CS Course - Company Secretary

Company Secretary course or CS is a professional programme where students learn to handle compliance, legal, and regulatory aspects of a corporate firm. It can take up to 3-5 years to pursue this course depending on a student’s ability to pass the exams. The company secretary course duration for the foundation program is 8 months, the executive course is 9 months, and the CS Professional course spans 15 months excluding the training period.

The minimum company secretary course eligibility is Class 10+2 or equivalent in any stream except Fine Arts. Students can also pursue CS after graduation. CS admission is open throughout the year via entrance exams conducted twice a year- June and December. According to ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) company secretary course details after 12th (all streams except Fine Arts), a student has to take up all three programs. However, if a student wishes to pursue CS after graduation, they only need to undergo executive and professional levels (except if they have Fine Arts).

The Company Secretary Course Syllabus is vast, especially the Executive and Professional courses’ syllabi. The foundational courses include accounting and auditing fundamentals, business economics, business management, ethics, and entrepreneurship, and business environment and law. For executive programmes, tax laws and practice, economic, commercial, and intellectual property laws, company law & practice, and related topics are studied. Similarly, for professional programmes, secretarial audits, corporate restructuring, valuation, and insolvency, strategic management & corporate finance, and many more are a part.

To get CS admission after 10+2, candidates have to pass the CSEET exam to become eligible for the CS Executive course. Aspirants who are graduates and postgraduates can directly opt for the CS Executive course without going through the CSEET exam.

CS Jobs are eclectic ranging from giant corporations to startups. You can be the one to make a difference in how a company operates and thrives. CS Salary for freshers is also lucrative and it could range from Rs. 4,00,000 to Rs. 7,00,000.

• The CSEET registration procedure for the November session will run till October 15, 2024.
• CSEET applications for the 2025 January session will start on October 16, 2024.
• ICSI has revised the syllabus and students must prepare for it in the upcoming sessions.

Check out the important company secretary course details at a glance here:

A company secretary course allows individuals to protect companies from legal troubles. It ensures that the company works ethically and adheres to legal and regulatory standards. From business and corporate laws to intellectual property laws, secretarial audits, and much more, a company secretary is trained to become well-versed in all. 

There are several strong reasons to study the Company Secretary (CS) Course, including:

• CS professionals are highly in demand.
• Their role is quite important in the corporate sector.
• Company Secretary professionals can work in public and private organisations or as independent consultants.
• This profile is quite prestigious and honoured by companies.
• Roles and positions at managerial and board levels open up for CS professionals.
• CS professionals are versatile and adaptable as they have skills and knowledge of finance, management, legal, and communication.
• The Company Secretary course is recognised globally.
• Since the job opportunities are ample, there is good job security.

When to pursue Company Secretary (CS) Course?

You can pursue the Company Secretary (CS) Course at different stages of your educational journey and career.

Who should study Company Secretary Course?

The CS Course suits those individuals who are as follows and are interested in the following:

• Those interested in corporate law, legal compliance, and company regulations
• Those with an inclination towards corporate governance
• Individuals being methodical and possessing a sharp eye for detail and multiple task handling
• Effective written and oral communication
• Those having analytical and problem-solving abilities
• If you want to be in key management positions in companies
• To people who have a career plan in the financial world, company administration, or corporate affairs
• The CS Course The training demands continuous learning as well as an awareness of the evolving legal and regulatory environment
• If you find interest in how businesses operate, grow, and succeed

The CS Executive Entrance Exam or CSEET is the required entrance exam for enrollment in the Company Secretary Executive programme. ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) holds the exam to gauge candidates' readiness for the position of Company Secretary. The CSEET exam is compulsory for all students who want to apply to the Company Secretary Executive programme.

