Company secretary: Course details, Admission, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Jobs, and Salary

Legal aspects like tax returns and keeping records are essential. This ensures the smooth functioning of a company. A company secretary is a professional who looks after it. Often the Company Secretary also advises the Board of Directors. Legal and statutory regulations compliance is overseen by the Company Secretary. Viewed as a vital link between the shareholders and the Board of Directors. Efficient administration, and preparing financial reports are the tasks of the Company Secretary. Helping decision-making is easy. Company Secretary often looks at the ethical code of conduct of the company.

Company Secretary – course details

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India is the governing body of this program. This distance level program is of 4 levels. Clearing the CSEET or Company Secretary Executive Entrance test is mandatory. CSEET is a national-level entrance test. The Foundation program is the first level. Followed by the Executive program. After the Executive program next is the Professional program. On successful completion of professional program, Management training program, 4th level.

While the foundation program takes a year, the program then becomes self-paced. Every program then is further into modules. It is up to the students to clear all the modules in a single attempt. Many students split the modules into 2 parts and take the exams. A time of 1 year to clear the next level of the programs. The age limitation factor is not binding. To take the Company Secretary course, students can be of any stream. Commerce candidates prefer doing the Company Secretary course. But, many times candidates are from other streams.

Company Secretary – eligibility

Eligibility for Foundation course

• CSEET entrance test clearance is mandatory.
• The candidate must have cleared the 12th standard exam.
• Aspirants must score 50% or more marks in the 12th standard exam.

Eligibility for Executive program

• An aspirant must be above the age of 17.
• Clearing the 12th standard exam is a must.
• Candidates who apply after graduation, seek entry directly to the program.
• Students can be from any faculty except fine arts.

Eligibility for professional course

• Clearing the executive program is mandatory.

After clearing the first 3 levels, candidates can apply for training.

Company Secretary -Admission process

Since the program is divided into levels. The admission process for each is different. Each level of the admission process is described in detail.

Foundation course

• To appear for exams in December, the application in March is a must. March month of the same year.
• In case the candidate needs to in June, then the application by September of the previous year.

Executive course

• For registration up to May, candidates can appear for any module in December. Yet, sometimes the candidate registers in November. The exam is in February of the next year.

• Candidates can appear for the executive exam in December. Both the modules at one time. Yet, registration in February is a must of the same year.

• If a candidate wants to appear for both modules of the executive program in June. Registration must be by August of the previous year.

Professional course

• To appear in December, February registration is mandatory. The year has to be the same. All the professional modules can appear in one go.

• June attempt requires August (previous year) registration.

• Single modules can appear in December. Registration for the same in or before May.

• November registration (previous year) for a single module attempt in June.

Company Secretary -fees

• The CS foundation course fee is 3,600/-.
• Executive program course fee is 7,000/-.
• Professional course fee is 12,000/-.

Company Secretary -Syllabus

Foundation course

Paper	Subjects
Paper 1	Business Law and Environment
Paper 2	Business Management, ethics, and Entrepreneurship
Paper 3	Business Economics
Paper 4	Accounting and Auditing

Executive course

Module 1
Paper 1	Interpretation
Jurisprudence
General Laws
Paper 2	Setting up of Business entities
Tax Laws
Module 2
Paper 1	Corporate and Management Accounting
Securities Laws & Capital Markets
Paper 2	Financial & Strategic Management
Economic, Business and Commercial Laws

Professional course

Module 1
Paper 1	Pleadings and Appearances, and Drafting
Paper 2	Company Secretarial Practice
Module 2
Paper 1	Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency
Paper 2	Financial, Treasury and foreign exchange

Module 3
Paper 1	Advanced Tax Laws and Practices
Paper 2	Strategic Management, Alliances, and International Trade
Module 4
Paper 1	Governance, Business Ethics, and Sustainability
Paper 2	Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management

