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Complete guide on Company Secretary Course – How to become CS
If you are from the Commerce field in your higher secondary school, then Chartered Accountant (CA) and Company Secretary (CS) are the two major courses that come in student’s minds. However, Company Secretary is easy to crack in comparison to the Chartered Accountant.
You can also read the complete guide on “How to become CA?” https://bharatjobguru.com/become-a-chartered-accountant-in-2020/
A company secretary career gives you higher financial rewards as compared to other courses plus also provides job satisfaction.
Who is the Company secretary?
A company secretary (CS) plays a crucial role in the functioning of a corporate firm. They handle all the legal aspects of a firm to manage all the company’s internal affairs. Their legal statements give a boost to the shareholder’s confidence in the company’s affairs. The Institute of Company Secretary of India (https://www.icsi.edu/home/) is the governing body that regulates and lay down the rules and regulation for CS in India.
While taking registration, the ICSI provides “Company Secretary Course Material” for all the subjects.
Roles of a Company Secretary
- To ensure that all the compliances are meeting as per the company’s act provisions and reporting to the Board
- Provide the required guidance to the company’s director regarding their power, responsibilities, and duties.
- Ensure that good corporate governance and healthy practices are followed in the firm.
- Responsible for all company’s regulatory compliances and applicable secretarial standards throughout the year
Why should you choose CS as a career?
Although CS is not a tough course, but you still need proper planning and dedication to become a CS. If you choose CS:
- You can become an expert in corporate law, and it has an essential role in company formation and legal compliance.
- The top-level management interacts with CS and relies on them for the legal advices related to their company.
- You gain a good reputation along with high salary packages.
Eligibility to apply for CS exams:
After completing 10 + 2, a candidate is eligible to start a CS course by preparing the first level exams, i.e., CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET). Other option to start your career in the CS course is after completing your graduation. If you enter CS after completing graduation or post Graduation directly to CS Executive Programme, you are also required to pass the CSEET to become eligible for registration to the Executive Programme.
ICSI Company Secretary Exam Levels
Like the CA course, the CS course also consists of three exams levels as below:
ICSI CS Foundation Programme (Replaced with CSEET):
After completing 10+2, you need to clear the foundation exams. Candidate from Arts (excluding Fine art), Science, and Commerce are eligible for the CS foundation program. However, the Institute has now replaced the CS foundation course with the CSEET from February 3, 2020. Now, CSEET is the only qualifying entrance test for registration to the CS Executive Programme.
CSEET Registration link: https://smash.icsi.in/Scripts/CSEET/Instructions_CSEET.aspx
ICSI CS Executive Programme:
After clearing CS executive program, you can apply for the CS executive exams after completing a minimum 9 months study course. The students must complete the CS executive within a minimum duration of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years from the date of registration.
ICSI CS Professional Programme:
Once you have cleared the CS executive, you are at the last level of CS exams, i.e., CS Professional program.
Note on qualifying criteria:
For clearing all exams levels, a candidate has to pass the Foundation / Executive / Professional examination, with a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and, in aggregate 50% marks.
Company secretary training:
Like CA course articleship, CS candidates also have to go through the short-term training programs. The CS practical training period is of 15 months. Students have the choice to undergo the training after completing the executive or professional level examination. However, to become the associate member of ICSI, the students have to compulsory completed the CS practical training.
Oral coaching and Training requirements
Oral Coaching: Every candidate has to mandatorily attend the lectures for each subject, as mentioned below:
| Foundation Programme | 30 lectures of 2 hours duration |
| Executive Programme | 35 lectures of 2 hours duration |
| Professional Programme | 40 lectures of 2 hours duration for each professional programme subject |
Other Short-term training programs: Once you have passed the Executive Programme, you have to complete the following trainings compulsorily:
Executive Development Program (EDP): It is a 8 days program required to be completed before commencing the 15 months training.
15 Months Management Training: The candidate has to complete the 15 months of management training under a Company secretary in practice or with a company. Further, in this training, there are 25 hours reserved for Professional Development Programme (PDP) as well.
