Company Secretary (CS) Course: Fees 2024, Admission, Top Colleges, Distance Learning, Online

Pallavi Priyadarshini PandaContent Writer
Company Secretary or CS is a professional course divided into three levels- Foundation, Executive and Professional. There is a Preliminary Foundation Programme (now, CS Executive Entrance Test or CSEET), followed by an Executive Programme and Professional Programme in the CS course. All candidates must clear the CSEET to pursue the Executive Programme, followed by Professional Programme.
Candidates can pursue the Company Secretary course after 10+2 education. In case the candidate is registering after 10+2 he/she will have to appear for the CSEET examination. Whereas, if a candidate pursues the course after graduation, he/she can directly register for the executive programme examination. CSEET examination is conducted 4 times a year, whereas, the Executive and Foundation programme examination is conducted in two sessions- June and December. Know the complete details about the CS course below.
Also Read:
ICSI CS examination: Exam Dates, Application Form, Result
Types of Company Secretary Course
The CS course is divided into three levels. The course can be pursued as a part-time course as there is no requirement to attend the regular classes. Candidates can prepare for the ICSI CS course with the help of the materials provided online on the official website or by taking the coaching.
CS Course: Foundation Level
Candidates registered under Foundation Programme prior to 3rd February 2020 under Syllabus (2017), shall be examined under Foundation Programme till the validity of their registration/passing of the examination, whichever is earlier. The foundation level of the CS course is divided into four papers Check the complete syllabus below:
|
Papers |
Parts |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
|
Paper 1. Business Environment and Law |
Part A. Business Environment |
40 |
|
Part B. Business Law |
60 |
|
|
Paper 2. Business Management, Ethics and Entrepreneurship |
Part A. Business Management |
40 |
|
Part B. Business Ethics |
10 |
|
|
Part C. Business Communication |
25 |
|
|
Part D. Entrepreurship |
25 |
|
|
Paper 3. Business Economics |
Part A. Economics |
80 |
|
Part B. Elementary Statistics |
20 |
|
|
Paper 4. Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing |
Part A. Fundamentals of Accounting |
70 |
|
Part B. Fundamentals of Auditing |
30 |
CS Executive Entrance Exam
Candidates desiring to pursue the CS course soon after the 10+2 education or graduation/post-graduation must appear for the CSEET which is a gateway to the Executive programme. The CSEET question comprises of four papers as follows:
|
Subject |
Number of questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
|
Business Communication |
35 |
50 |
|
Legal Aptitude and Logical |
35 |
50 |
|
Economic and Business |
35 |
50 |
|
Current Affairs |
15 |
20 |
|
Total |
120 |
170 |
CS Course: Executive Level
Candidates who will clear the CSEET examination will be eligible for the Executive programme examination which is conducted in June and December sessions.
|
Module |
Papers |
Parts |
Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Module 1 |
Paper 1. Jurisprudence, Interpretation and General Laws |
- |
100 |
|
Paper 2. Company Law |
Part A. Company Law, Principles &Concepts |
50 |
|
|
Part B: Company Administration and Meetings – Law and Practices |
40 |
||
|
Part C: Company Secretary as a Profession |
10 |
||
|
Paper 3. Setting up of Business Entities and Closure |
Part A: Setting up of Business |
40 |
|
|
Part B: Registration; Licenses & Compliances |
35 |
||
|
Part C :Insolvency; Winding up& Closure of Business |
25 |
||
|
Paper 4. Tax Laws |
Part A: Direct Taxes |
50 |
|
|
Part B: Indirect Taxes |
50 |
||
|
Module 2 |
Paper 5. Corporate & Management Accounting |
Part A: Corporate Accounting |
60 |
|
Part B: Management Accounting and Valuation |
40 |
||
|
Paper 6. Securities Laws & Capital Markets |
Part A. Securities Laws |
70 |
|
|
Part B. Capital Market & Intermediaries |
30 |
||
|
Paper 7. Economic, Business and Commercial Laws |
Part A. Foreign Exchange Management &NBFCs |
40 |
|
|
Part B. Competition Law |
25 |
||
|
Part C. Business & Commercial Laws |
