Company Secretary : A Prosperous Professional

If you want become a valuable and responsible professional in corporate world who ensures both the legal as well as ethical compliance and by providing his worthful guidance to the Board of Directors ascertains the substantial growth of the organization, then go for Company Secretary Course.In the present world's economic scenario company secretary has increases the importance of company secretary. Company Secretary plays a vital role in the organization for its overall development 

The Company Secretary is:

• An in-house legal expert; a compliance officer of the Company.
• An expert in corporate laws, securities laws & capital market and corporate governance
• Chief advisor to the board of directors on best practices in corporate  governance
• Responsible for all regulatory compliances of company
• Corporate planner and strategic manager

if you want to be a Company Secretary, you have to pass the Company Secretary

 Examination conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

A candidate who wants to pursue the Company Secretaryship course under the new scheme of examination has to complete the following three stages:

*Foundation Programme  

* Executive Programme 

* Professional Programme 

After qualifying the professional examination and on successful completion of training, a candidate can be an Associate Member of the ICSI and can use the letters ACS after his/her name( i.e. Associate Company Secretary). After fulfilling the prescribed criteria, a Company Secretary with ACS can become a fellow member of the ICSI and can use FCS after his/her name to indicate he/she is a fellow member of the Institute of Company Secretary. After obtaining a ‘Certificate of Practice’ from the Institute, a member of the Institute can go in for independent practice.

Foundation Programme: It is the entry-level examination for the Company Secretaryship course. The minimum qualification required to join the programme is a pass in the 10+2 examination or its equivalent in any stream i.e., Arts, Science and Commerce. Provisional admission is allowed to a candidate who has appeared or enrolled to appear in the Senior Secondary (10+2 or equivalent) examination.

Cut off dates for admission to CS course: .

For Foundation Programme 31st March for appearing in December Examination  in the same year 30th September for June Examination next year For  Executive Programme 28th February for appearing in both modules in December Exams in the same year 31st May for appearing in single module in December Examination in the same year 31st August  for appearing in both modules in June Exam in the next year 30th November for appearing in single module in June Examination in the next year.

Coaching: The course is through correspondence, but the Institute imparts oral coaching through its regional councils/ chapters / collaborative oral tuition centres. The Institute supplies study material to the candidates after admissions. 

Fee Structure for CS Course

CS Foundation Programme	Rs.4500/-
CS Executive Programme	Rs.12,500/- for Commerce Graduates / CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation passed of ICAI-CMA
	Rs 10,000/- for Non Commerce Students
	Rs 8,500/- for CS Foundation passed students
CS Professional Programme	Rs.12,000/-

Examination Examination is conducted twice a year in June and December  Examination fee Foundation Programme  - Rs. 1200/-  Executive Programme     - Rs. 1200/- per Module Professional Programme  -Rs. 1200/- per Module  Last date for submission of application for appearing in the examination 25th March (with late fee of Rs. 250/- till 9th April) 25th September (with late fee of Rs. 250/- till 10th October)

Medium of Examination The Institute allows facility to students to appear in examination in English as well as in Hindi. (Except Business Communication subject of Foundation Program)

Qualifying Marks A candidate is declared to have passed the Foundation / Executive / Professional examination, if he/she secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in the aggregate of all subjects.

Exemption: Candidates who have completed their degree or Masters’ degree in Commerce or a pass in the final examination of Cost and Works Accountants are exempted from the Foundation Programme.  Candidates who have passed the papers under the old syllabus are exempted from appearing for the new course.

Executive Programme:  Executive Programme can be pursued by a Graduate of all streams except Fine Arts / CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation Program passed of ICAI-CMA .

The course consists of two modules with three papers each:

*Module-I: General and Commercial Laws; Company Accounts and Management Accounting and Tax laws. nModule-II; Company Law; Economic and Labour Laws and Securities Laws and Compliances. The qualifying marks are 40% in each paper and an average of 50% average for all papers together. 

Professional Programme:Professional Programme can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course

A qualified Company Secretary either works in a big organisation as an employee (Company Secretary) or becomes an independent practicing Company Secretary. In India, a company having a paid-up share capital of Rs. 5 crore or more is required to appoint a whole time Company Secretary (under Companies Act 2013).  Companies which are listed on recognised stock exchanges are required to file the annual returns signed by a practicing Company Secretary. Hence, he has a wide scope not only in India but also in other countries.

In order to attract the best talent, the ICSI provides financial assistance to students of the economically weaker sections who have a good academic record of a minimum of 60% marks in the examination.  The ICSI also provides physically handicapped students with a 25% concession on all fees.