A company secretary holds a high-ranking position within a business. The CS exam is divided into three levels: CS Foundation, CS Executive and CS Professional Programme. The company secretary is in charge of the smooth running of a business. They ensure that all statutory and regulatory requirements are met. A Company Secretary ensures that an organization adheres to the relevant legislation and regulations. ICSI, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India is the authoritative body that certifies Company Secretaries. ICSI was established under the Company Secretaries Act of 1980 to regulate and develop the profession.
Eligibility
You must meet the following eligibility criteria to be a company secretary:
- The Foundation Programme requires a +2 pass or an equivalent.
- Executive Programme – Graduation
- Professional Programme – Executive programme
Students must be at least 17 years old to enroll in the Foundation Programme.
Students who have passed the CAT (or equivalent), NMAT (or equivalent), MHCET (or equivalent), XAT (or equivalent), SNAT, GMAT or ATMA will be exempt from the foundation level. They can enter directly into the executive level. The CS Foundation Programme is open to candidates who have passed the Senior Secondary (10+2 exam or an equivalent examination) of any board constituted by or recognized by the Central Government. The minimum marks required to enroll in the Company Secretary Course are not set.
CS is therefore classified into three categories: CS Foundation Programme, CS Executive Programme, and CS Professional Programme. To become a Company Secretary, you must complete all three stages. ICSI will conduct regular exams throughout India. You will receive a certificate in the Company Secretary course once you have passed these exams.
How long is each course?
- The CS Foundation program will last 8 months. This programme must be completed in 3 years after admission.
- The CS Executive program will take nine months to complete. Graduates of any discipline except Fine Arts can pursue this programme.
- This programme is 10 months long. The Executive Programme of CS Course is required to pursue this programme.
How can I apply for CS courses? What documents must I submit to apply for CS?
ICSI is responsible for regulating the Company Secretary Examinations. Students can submit their applications online through the official portal. You will need to scan your documents if you submit the form online. You can contact the Lakshara Academy office for assistance with the application process if you are a Lakshara Academy Student.
Documents that students are required to submit include
- The latest passport-size photo
- Scannable image of the signature
- Mark list for Class XII and X.
- Your XIIth exam roll number
- Scan your documents to verify your degree (if applicable).
- Proof of Address, Photo ID, etc
If you don’t pay the fee, your online submission is invalid. You can download the registration details and admit cards from ICSI’s official website.
The following is the last date for submitting applications to the examination
25th March – Late fee 250/- till 9th April.
25th September – Late fee 250/- till 10th October
How much is the exam fee for CS?
Exam fees are listed below for each level.
| Level | Charges |
| Foundation | 1200/- |
| The Executive Summary | 1200/- per module |
| Professionals | 1200/- per module |
What are the fees to register for CS?
| LEVEL | FEES |
| Foundation | 4,500/- |
| Graduates in commerce | 9,000/- |
| Graduates in Non-Commerce | 10,000/- |
| ICAI CMA Foundation pass, ICAI CPT/CA foundation | 12,000/- |
| CS foundation pass | 8,500/- |
What are the expected starting salaries and job roles?
The following are some of the roles that a CS certified professional may work in
- Joint ventures and foreign collaborations
- Legal, corporate governance, and secretarial services
- Project Planning
- Capital Market and Investor Relations
- Corporate advisory services
- Corporate restructuring
A company secretary professional can be a manager in banks and building societies, employers corporations, housing associations, Insurance companies, Investment sectors, etc. A company secretary can work in various positions, from providing legal advice and representation to corporate governance.
A CS fresher will start with a salary between 30,000 – 40,000. As you gain experience and improve your skills, the salary scale will rise.
What is the deadline for registering for the CS exams?
| Foundation | 31st March is the deadline for exams in December of the same year. |
| Exams in June next year will be held on 30th September. | |
| Executive Program | 28th February if you have both modules of the December exam taken in the same year. |
| 31st of May for a single module exam in December in the same year | |
| Both modules are due to be completed by 31st of August for the June 2019 exam. | |
| 30th November is the last day to register for a single module of the June exam. |
How much time does it take for the company secretary examination?
You will need to complete the three-year CS course to become a Certified Company Secretary. The student must then register with the Company Secretaries of India. Students who have completed their +2 in any recognized board can take CS.
What is the number of papers for a course in company secretary?
The foundation exams are the tests that students must write.
- Business Economics
- Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing
- Business Management
- The Ethics of the Law
- Entrepreneurship
The executive programme exam is divided into two modules and 8 subjects.
Module 1 –
- Cost and Management Accounting
- Company Law
- Tax laws and practices
- Economic and Commercial Law
Module 2 –
- Industrial General and Labour Laws
- Accounting and auditing practices for companies
- Capital Markets and Securities Law
The following is the level of education for each profession:
The exams are divided into three modules. The last module contains 3 subjects, and the student can choose the third subject as it is an elective.
These are the topics:
Module 1 –
- Advanced Company Law and Practice
- Due diligence, compliance management, and secretarial audit
- Insolvency, corporate restructuring and valuation
Module 2 –
- Information Technology and Systems Audit
- Foreign exchange and financial treasury management
- Sustainability, ethics and governance
Module 3 –
- Tax laws and practices that are advanced
- Drafting, appearances and pleadings
Students can select from a variety of electives, including –
- Bank Laws and Practices
- Capital
- Commodity market and money markets
- Insurance laws and practices
- Intellectual property laws and practices
- International Business Laws and Practices
The subjects must be written in English. After completing their foundation program or their degree, students will have the opportunity to do an articleship. Students can also choose to write the exam in Hindi, except for Business Communication from the Foundation Program.
The candidate will be declared successful if he/she achieves a minimum 40% mark in each of the three papers. The total marks for all subjects must be at least 50%.
In accordance with the Company Secretaries regulations of 1982, students must complete a computer training program in order to be eligible to take part in the CS Executive Programme exam. The examinations are held twice a year in December and June.
Students can be exempted, in whole or part, from training by submitting the required documents. This will satisfy the 1982 amendment to the Company Secretaries Regulations. After passing the Professional Programme, a student may choose to enroll as a Licentiate of ICSI until completing training requirements.
The Institute admits a candidate as an Associate Member and allows him/her to use the descriptive title CS after their name, only after they have completed the CS Professional Programme. The CS Course is recognized by various Universities as a prerequisite for Ph.D.
Contact Lakshara Academy for more information about CS courses. We offer CS coaching classes in Chennai, India.