- Company Secretary course is offered by the ICSI in order to provide structured education and regulate jobs in this field.
- The course is offered throughout the year and candidates can apply either after class 12 or after pursuing graduation.
Candidates who seek lucrative jobs in the corporate world can get a great start after pursuing the Company Secretary course. It is one of the most popular choices of career amongst commerce students, however, students of all fields can apply for the company secretary course.
The company secretary course is offered by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). It is a distance learning course that was started to regulate the profession of a Company Secretary. With a right mix of academic programmes and practical training, the programme opens up great opportunities in the corporate sector. Find out the details of the course below.
About Company Secretary Course:
Aspirants willing to pursue the Company Secretary course have to undergo different programmes and 15 months of practical training in order to get the company secretary credentials. Following are the programmes that one has to pursue in the company secretary course:
- Foundation Programme
- Executive Programme
- Professional Programme
- Management Training
Company Secretary Course Structure:
Name of the Programme | Duration | Modules and subjects |
|---|---|---|
Foundation Programme | 1 year (minimum) |
|
Executive Programme | 1 year (minimum) or more depending on the time taken by you to clear all subjects | Module 1:
Module 2:
|
Professional Programme | 1 year (minimum) or more depending on the time taken by you to clear all subjects | Module 1:
Module 2:
Module 3:
Module 4:
|
Training for Company Secretary Course:
Type of Training | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Student Induction Programme (SIP) | 7 days | This induction must be pursued within six months after registering for the Executive programme in order to appear for the exams of both the modules. |
Compulsory computer training program | 70 hours | This training is essential in order to be eligible to appear for the Executive Programme. |
Executive Development Programme (EDP) | 8 days | This must be pursued after passing the executive programme and prior to the 15-month training. |
Professional Development Programme (PDP) | 25 hours | This should be pursued during the 15-month training. |
Management or Professional Training | 15 months | Training must be pursued after passing the Executive or Professional Programme. Training must be done with companies registered with the ICSI Institute or under a Company Secretary in Practice. |
Practical Training | 3 months | It is pursued only after the candidate has passed the professional programme and is exempted from undergoing 12 months of training under Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982. |
Specialized Agency Training | 15 days | This can be pursued after completing SIP, EDP, passing professional programme and completing 15-month training. The training can be pursued at Registrar of Companies (ROC), Financial and Banking Institution, Stock Exchange or Management Consultancy Firm. |
Management Skills Orientation Programme (MSOP) | 15 days | Candidates can pursue this if they have been fully or partially exempted from training and submitted documents required to fulfil 1982 regulation. This training can be pursued only after passing professional programme, EDP and 15-month training. |
The exams are conducted in English, as well as, in Hindi. However, the Business Communication subject in the Foundation Programme is conducted only in English.
Company Secretary Course Eligibility Criteria:
- After Class 12: Students applying for the Company Secretary Course after 10+2 will have to register for the Foundation Programme to start with. Students of science, commerce as well as arts can apply for the course.
- After Graduation: If candidates seek Company Secretary course after graduation they can apply straight away for the Executive Programme and continue with the Professional Programme after pursuing graduation in any field apart from fine arts.
- Final Programme: Candidates who have not passed the executive programme after graduation or those who have not passed the foundation and executive programme after 10+2 will not be allowed to pursue the Professional Programme.
How to Register for Company Secretary Course:
Admission to the company secretary course is open throughout the year. You can apply for the exam by creating an account at the ICSI official website and filling all the details. Once you have paid the registration fee, you will be able to appear for the exams. Exams for different programmes are conducted twice a year (i.e. in June and December) and candidates can apply accordingly.
Foundation Programme:
- If you want to appear for the CS Foundation exam in the month of December, you must apply for the same in the month of March of the same year.
- However, if you want to appear for the exam in June, you must apply latest by September of the previous year.
Executive Programme:
- Candidates who have registered for up to May are eligible to appear for any one module of the executive exam in December. Whereas, students who have registered up to November can appear for either of the modules in the month of June next year.
- You can appear for both the modules of the Executive exam in December if you register before February of the same year.
- If you wish to appear for the modules in June, you must apply for the executive programme latest by the month of August of the previous year.
Professional Programme:
- If you wish to appear for all the modules of the Professional exam in December, you will have to register before the end of February the same year.
- However, if you wish to appear for all the modules in June, you must apply before the end of August of the previous year.
- It is also possible to appear for single modules of the CS exams in December if you apply before the end of May the same year.
- You and also appear for the single modules in June if you apply before the end of November the previous year.
Company Secretary Course Fees:
Student Category | Foundation Programme | Executive Programme | Professional Programme |
|---|---|---|---|
General | Rs. 4,500 |
| Rs. 12,000 |
SC/ ST | Rs. 2,500 |
| Rs. 6,000 |
Physically Handicapped | Rs. 1,500 |
| No Registration Fee |
In order to get the credentials of Company Secretary, the candidates must pass each subject with at least 40% marks and 50% aggregate marks in all subjects.
Job Opportunities after Company Secretary Course:
After passing all requirements of the Company Secretary course, the candidate is registered with the ICSI as an Associate Member of the Institute and can use the ‘Associate Company Secretary’ credentials before his or her name. Candidates can be sponsored on request and be offered lucrative jobs or indulge in private practices.
Candidates can also apply for jobs through the official website of the institute and job vacancies will be displayed on the website. Campus interviews are also conducted for candidates after they have completed the 15-month training. Candidates can also pursue Ph.D. after completing their courses.
Salary of Company Secretary:
Company Secretaries are essential resources of the corporate world and are therefore offered excellent salary packages. A fresher can expect a salary package varying from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per annum. With experience, the salaries can also go up to Rs. 12 lakh per annum and more, depending on the type of company.
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