CS Admission 2025: Dates, Eligibility, Fees, & Selection Process

Pallavi Priyadarshini PandaContent Writer
CS admission 2025 is divided into three stages: Foundation (replaced with CSEET) level, Executive level, and Professional level. A Certified Secretary (CS) is a member of the ICSI. Their primary role involves maintaining the company's financial records, auditing tax filings, providing guidance to the board on legal and financial risks and also ensuring the company's adherence to legal requirements.
To begin with the Company Secretary course, candidates must have passed Class 12 or its equivalent for the Foundation course. Graduates or those who have passed the Foundation level can enroll directly in the Executive program. The final Professional stage follows the successful completion of the Executive program of CS admission 2025.
CS course duration is 2.5 to 3 years, depending on the students' starting level and progress. Detailed duration breakdown is given below:
CSEET (Foundation): 8 months
Executive: 9 months
Professional: 15 months
Upon completion of all stages of CS admission 2025 and a practical training requirement, candidates can become qualified Company Secretaries, playing pivotal roles in corporate governance and compliance within Indian companies.
Enrollment in the CS course is available year-round, whereas the exams are conducted biannually for CS admission 2025. The duration of the CS course is 8 months for CS Foundation, 9 months for CS Executive, and 15 months for CS Professional levels.
Candidates can continue reading further about the CS admission 2025.
CS Course Details- Latest Updates:
ICSI CS December 2025 date sheet released for CS Executive and Professional.
Company Secretary Eligibility Criteria
The minimum qualification required to register for the first level (Foundation Programme or CSEET) of the Company Secretary course is to pass Class 12 in any stream (excluding Fine Arts) from a recognized university or equivalent.
The exam for CS is divided into three main stages:
-
CSEET
-
Executive Programme
-
Professional Programme
Any student who aspires to become a certified Company Secretary must fulfill the given CS eligibility after graduation to pursue the course:
| Stage | Qualification |
Eligibility Criteria
|
|---|---|---|
| Company Secretary Course After 12th | ||
| Foundation/CSEET | Entry-level exam |
Passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in any stream except Fine Arts.
No minimum percentage is required.
CSEET (Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test) is now the mandatory qualifying test for all candidates seeking registration to the Executive Programme.
|
|
CS after Graduation
|
||
| Executive Programme | Second level of CS course |
Passed the Foundation Programme or CSEET.
Graduates or Post-Graduates (excluding Fine Arts) are eligible for direct entry.
|
| Professional Programme | Final level of CS course |
Passed the Executive Programme.
|
| Company Secretary Diploma Courses | High School |
Class 10th
|
Those who have completed graduation, post-graduation (excluding Fine Arts), or have cleared the Foundation level of Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Cost Accounting course by ICWAI can directly register for CS Executive level.
CS Admission Process 2025
The CS admission procedure varies across its three levels -
- Prospective candidates must register for the CSEET exam as the first step. They are required to complete an online application and submit the applicable fee before the deadline. Once their application is approved, CS course materials will be provided.
- Following this, students must pass the CSEET, which is held four times annually. In contrast, the CS Executive and CS Professional level exams are conducted twice a year, in June and December.
The duration of the Company Secretary course typically ranges from 3 to 5 years, depending on how long students take to clear their exams.
CS Exams 2025
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is a prominent national professional organisation in India that is owned by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, and whose mission is to promote, regulate, and grow the profession of company secretaries in India. There are approximately 18 CS Colleges in India that train people to become professional Company Secretaries. Admission to the CS course is available all year.
To enroll for CS admission, candidates must go through three levels of CS exams (all about CS exam) - CSEET, Executive level and Professional level.
|
CS Examination 2025 (CS Levels) |
CS Exam Dates 2025 |
Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
CSEET 2025 |
May Session: 03 May ' 25 |
|
|
CS Executive 2024 & 2025 |
ICSI CS Executive June 2025 Exam- 01 Jun '25 - 08 Jun '25 |
|
|
CS Professional 2025 |
01 Jun '25 - 10 Jun '25 |
Note- This information is sourced from the official website/ counselling body and may vary.