Training programs (SIP) and Compulsory Computer Training: The students eligible for this training only after completing 6 months of Executive Programme registration. It is of the 7-day Student Induction Programme (SIP). Besides that, you have to complete a 70-hour Compulsory Computer Training program.
15 Days Specialized Training: Another training is 15 days that you need to complete under a specialized agency such as the Registrar of Companies (ROC), stock exchange, financial or banking institution, or a management consultancy. However, you can apply for this training only after completing the SIP, EDP, and 15 months training program.
MSOP: You have to attend a 15 days Management Skills Orientation Programme (MSOP) after completing 15 months of training.
What after completing the exams?
After completing all the CS exams and undergo 15 months training program, candidates are eligible to get their Membership of ICSI. They can use the title of Associate Company Secretary (ACS) after their name.
Due dates for taking admission to CS course
| For Foundation Programme | For December exams: 31st March in the same year |
| For June exams: 30th September of the next year | |
| For Executive Programme | For December exams: 28th February in the same year for appearing in both modules |
| For December exams: 31st May in the same year for appearing in single module | |
| For June exams: 31st August in the same year for appearing in both modules | |
| Fir June exams: 30th November of the next year for appearing in single module |
CS course subjects
| CS exams | No. of papers | CS subjects |
| CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) | 4 papers and Viva | 1. Business Communication2. Legal Aptitude & Logical Reasoning3. Economic and Business Environment4. Current AffairsAnd15 Minutes viva on “Presentation and Communication Skills” |
| CS Executive programme | 8 papers(4 papers in each module) | 1. Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws2. Company Law3. Setting Up Of Business Entities And Closure4. Tax Laws5. Corporate & Management Accounting6. Securities Laws & Capital Markets7. Economic, Business And Commercial Laws8. Financial And Strategic Management |
| CS Professional programme | 9 papers(3 papers in each module) | 1. Governance, Risk Management, Compliances And Ethics2. Advanced Tax Laws3. Drafting, Pleadings And Appearances4. Secretarial Audit5. Corporate Restructuring6. Resolution Of Corporate Disputes7 .Corporate Funding & Listings In Stock Exchanges8. Multidisciplinary Case Studies9 .Electives 1 Out Of Below 5 Subjects9.1 Banking Law And Practice9.2 Insurance Law And Practice9.3 Intellectual Property Rights – Law And Practice9.4 Forensic Audit9.5 Direct Tax Law & Practice9.6 Labour Laws & Practice9.7 Valuations & Business Modelling9.8 Insolvency – Law And Practice |
CS course Fee structure:
Here are the complete details about the fee structure for CS course:
| CSEET | Rs. 1000 per attempt |
| CS Executive Programme | For Commerce Graduates Rs. 9000 |
| For students who have passed ICAI CPT / ICAI-CMA Foundation passed Rs 12,500 | |
| For Non Commerce Students Rs 10,000 | |
| For CS Foundation passed students Rs 8,500 | |
| CS Professional Programme | Rs.12,000 |
Career scope after becoming Company Secretary (CS)
Various top recruiting companies hire CS such as KPMG, ONGC, PWC, Deloitte, HCL Technologies Ltd.,
Banks, etc. for the different profile levels
- Compliance Officer
- Chief Advisor
- Executive Secretary
- Governance Professional
- Board Advisor
- Secretarial Auditor
- Assistance to the Board of Directors
- Company Registrar
- Legal Advisor
- Corporate Policymaker
- Chief Administrative Officer
- Principal Secretary
- Corporate Planner
- Chairman
- Managing Director
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Secretary
- Investor Capital Market Relations
- Contents Coordinator
Conclusion:
Making career in Company Secretary (CS) is one of the respectable and high-rewarding ways to live your life with freedom along with continuous growth.
Just like the Chartered Accountancy course, the Company Secretary is also not a cup of tea for everyone. It needs determination, ambition, and focus to clear CS. Even after becoming CS, you will get opportunities to work with top-level managers in critical corporate decision making roles.
Comment below if you have any query regarding CS course.