional level
Recently, ICSI has announced the CSEET exam through which students can get direct entry into the Executive programme. For this, the students need to appear for and clear the CSEET after which they can enrol in the Executive programme.
The registration fees for each level of CS exams is:
1.CS Foundation Programme – Rs.4500/-
2. CS Executive Programme:
Rs.9000/- for Commerce Graduates
Rs 12,500/- for CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation passed of ICAI-CMA
Rs 10,000/- for Non-Commerce Students
Rs 8,500/- for CS Foundation passed students
3. CS Professional Programme – Rs.12,000/-
Foundation Programme – Rs 1200/-
Executive Programme – Rs 1200/- per Module
Professional Programme – Rs. 1200/- per Module
4. CSEET – Rs. 1,000/- per attempt
