Company Secretary (CS) is a 3-year professional course that trains students to handle the legal aspects of a firm including tax returns and record keeping. A Company Secretary is directly involved in a company’s strategy and ensures that all the activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) trains and regulates Company Secretaries in India under the Company Secretaries Act, of 1980. More than 65,000 members and around 2,50,000 students are on the ICSI roll. As per the new UGC guidelines, the CS Exam is equivalent to a postgraduate degree. Students have the option to pursue higher studies in the field of research. Top colleges for CS include Hindustan Institute of Science and Technology and IIS University, Jaipur.
The CS Course fee is INR 4,500 for the CS Foundation, INR 8,500 to 12,500 for the CS Executive, and INR 12,000 for the CS Professional Course. CS Course duration is 8 months for CS Foundation, 9 months for CS Executive, and 15 months for CS Professional. The CS Foundation exam has been replaced by the CSEET exam. Students who wish to pursue the Company Secretary Course after graduation are exempted from passing the CSEET. Results for the January session are out for the CSEET Exam.
Table of Contents
Company Secretary Course Details
| Course Name | Company Secretary Course (CS) |
| Admission Process | Merit in the Entrance Exam |
| Qualification Required | Candidates must pass their 10+2 exams |
| Eligibility | Foundation program: 10+2 examination |
| Executive program: CSEET or Graduation/ foundation program | |
| Professional Program- Executive program | |
| Exam | CSEET or Company Secretary Executive Entrance test |
| Entrance Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Salary | INR 2,50,000 – INR 8,00,000 |
| Course Levels | Foundation Course, Executive Course, and Professional Course |
| Skills Required | Communication Skills, Expertise in Company law, Compliance, Attention to Detail, etc. |
| Jobs | Chief Financial Officer, Audit Manager, Revenue Manager, Investment Banker, |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Tata Steel, TVS, Aditya Birla Group, Dell Technologies, People Combine, Croma, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited, etc. |
What is Company Secretary Course?
The CS course or Company Secretary course is specially designed for students coming from a commerce background. However, students from any field, completing their 12 standards have access to this course. The Institute of Company Secretary of India offers the course to be a Company Secretary (C.S). The course is available via distance learning, and with the setup of this course, the profession of being a Company Secretary (C.S) came.
Candidates aspiring to seek admission to this program, in this institute, need to crack the CSEET or Company Secretary Executive Entrance test. The exam is conducted on a national level. There are overall four Company Secretary Course programs, which the candidates can pursue to be secretary of a company, namely, the Foundation Programme, Executive Programme, Professional Programme, and Management Training.
Learn More:
When to Study Company Secretary Course?
- Candidates completing their 12 standards, and looking to get into a good commerce field can apply for the Company Secretary (C.S).
- Also, candidates should be above 17 years of age in that year of admission to the Company Secretary course.
- Candidates appearing for their 12th board exam can also apply for the Company Secretary (C.S).
Who should study Company Secretary Course?
- Students coming from a commerce background, and aspiring to choose a renowned field in this area, should go for the Company Secretary (C.S).
- Candidates having good mental strength and strong convincing power can apply for the Company Secretary course, as these two things are highly required in the profession of a Company Secretary.
- There are also some desirable skill sets, that the candidates must possess to pursue this course. Among these include strong communication skills, time management, multitasking, being an expert in company law, working as a meticulous planner, and having a good command of spoken and written English.
How to Become a Company Secretary?
Candidates aspiring to become a Company Secretary (C.S), need to appear for the CSET exam. Students who have completed their 10+2 are eligible to pursue this course. There are three-course levels in this exam, namely the foundation course, executive course, and professional course.
Candidates have to first enrol in the Foundation course, which is course level one. After passing, students have to register themselves for the Executive course, and then the Professional program. There is a final management training round after completing the Professional level. Accomplishing that, candidates will be officially certified as a Company Secretary (C.S.) graduate. The Company Secretary's salary in India is 6 lakhs per year.
Company Secretary: Course Levels
Company Secretary has 3-course levels namely, Foundation Programme, Executive Programme, and Professional Programme.
| Levels | Description | Duration | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS Foundation Programme | It is the first level among the Company Secretary courses and the path to becoming a Company Secretary. This course is provided by the ICSI and is a mixture of optional coaching and postal tuition classes. | 8 Months | 4,500 |
| CS Executive Programme | The Executive Programme is the second level of becoming a certified Company Secretary (C.S). Candidates coming from any stream can pursue this course, except fine arts. | 9 Months |
9000/- (for Commerce Graduates) 12,500/- (for CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation passed of ICAI-CMA) 10,000/- (for Non Commerce Students) 8,500/- (for CS Foundation passed students) |
| CS Professional Programme | Candidates can only pursue this course if they have successfully cleared the executive program under the Company Secretary course. | 10 Months | 12,000 |
CS Foundation
The CS foundation course trains students in various areas including entrepreneurship, management, business environment, ethics, accounting, and economics. Check out the eligibility, course duration, course fee, syllabus, and entrance exams for the foundation course for the Company Secretary.