CS Admission 2025 Relevant Information:
Best Books for ICSI CS 2025 Executive, Professional Examination; Download Study Material
CS Exam Syllabus
The CS exam syllabus is comprehensive, and designed to equip candidates with the necessary knowledge and skills for excelling in corporate governance, law, and management. If the question arises, "how many exams in CS course" for those candidates can refer to the table below to see the CS exam syllabus for each CS exam level and know about CS exam procedure:
| Exam Levels | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| CSEET Syllabus | The syllabus of CSEET is divided into four papers viz., Business Communication, Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning, Economic & Business Environment, Current Affairs, Presentation & Communication Skills. |
| CS Executive Syllabus | Combination of both 20% case-based objective type questions and 80% descriptive questions in all papers at Executive Programme except Paper No. 4 i.e. Corporate Accounting and Financial Management which is 100% descriptive. |
| CS Professional Syllabus |
|
CS Admission 2025 Useful Links:
CS Admission 2025: Quick Preparation Tips
Candidates can check the preparation tips for MBA exams:
- Know about the syllabus of the exam
- Practice from sample papers and mock tests
- Access study materials
- Learn how to manage time
Relevant Links for CS Admission 2025:
Best Books for ICSI CS 2025 Executive, Professional Examination; Download Study Material
CS Best Colleges 2025: Admission Details
There are 76 colleges in India that offer Company Secretary. 45 of private owned institutions, 6 of public / government owned institutions and 3 of public private owned institutions in the India that provide the Company Secretary.
CS Admission in Government Universities
There are very few colleges in India that provide Company Secretary courses. Some of the are mentioned in the table below along with their course fees:
|
Name of College |
CS Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Shyam Lal College, DU CS Admission | INR 540 |
| Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University CS Admission | NA |
| Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University CS Admission | NA |
| Directorate of Distance Education, Alagappa University CS Admission | INR 26,400 |
| Bharathidasan Govt. College For Women CS Admission | INR 600 |
Note: The fees is taken from other sources and can be different.
CS Admission in Private Universities
Check out the private colleges in India that offer Company Secretary courses, along with their course details:
Note: The fees is taken from other sources and can be different.
CS Admissions FAQs
Q. What are the placement opportunities for Company Secretaries?
A. ICSI provides its members with excellent placement opportunities. The Institute has a dedicated placement unit to help organisations in hiring both freshers and experienced Company Secretaries. Candidates are placed in PSUs, banks, and NBFCs, among other institutions. ICSI placements are managed by four regional offices and 70 chapters.
Corporates looking for CS and members looking for work are both served by Company Secretary Placements. Candidates can register for free on the institute's placement portal. The Institute runs huge placement drives to provide a proper platform for its members to locate work prospects.
Q. What is the importance of internship in the Company Secretary course?
A. Interns are hired by businesses of all sizes and industries to provide valuable assistance to the company and its existing workers. Internships are regarded as the finest way for a person to get information in his or her chosen field. These provide real-world experience as well as an incentive for him or her to put theoretical concepts into practise. In order to become a company secretary, candidates must complete an articleship for at least 12 months, 15 months, or three years. Internships enable businesses to invest in their own future success while also discovering new talent and future leaders.
Q. How to Get CS Membership?
A. A student is eligible to Associate membership if he or she successfully passed the Professional Programme examination administered by ICSI and has completed or been exempted from compulsory training based on experience, provided the student is 21 years old at the time of application. The approved Form-A must be used to apply for Associate membership in the Institute.
The candidates can apply for membership after going through the ICSI website for the latest information. After being admitted to Associateship, the student will be permitted to use the descriptive initials ACS after his/her name to indicate that he/she is an Associate member of the Institute, as well as the designation Company Secretary.
Q. Who is eligible for CS after 12?
A. After completing their Class 12 (preferably Commerce stream), candidates are eligible to enroll in the Foundation level of the CS course.
Candidates from any stream can apply for the CS stream (Science, Commerce, Arts, etc.), except for those in Fine Arts.
Further, candidates must be 17 years old to apply for CS admission 2024.