CSEET Exam Pattern

Here are the highlights of the CS executive entrance exam CSEET question paper:

1. The exam will consist of the following 4 parts as mentioned below:
   1. Business Communication
   2. Legal Aptitude & Logical Reasoning
   3. Economic and Business Environment
   4. Current Affairs
2. It is a computer-based MCQ test of 120 minutes 
3. The exam will also entail a viva-voce of 15 minutes to test the candidate's Presentation and Communication Skills.

CSEET Eligibility Criteria 

1. All those candidates who have completed or are appearing for their 10+2 exams are eligible to apply and register themselves for the CSEET examination. 
2. All graduates and postgraduates can apply for CSEET.
3. The minimum age to appear for the CS Executive Entrance Test is 17 years.

CSEET Duration 

The duration of the ICSI CSEET exam will be 120 minutes for the MCQ-based test and 15 minutes for viva voce.

CSEET Registration Fee 

The registration fee for the CSEET exam is INR 2,000 and ICSI also provides concession to candidates from categories as mentioned in the table below:

CSEET Syllabus & Subjects

The CSEET syllabus includes four subjects that are listed below:

CSEET Exam Date

The CSEET exam dates are mentioned in the table below

CS Executive course covers a variety of topics, primarily those related to law. This includes corporate law, general legal principles, tax law, accounting and auditing procedures, and securities law. The company secretary syllabus at the executive level entails two groups with a total of 7 papers. 

Candidates can join the CS Executive course right after completing their class 12th and passing the CSEET entrance test OR candidates who have completed their graduation/ postgraduation/ Passed ICAI or ICMAI final level can also directly join the course without having to take the CSEET exam. However, such candidates will have to pay the exam exemption fee of INR 5,000.

Students often find the CS Executive course a bit tougher than the Company Secretary Professional programme because the Executive course focuses exclusively on laws such as company law, the Contract Act, and the Negotiable Instrument Act, whereas the professional course focuses more on due diligence, the responsibilities of a Company Secretary, and case studies.

CS Executive Eligibility Criteria 

Before submitting an application for the CS Executive course, candidates must review the company secretary course executive level eligibility mentioned below:

• Candidates must be older than 17 years to register for the CS Executive course.
• Applicants must have passed either the ICSI-conducted CSEET or the CS Foundation level.
• Candidates who have completed their graduation/ postgraduation are eligible to apply for the programme without having to take the CSEET exam. Similarly, applicants who have successfully completed ICMAI or ICAI's final level are also eligible to apply for the course after paying an exemption fee of INR 5,000.

CS Executive Duration 

The CS Executive course lasts for around 9 months. The registration for the ICSI CS Executive exam, which is offered in June and December each year, is open all year long.

CS Executive Fee Structure 

The detailed company secretary course fees for the executive-level programme are mentioned in the table below:

CS Executive Syllabus and Subjects 

The company secretary course executive level syllabus and subjects are grouped into two groups to inculcate principles, laws, and interpretation at the executive level. In this context, the arrangement of papers in Group 1 of the Executive Programme has been designed with consideration for the key factors of "Ease of Learning," "Balancing of Theoretical/Legal and Practical Papers," and "Reinforcing fundamental concepts relevant to the papers in Group 2." Based on these considerations, students are encouraged to prioritise Group 1 when taking the Executive Programme Examination.

CS Executive Exam Pattern

1. 20 % case objective-based questions and 80% descriptive questions in all except Corporate Accounting and Financial Management, which is 100% descriptive.
2. Exam duration- 3 Hours
3. Marks- 100 Marks for each exam

CS Executive Exam Dates 

The CS Executive exam dates are mentioned in the table below:

CS Professional course is the final level of the Company Secretary programme. The duration of CS Professional is 15 months and after the completion of the course, candidates are required to undergo training. Candidates can be admitted to the course only if they have successfully passed the CS Executive programme. It is only after the completion of the Company Secretary Professional course that a candidate gets certified by the ICSI to become a bonafide Company Secretary.

CS Professional Eligibility Criteria

The CS course eligibility at the professional level involves clearing the CS executive level successfully.