CS Foundation: Eligibility
Students must meet the CS Foundation Eligibility to sit for the CS Foundation Exam. The eligibility criteria are mentioned below:
- Candidates aspiring to take up the foundation course under the Company Secretary Course must pass their 10+2 entrance exams.
-
Candidates should successfully pass their 12th exams from a recognized educational institute or equivalent, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
CS Foundation: Duration
The Company Secretary course duration is 3 years, which is parallel to a postgraduate degree. The first level of the Company Secretary course, i.e., the foundation program is 8 months long.
CS Foundation: Fee Structure
Candidates pursuing the CS foundation program, need to pay both the admission and tuition fees. The total course fee for this course is INR 4500.
| Description | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Examination Fee | 1200 |
| Total Fee | 4500 |
CS Foundation Syllabus
The CS Foundation syllabus is as follows:
| Paper | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Business Law and Environment |
| Paper 2 | Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship |
| Paper 3 | Business Economics |
| Paper 4 | Accounting and Auditing |
CS Foundation Exam Dates
For the CS Foundation course, there is a CS Foundation entrance exam, where there will be 4 papers, based on the syllabus mentioned above. Each paper will have 100 marks, combining for a total of 400. The total number of questions for the test will be 250 MCQs, which the candidates need to complete in 90 minutes. It is a CBT exam.
Check out the important entrance exam dates for the 2024 CS foundation exam, below.
| Paper | Exam Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-1: Business Environment and Law | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| Paper-2 Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| Paper-3: Business Economics | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| Paper-4: Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing | To be Announced | To be Announced |
CS Executive Course
The CS executive course involves various areas mainly regarding the law. This includes commercial law, company law, general law, tax law, accounts and audit practice, and securities law. Know the eligibility, course duration, course fee, syllabus, and entrance exams, for the executive program in the Company Secretary course.
CS Executive: Eligibility
CS Executive Eligibility criteria must be met to sit for this examination. The CS Executive Eligibility criteria are mentioned below:
- The CSEET Exam is a mandatory qualifying test for all categories of students for registration to the Executive Programme except for a few exempted categories.
- Candidates must have completed Class 12 to be eligible for CSEET.
- Also, the age bar of the candidates should be above 17.
The following categories of students are exempted from qualifying for CSEET and can seek registration directly to the Executive Programme:
| CS Foundation Programme passed students | Exemption Fee: Nil |
| ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) final course passed students | Exemption Fee: INR 5000 |
| ICMAI (The Institute of Cost Accountants of India) final course passed by students | Exemption Fee: INR 5000 |
See Also:
CS Executive: Duration
Company Secretary course duration for the Executive program lasts for 9 months. ICSI CS Executive program registration is open throughout the year for the exam conducted in June and December.
CS Executive: Fee Structure
The fee structure for the CS executive program differs from the earlier one, and the total course fee is higher in this instance. The registration fee for the CS executive course is INR 1500, while there is another fee for the foundation examination exemption, which is INR 500. The tuition fee for this course is INR 5000, and the total course fee stands at INR 7000.
| Description | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Registration | 1500 |
| Tuition Fee | 5000 |
| Examination Form fee | 1800 |
| Examination Fee | 500 |
| Total | 8,800 |
CS Executive: Syllabus
In the CS executive course syllabus, there will be two modules, namely I and II. In each module, there will be 4 papers. In module I, there will be the topics of Interpretation, Jurisprudence, and General laws, in paper I, company law in paper II, setting up of business entities, and closure and tax laws in the last two papers.
On the other hand, in Module II, paper I will consist of corporate and management accounting, and Paper II will consist of securities laws and capital markets. In the last two papers, there will be Business, Economics and Commercial Law, and financial and strategic management respectively.
| Modules | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Module I | Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws |
| Company Law | |
| Setting up of Business Entities and Closure | |
| Tax Laws | |
| Module II | Corporate & Management Accounting |
| Securities Laws & Capital Markets | |
| Economic, Business, and Commercial Laws | |
| Financial and Strategic Management |
CS Executive Exams Dates
To be eligible for the CS executive course, candidates must pass the CSEET exam, i.e., the CS Executive Entrance Test. Candidates with a UG or PG degree can apply for this entrance.
| Particulars | May 2024 | July 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Period |
Till April 15, 2024 |
April 16 – June 15, 2024 |
| Admit Card | To be Announced | 10 days before exam |
| Exam Date | May 04, 2024 | July 06, 2024 |
| Result | To be Announced | To be Announced |
CS Professional Course
The CS professional course is the final level of the CS program. Find the eligibility, duration, course fee, syllabus, and entrance exams, below:
CS Professional Eligibility
For candidates seeking admission to the CS Professional course, must come through the CS executive program successfully.