35 |
||
|
Paper 8. Financial and Strategic Management |
Part A. :Financial Management |
60 |
|
|
Part B. Strategic Management |
40 |
CS Course: Professional Level
The professional level of the CS course is divided into four parts. Candidates who will clear the executive level examination will be eligible to appear for the professional programe examination. Check the table below to know the complete exam pattern of CS Professional level:
|
Module |
Paper |
Parts |
Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Module 1 |
Paper 1. Governance, Risk Management, Compliances and Ethics |
Part A. Governance |
50 |
|
Part B. Risk Management |
20 |
||
|
Part C. Compliance |
20 |
||
|
Part D. Ethics & Sustainability |
10 |
||
|
Paper 2. Advanced Tax Laws |
Part A. Indirect Taxes |
70 |
|
|
Part B. Direct Tax & International Taxation |
30 |
||
|
Paper 3. Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances |
- |
100 |
|
|
Module 2 |
Paper 4. Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence |
Part A. Compliance Management |
40 |
|
Part B. Secretarial Audit &Due Diligence |
60 |
||
|
Paper 5. Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding-up |
Part A. Corporate Restructuring |
50 |
|
|
Part B. Insolvency& Liquidation |
50 |
||
|
Paper 6. Resolution of Corporate Disputes,Non-Compliances& Remedies |
- |
100 |
|
|
Module 3 |
Paper 7.Corporate Funding & Listings in Stock Exchanges |
Part A. Corporate Funding |
60 |
|
Part B. Listing |
40 |
||
|
Paper 8. Multidisciplinary Case Studies |
- |
100 |
|
|
Elective Paper 9: 9.1- Banking – Law & Practice 9.2- Insurance – Law & Practice 9.3- Intellectual Property Rights: Laws and Practices 9.4- Forensic Audit 9.5- Direct Tax Laws & Practice 9.6- Labour Laws& Practice 9.7- Valuations & Business Modelling 9.8- Insolvency – Law and Practice |
- |
100 |
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FAQs on CS Course
Q. What are the three levels in CS course?
Ans. The CS course is divided into three levels:
- Foundation/CSEET
- Executive Programme
- Professional Programme
Q. How can I register for CS Course?
Ans. Candidates applying for the CS course after 10+2 must register for CSEET. After clearing the CSEET candidates will be applicable to apply for further levels.
Q. What is the eligibility criteria for CSEET?
Ans. Candidates must have passed the 10+2 examination or equivalent. All Graduates/ Post Graduates who were hitherto eligible for registration directly to CS Executive Programme, shall also be required to pass the CSEET to become eligible for registration to CS Executive Programme.
Q. Which institutes offer CS course?
Ans. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India offers the CS course.
Q. What is the duration of the CS course?
Ans. The duration of the ICSI CS course is a minimum of 3 years.
Q. When is the Company Secretary exam held?
Ans. You can enrol for Company Secretary anytime during the year, while the entrance exam is held twice a year, i.e. in June and December.
Q. What are the qualifying marks to become a certified Company Secretary?
Ans. If you clear all three programs, i.e. Foundation, Executive and Professional Programme with at least 40% marks in each paper and an overall aggregate of 50% across all papers, you will be considered passed.
Q. Is it necessary to join a college to become a Company Secretary?
Ans. You do not need to join any college for Company Secretary, but you need to complete your graduation from a college/university. ICSI is responsible for the certification of CS Professionals. It is not a university or college, but an independent institution with national and international authorisation.
Q. Why is it important for a Company Secretary to study the trends in business?
A. Here are some reasons why a Company Secretary to study the trends in business
- To help the company make informed decisions.
- So that the company complies with all the new regulations.
- To safeguard the company from risks that can occur because of the trend.
- To find the new opportunities.
Q. Is Company Secretary a good course?
Ans. Yes, being a Company Secretary is a good career option and can help you get a lucrative job at big companies.
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