CS Professional Duration 

The duration of the CS Professional course is around 15 months. It is the last level of the Company Secretary programme after which a candidate can become a certified CS upon successful completion of the level.

CS Professional Fee Structure 

Candidates who successfully clear the CS Executive course will have to pay the CS course fees for the professional level as mentioned in the table below

CS Professional Syllabus and Subjects 

The CS professional course syllabus is divided into two groups as per ICSI's new Syllabus 2022. There are a total of 7 papers.

Elective Subjects

CS Professional Exam Pattern

1. Descriptive questions in exams
2. For elective papers, both descriptive and open-book questions will be asked
3. Exam duration is of 3 hours for each exam
4. 100 marks each exam

CS Professional Exam Dates 

The CS Professional exam dates are mentioned in the table below:

The key points related to the company secretary admission process after 12th are as follows:

• Candidates who have passed class 12th must mandatorily register themselves for the CSEET exam at The Institute of Company Secretaries of India’s (ICSI) official website.
• They have to visit the official website at icsi.edu and choose "Register for CSEET" by clicking the link for online services.
• Applicants must keep all the required documents ready before starting the online application process.
• After clicking on "Register for CSEET", candidates must now fill out the online application form and upload all the prescribed documents.
• After completing the entire application form, it is essential to cross-check if they have filled out each detail accurately or not.
• Once they have verified the entries in the form, candidates need to click on submit which will redirect them to the payment page.
• The CSEET application fee of INR 2000 needs to be paid via online mode through a credit card, debit card, or net banking.
• An acknowledgement email along with the fee payment confirmation and receipt will be sent to their email which they can download for their records.
• Applicants who are already graduates/ postgraduates need not take the CSEET exam and they can directly enrol for the CS Executive level.
• Those who pass the CSEET will be eligible for admission to the CS Executive course.
• Candidates who successfully clear the Company Secretary Executive course will be eligible for the final level of the CS which is the Professional programme.
• Once a candidate successfully clears the CS Professional level, they become eligible to get certified by the ICSI and practice as a certified Company Secretary in India.

Students who are confused about whether CS is the correct choice for them can go through the course comparison of CS and other similar courses to find the ideal programme for themselves.

CS vs CA: Which is Better?

Company Secretary (CS) is responsible for providing legal and strategic advice to the corporation on a variety of fronts. The latter is a company law and corporate governance expert, and the former is an expert in accounting and finance. The main purpose of this section is to dispel any misconceptions between Chartered Accountancy and CS for anyone looking to determine which program is better for them.

Most individuals frequently conflate CA and CS despite the obvious differences in the career options of the two courses. Being one of the most sought-after professional programs following class 12th, it's critical to comprehend the distinction between the two. So that you can make an informed decision, this section will give you a thorough comparison of CA and CS as well as the major features of the two reputed job profiles.

CS vs CMA: Which is Better?

CMA stands for Certified Management Accountant, and the proper sponsor and provider of this education is the Institute of Certified Management Accountants. The CS course is provided by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, ICSI. CS stands for Company Secretary. The course is focused on corporate law and regulations rather than cost and management accounting as the CMA course.

Company Secretary (CS) vs MBA

Here's a comparison between Company Secretary (CS) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses:

Let’s take a look at after CS jobs and salary:

CS Jobs 

Similar to a Chartered Accountant, a Company Secretary is a crucial support structure for all types of businesses, whether they are large or small, public or private. A CS is necessary for managing standard tax, legal, and investment issues. Many organizations employ such individuals, however, some choose to use the services offered by Company Secretary agencies.

All industries, including financial institutions, banks, heavy industry, as well as governmental organisations, will hire a trained company secretary. Here are the employment roles that company secretary graduates can fill:

1. Chief Administrative Officer: They look into the general administrative activity undertaken by the company and all secret documents relating to legal and other necessities of a company are kept safe under their strict observation.

2. Corporate Planner: They ensure and plan for the company's potential growth, as well as deal with mergers, joint ventures, alliances, or takeovers within and outside the firm.