Check: CS Professional Eligibility
CS Professional: Duration
The final course in the CS program is the professional course. The Company Secretary Course lasts for three years, where the first two courses combine for 15 months. The CS professional course is equal to the duration of the first two, i.e. 15 months.
See Also: CS Professional Duration
CS Professional: Fee Structure
The course fee for the CS professional course is the highest and certainly bigger than the first two. The registration fee for the same is INR 1500. Candidates must pay the fee for both exemptions from the foundation and exemption from the executive program exam, which is INR 500 for both. Lastly, the tuition fee for this course is INR 9500, and combining all these, the total course fee stands at INR 12,000.
| Description | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Examination Form Fee | 2250 |
| Registration Fee | 1500 |
| Tuition Fee | 9500 |
| Total | 13,250 |
CS Professional: Syllabus
In the CS Professional course, there will be three modules, and each module will consist of three papers.
| Module | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Module I | Governance, Risk Management, Compliances, and Ethics |
| Advanced Tax laws | |
| Drafting, Pleadings, and Appearances | |
| Module II | Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management, and Due Diligence |
| Corporate Reconstructing, Insolvency, Liquidation, and Winding-up | |
| Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non- Compliances, and Remedies | |
| Module III | Corporate Funding and Listing in Stock Exchanges |
| Multidisciplinary Case Studies | |
| Elective(1 out of below 8 subjects) | Banking- Law, and Practice |
| Insurance- Law and Practice | |
| Intellectual Property Rights- Laws and Practice | |
| Forensic Audit | |
| Direct Tax Laws and Practice | |
| Labour Laws and Practice | |
| Valuations and Business Modelling | |
| Insolvency- Law, and Practice |
CS Professional Exam Dates
CS Professional exams take place twice a year. This takes place mostly in June and December. The CS Professional Exam Results are released after 1 month of the exam.
| Exam Events | June 2024 Dates | December 2024 Dates |
|---|---|---|
| CS Professional Form submission | - | To be Announced |
| CS Professional Admit Card | 10-12 days before the Exam | To be Announced |
| CS Professional Exam Date | June 02 – June 10, 2024 | To be Announced |
| CS Professional Result | To be Announced | To be Announced |
Company Secretary Training
There is some training which the students need to undergo, to complete the company secretary course. The total time to complete this training course is around 20 months approx. Check these in detail below.
| Type of Training | Description | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SIP or Student Introduction Programme | Students need to pursue this training within 6 months after applying for the CS executive program, to be eligible to sit for the exams for both modules. | 7 days |
| EDP or Executive Development Programme | This training course is the most pursued among all, which the students can get into after coming through the CS training program before the 15 months of training. | 8 days |
| Compulsory Computer Training Programme | All the students have to pursue this course to be eligible for the CS executive program. | 70 hours |
| PDP or Professional Development Programme | Candidates have to pursue this training course for a period of 15 months of training. | 25 hours |
| Specialized Agency Training | Students can pursue this course after completing EDP or SIP or passing the professional program, and by completing the 15 months of training. | 15 days |
| MSOP or Management Skills Orientation Programme | This training course can be pursued if the student has been partially or fully exempted from training and has registered the documents needed to fulfill the regulation of 1982. | 15 days |
| Professional or Management Training | Candidates can pursue this course with the completion of the CS Executive or CS professional program. Students must complete their training with the companies which are registered with the Company Secretary in Practice or the ICSI Institute. | 15 months |
| Practical Training | Candidates can only pursue this training course, only if they have completed the cs professional program. Also, they are eligible to do this training only if they are exempted from undergoing the 12 months of training under the 1982 companies secretaries regulation. | 3 months |
CS vs CA
Below is the comparison between the company secretary course and chartered accountancy course:
| Parameters | Company Secretary | Chartered Accountant |
|---|---|---|
| About | The CS or Company Secretary course is a 3-year degree equivalent to a bachelor's program. | The CA or chartered accountancy course is a 5-year program, offered by the ICAI. Like the Company Secretary course, this also has 3 levels. |
| Education Required | Qualifying 10+2 exams | 10+2 with a minimum 60% aggregate |