Q. I'm from the Science stream, is it possible to do CS after graduation?
A. Yes, it is possible to pursue a Company Secretary (CS) qualification even if you are from the Science stream. Except for Fine Arts subjects, graduation in any subject from the Commerce and Science is fine.
Q. What are the skill requirements to pass the company secretary course?
A. To pass the CS course, certain skills are essential for effectively understanding and applying the course material.
Here are the key skill requirements -
- Analytical
- Communication
- Time Management
- Attention to Detail
- Research
- Problem-Solving
- Organizational
Q. What stream should I take in Class 11 to become a Company Secretary?
A. To become a CS in India, there is no mandatory requirement. But choosing the Commerce stream can be particularly beneficial.
Choosing the Commerce stream is advantageous but not compulsory. Focus on building a strong understanding of business and legal concepts, regardless of your stream, to excel in the CS course.
Q. Is it necessary to join a college to be a company secretary?
A. No, it is not compulsory to join a college to become a CS. The CS course allows you to enroll directly in the Foundation Program after completing your Class 12.
While a college degree can provide extra knowledge and skills, the structured CS course from ICSI is majorly designed to equip you with the expertise needed for the role of a Company Secretary, independent of a traditional college education.
Q. How many attempts are allowed in CA course?
A. In the CA course, candidates can make any number of attempts until they clear a particular level. They will be eligible to register for the next level only after clearing the previous level. For example, a candidate needs to clear the CA Foundation level to be able to register for CA Intermediate. For appearing in CA Final exams, a candidate needs to clear both Foundation and Intermediate levels.
Since, the level of difficulty of this course is very high, a maximum percentage of students make multiple attempts. Candidates who decide to pursue CA course, need to make sure that they are well prepared to a marathon of studies, preparation and exams.
Q. What is the duration of company secretary course?
A. The course is for three years. The CS course is divided into three levels:
- Foundation Programme
- Executive Programme
- Professional Programme
Q. My communication skills are not good. Am I eligible for a CS course?
A. Company secretaries need excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to make sure every information is passed on clearly to the stakeholders and other business leaders. For a CS course, most of the top colleges may ask for a solid hold on communication but you can take admission to the course at good colleges and improve your speaking skills alongside.
- Popular Exams
- Popular Company Secretary Colleges in India
- Popular Private Company Secretary Colleges in India
- Most Popular Courses
- Popular Company Secretary UG Courses
- Popular Company Secretary PG Courses
Popular Exams
3 Nov ' 25 - 16 Nov ' 25 | CA Foundation registration Jan 2026 |
17 Nov ' 25 - 19 Nov ' 25 | CA Foundation registration Jan 2026 (with late fee) |
3 Nov ' 25 - 16 Nov ' 25 | CA Inter registration Jan 2026 |
17 Nov ' 25 - 19 Nov ' 25 | CA Inter registration Jan 2026 with late fee |
Mar '26 | CUET 2026 Application Process TENTATIVE |
May '26 - Jun '26 | CUET 2026 Exam TENTATIVE |
Oct '25 | SAT Registration Deadline for November Test TENTATIVE |
Popular Company Secretary Colleges in India
Popular Private Company Secretary Colleges in India
Most Popular Courses
Popular Courses
- B.Com. in CA and CS (integrated)St. Joseph's Degree and PG College (SJDPGC)
- Company SecretaryshipICSI Delhi - Institute of Company Secretaries of India
- Integrated Company Secretary (Executive + Professional)ICSI Delhi - Institute of Company Secretaries of India
- B.Com. in Corporate SecretaryshipSchool of Science and Humanities, SRM Kattankulathur
- CS FoundationMaster Mind Academy
Popular Company Secretary UG Courses
UG Courses
- B.Com
51 Colleges
- B.A.
2 Colleges
- B.Voc
1 College
- BBA
1 College
- UG Diploma
1 College
News & Updates
Student Forum
Taking an Exam? Selecting a College?
Find insights & recommendations on colleges and exams that you won't find anywhere else
On Shiksha, get access to
- 65k Colleges
- 1k Exams
- 682k Reviews
- 1800k Answers