Company secretary Training

Type of Training	Description	Duration
Student Introduction Programme	Known as SIP. Application 6 months before applying for the executive program. Candidates can appear for modules only after this induction program.	7 days
Executive Development Programme	Pursued after completion of the executive program. Done before the 15-month program begins.	8 days
Compulsory Computer Training Programme	Mandatory to do this program to appear for the executive program.	70 hours
Professional Development Programme	Can attempt at any time during the 15- month training program.	25 hours
Specialized Agency Training	After completing the EDP or SIP program.  Attempted after passing the professional program too.	15 days
MSOP or Management Skills Orientation Programme	Designed for students who have a partial or full exemption of training. Fulfilling the regulation of 1982 is mandatory. Fill in all the documents for registration.	15 days
Professional or Management Training	Training pursued after either Executive or professional courses.	15 months
Practical Training	Training done only after professional program completion. Duration under the 1982 companies secretaries regulation for 12 months.	3 months

Company Secretary – course curriculum

There are various steps in the course. 

Step 1	CSEET
Step 2	CS Executive Course (8 papers)
Step 3	CS Professional Course (9 papers)
Step 4	Pre-membership training
Step 5	CS Membership
Step 6	Continuing Professional Development

Company Secretary – Jobs

The scope of a company secretary is very vast. Every aspect of business that a company secretary covers.

• Company Registrar – A vital link between the various shareholders and the Board of Directors. Annual filing of documents is their responsibility.

• Legal Advisor – Any legal disputes within or outside the company sorted them. They are responsible for following all bureaucratic and statutory directives. Securities and corporate laws are overseen by them.

• Chief Administrative Officer – They look into the daily administrative functions of the company. Safeguarding all confidential documents is under their watchful eyes.

• Corporate Planner – Businesses expand and merge with other corporations. A corporate planner plans the mergers or joint ventures. Takeovers and Major collaborations are also planned and executed by them.

• Principal Secretary – Arranging and managing annual general meetings of the company. Meeting and discussing issues with private and government delegates. Overseeing important client meetings.

• Corporate Policymaker – Formulating short-term and long time policies for the smooth running of the company. Additionally, reviewing existing policies and improving them.

• Member of Board of Directors -Chosen to that board has told on secretarial practice.

• Managing Director – Overall managing the company. Employee-related matters or administration matters solving them.

• Administrative Assistant – Assisting the department head. Preparing reports to make key decisions. Conducting research so that newer and better policies are in place. Collecting data and reviewing the same.

• Investor Capital Market Relations – Analysts, investors, and stakeholders are important for a company. They position the company strategically for them.

Company Secretary – Salary

Job Profile	Average Salary
Business Consultant	10 LPA
Operations Manager	7.5 LPA
Investment Banker	9 LPA
Finance Consultant	6 LPA
Marketing Manager	6.5 LPA
Company Secretary	10 LPA
Stock Broker	4 LPA
Legal Advisor	5 LPA
Principal Secretary	6 LPA
Company Registrar	10 LPA
Chief Administrative officer	12 LPA

Company Secretary – Salary overseas

Country	Average expected Salary (per annum)
India	6 LPA
Canada	12 LPA
United Kingdom	60 LPA
Australia	11 LPA
United States	29 LPA

Company Secretary – Top recruiters

• Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited
• Jaypee Group
• OIL India Limited
• HCL Technologies Limited
• Punjab National Bank
• Karur Vysya Bank Limited
• Omaxe Ltd
• Birla Corporation Ltd
• KPMG
• ONGC
• Deloitte
• PWC
• Oil India Limited
• Jaypee Group
• Punjab National Bank Ltd

Company Secretary – Roles with independent practice

With experience, a professional can practice independently. The roles then will be different. A sneak peek into them.

• Legal secretarial
• Corporate governance
• Corporate restructuring
• Foreign collaborations and joint venture
• Arbitration
• Financial management
• Project planning
• Capital market and investor relations
• Due diligence
• Corporate advisory services

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