| Skills Required | Communication Skills, Expertise in Company law, Compliance, Attention to Detail, Time Management & Multi-Tasking, etc. | IT proficiency, general business interest and awareness, numeracy, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, methodical approach, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 6 lakhs | INR 7 lakhs |
| Eligibility | Passing class 12 in any stream (commerce students will be preferred) | Passing class 12 with a commerce background. |
CS vs CMA
Find the course comparison between the CS course and the Certified Management Accountant Course, in the tabulation form, below:
| Parameters | Company Secretary | Certified Management Accountant |
|---|---|---|
| About | The CS or Company Secretary course is a 3-year degree equivalent to a bachelor's program. | CMA course is a 3 to a 4-year program, in the financial management, and management accounting fields. |
| Education Required | Qualifying 10+2 exams | Bachelor’s degree |
| Skills Required | Communication Skills, Expertise in Company law, Compliance, Attention to Detail, Time Management & Multi-Tasking, etc. | Planning and Budgeting, Cost Management, External Financial Reporting, Risk Management, Internal Controls, Investment Decision, Performance Management, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 6 lakhs | INR 1.35 lakhs |
| Eligibility | Passing class 12 in any stream (commerce students will be preferred) | Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks. |
Duty of a Company Secretary
The roles and responsibilities of a company secretary are as follows -
- Company secretaries are the compliance officers and give suggestions as in-house legal experts.
- They also play their role as a chief advisor to the board of directors in corporate governance.
- A company secretary is an expert in corporate laws, capital markets, and securities laws.
- They are also responsible for the regulatory compliance of an organization.
- They also play a significant role in corporate planning and as a strategic manager.
Company Secretary Jobs and Salary
Find the jobs which you can look for, with a CS graduate degree.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Business Consultant | Business consultants are responsible for working in the marketing areas, along with management, finance, human resources, and accounting. They do the work of improving various operations of a company. They assess various weaknesses present in a company and suggest business solutions. | INR 994,119 |
| Operations Manager | Operations managers do the work of supervising, hiring and training employees in both large and small-scale organizations. They are also responsible for strategizing process improvements, managing quality assurance, etc. Their major work is to keep up and increase the efficiency of an agency, business, or organization. | INR 764,401 |
| Investment Banker | Investment bankers assist individuals or any business organization in raising capital and administering financial consultancy services to them. They help new firms to go public by being intermediaries between the investors and the security issuers. | Detailed Investment Banker Salary |
| Finance Consultant | Financial consultants help their clients in forming a battle financial plan for their overall well-being. They are a sort of advisor who conducts an audit of your present financial condition and plan to assist you in pursuing your future goals. | INR 628,854 |
| Legal Advisor |
Legal advisors are usually lawyers who provide legal advice and services to individuals or organizations. They specialize in a specific field of law and help the client prevent any legal implications or consequences. They are generally hired by individuals or corporations. Government offices also hire legal advisors to counsel police chiefs and other law enforcement managers. |
Legal Advisor Salary |
| Stock Broker | Stockbrokers are responsible for facilitating the selling and buying of stocks at the stock markets. They do it on behalf of the investors. | Stock Broker Salary |
Company Secretary Salary
Know the salaries of a company secretary in different countries and cities below.
| Job Role | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Budget Analyst | Detailed Budget Analyst Salary |
| Stock Broker | Detailed Stock Broker Salary |
| Marketing Manager | Detailed Marketing Manager Salary |
| Investment Banker | Detailed Investment Banker Salary |
| Revenue Manager | Detailed Revenue Manager Salary |
| Audit Manager | Detailed Audit Manager Salary |
| Chief Financial Officer | Detailed Chief Financial Officer Salary |
CS Salary Country Wise
FInd he country-wise salary for the company secretary profession for different countries in the world, below.
| Country | Salary (per annum) |
|---|---|
| India | INR 600,000 |
| Canada | INR 12,000,000 |
| United Kingdom | INR 60,00,000 |
| Australia | INR 11,000,000 |
| United States | INR 29,00,000 |
CS Salary City Wise
Know the city-wise salary for the company secretary profession, for different cities in India, below.
| Cities | Salary (per annum) |
|---|---|
| Kolkata | INR 5,00,000 |
| Mumbai | INR 8,00,000 |
| Bangalore | INR 7,00,000 |
| Pune | INR 5,00,000 |
| Chennai | INR 830,000 |
| New Delhi | INR 6,00,000 |
Company Secretary FAQs
Ques: What is the expected salary of a company secretary?