3. Legal Advisor: They become representatives to the company for any legal problems and ensure that the company maintains adherence to all bureaucratic as well as legislative requirements and securities and corporate regulations.

4. Business Consultant: Business consultants manage marketing, management, finance, human resources, and accounting. They are in charge of improving a company's numerous operations. They evaluate a company's many flaws and recommend business remedies.

5. Corporate Policymaker: They create the organisation's short- and long-term corporate policies. They also guide the organisation during a review of current policies regularly.

6. Administrative Secretary: They help the executives, directors, or department head-level employees with high-level clerical support by executing several secretarial responsibilities and skilled activities. The activities include creating reports, conducting research, and collecting data.

7. Managing Director: They run the entire business operations of the company, including people activities and legal affairs, with a view to getting the best out of the organisation.

8. Director/ Member of Board of Directors: They provide secretarial and expert advice to one of the members of a company's board of directors.

CS Salary

In corporate organisations, company secretaries hold prestigious positions of authority. A certified CS has the potential to earn a substantial income based on their qualifications, skills, and experience. The table provided below displays the standard company secretary salary range for qualified individuals in the role of CS serving as a useful reference:

CS Employment Areas and Top Recruiters

Some of the employment areas for a CS are listed below:

• Banks
• Corporate Institutions
• Tax Hubs
• Financial Institutions
• Sale & Excise Departments
• Company Law Boards
• Non-Banking Financial Institutions
• Company Secretaryship Consulting Firms
• Law Firms
• Stock Exchanges
• Government Ministries

A few of the top recruiters that hire CS are mentioned below:

• KPMG
• Deloitte
• ONGC
• HCL Technologies Ltd.
• Jaypee Group
• Punjab National Bank
• DPNC Global LLP
• Caddy Ventures LLP
• JK Sarawgi & Company
• PMS Consulting
• Wipro
• Accenture
• Jaikumar Tejwani & Co.
• ICICI Bank
• Ministry of Commerce, Government of India
• Air India
• Amazon

After doing the Company Secretary (CS) course, one can get the opportunity to choose from a variety of courses that will enhance their career prospects. Course choices depend on the specific career goals and particular areas of interest. Some courses one can take after becoming a CS are as follows

• LLB (Bachelor of Laws): Many CS professionals prefer taking an LLB to gain deeper legal knowledge and become practising lawyers. This may lead them to possibilities in the practice and litigation of the law.
• MBA (Master of Business Administration): An MBA is an excellent option if one needs to transition into executive or general management. One will be equipped with skills such as leadership, strategy, finance, marketing, and so many more.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Law (PGDCL): This is a specialized course in corporate and business law. The center of interest by CS professionals therefore would be for deepening their legal expertise in corporate matters.
• Chartered Accountancy (CA): Any finance and accountancy-learning student would like to pursue a CA qualification that complements his CS credentials to take up auditing, taxation, or financial management roles.
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA): It is an international qualification awarded to management accountants. CS professionals interested in financial planning, analysis, and support in decision-making perform well in this certificate.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA): The CPA qualification is also in accounting and finance but more aligned towards international financial positions.
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA): For those interested in information technology and systems auditing, CISA may be helpful for attaining qualification in CS.
• Diploma or Certificate Courses: Diploma or certificate courses of shorter duration in arbitration, taxation, compliance management, or risk management may be followed to acquire expertise in a specific area.
• Executive Programs: Most institutions and business colleges have education programs for the experienced; most of these programs are to perfect your management and leadership skills.
• PhD (Doctor of Philosophy): If you feel that you have a significant interest in research, then you can pursue a PhD in law or business or in any other related area.
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE): In case you are interested in fraud detection and prevention, becoming a CFE would be quite beneficial to stand in front of forensic accounting and fraud investigation.
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA): It is unique to provide education and experience for internal auditing and governance. It is a great option for CS professionals who want to better their audit skills.