Ans: Candidates can earn an average of INR 4.1 lakhs per annum as a fresher, being a company secretary of an organization.
Ques: If I study company secretary in India, can I get a job abroad as a company secretary?
Ans: Yes. Anyone having a CS degree from ICSI, as well as having a minimum of 3 to 4 years of experience in this field, offers numerous opportunities in abroad countries. Among these include, Singapore, UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc.
Ques: Is the position of company secretary a good career GG?
Ans: The job of a CS is a high-level job in all administrative and organizational matters. This includes company law, security markets, various corporate strategies, and cases. Apart from the roles and responsibilities of a company secretary, they can expect an average salary of INR 25,000 to 40,000 monthly in India.
Ques: What are some good online CS (company secretary) coaching classes?
Ans: Some of the best CS (company secretary) coaching classes in India are -
- Edu-Ex
- SuperProfs
- Vignan CA Institute
- ACE Tutorials
- Deep Gyan Classes
- GOLS CS Coaching
-
Takshila Learning, etc.
Ques: How difficult is it to become a company secretary?
Ans: To become a CS, aspirants have to come through the Company Secretary program, which is certainly very difficult. It is recommended that students should apply for the CS executive program, and CS professional program, from a recognized university by the ICSI.
Ques: How does one become a company secretary?
Ans: Candidates must be eligible, and apply for the CS course at first. There are three-course levels for the CS program, namely the foundation course, executive course, and professional course. Passing all these three courses, a candidate will be officially certified as a company secretary.
Ques: What is the scope of a CS (company secretary) course in India?
Ans: The future scope of pursuing the CS course in India is numerous. Candidates can earn a handsome amount of compensation. The job roles which aspirants can look for by pursuing this course are Operations Manager, Business Consultant, Marketing Manager, Stock Broker, Investment Banker, Finance Consultant, etc.
Ques: What is the duration of the Company Secretary Course?
Ans: The CS program has 3-course levels, namely foundation course, executive course, and professional course. The foundation course is 8 months, the executive course is 7 months, and the professional course is 15 months, combining the course duration to be 3 years.
Ques: What qualifications do you need to be a Company Secretary?
Ans: To become a company secretary, you need to have a professional degree in law, business, accountancy, or public administration. Also, you need to have working experience in business areas such as credit control, accounts, pensions, personnel, etc.
Ques: What is the salary of CS?
Ans: The average starting salary of a company secretary is INR 3 lakhs, and the salary of a senior-level experienced company secretary ranges from INR 9,00,000 – 12,00,000.
Ques: Is CS easier than CA?
Ans: The CS course is primarily much easier than the CA course. The chartered accountancy course is considered one of the toughest courses in India. The CS course is overall not that easy but comparatively easier than the CA.
Ques: Which degree is best with CS?
Ans: There are multiple degrees that candidates can have along with the CS degree. Mentionable among these are -
- CS with CA
- CS with LLB
- CS with MBA in Finance, etc.
Ques: Who Earns More CA or CS?
Ans: Individuals having a CA degree earn much more than individuals having a CS degree. The average salary of a company secretary is 6 lakhs in India, whereas the average salary of a CA in India is around 8 lakhs.
Ques: What is the maximum salary of CS?
Ans: The highest salary of a company secretary salary in India has been reportedly INR 54 lakhs. Also, candidates having a significant amount of experience are able to earn more than INR 42 lakhs per year.
Ques: What is the salary of a CS fresher?
Ans: The salary of a CS fresher in India can range up to INR 3 to 3.5 lakhs per annum. It can also be above 4.1 lakh per annum if the fresher candidate has good working skills.
Ques: Can an average student crack CS?
Ans: Yes. Cracking the CS is not a big deal. Candidates have to earn a total of 60% in the theoretical paper and 40% marks in the practical paper.
Ques: Can I delete CS on the first attempt?
Ans: Company secretary users can delete their CS first data or request which is an export to their data.
Ques: What is the CS syllabus?
Ans: The company secretary course is mainly based on law subjects. It has three different course levels, including foundation, executive, and professional courses. The CS program mainly deals with subjects including Corporate laws, company laws, business laws, risk management, and finance management.
Ques: Can I do self-study for CS?
Ans: Yes. Individuals can execute the study of CS programs themselves. This includes a few hours of self-study, following the books, and preparing the syllabus given by the ICSI. Also, attending classroom coaching, online video lectures, etc.
Ques: Can I clear CS without coaching?
Ans: Yes. It is possible to clear the CS course, without taking coaching classes. However, in that case, it is necessary for you to put effort into your studies for at least 5 to 6 hours a day.
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