Career as a Company Secretary is not only prestigious and financially rewarding but also carries with it a high level of job satisfaction.
Eligibility for Company Secretary Courses
A candidate needs to clear 3 stages to qualify as Company Secretary and these are:
•Foundation Course
•Executive Course
•Professional Course
These are the three levels included in the courses on company Secretaryship. The details are as follows:
Foundation Course: One passing the Final examination of ICSI you will need to undergo a practical training after which, you will be completely eligible for the Associate Membership of the Institute. The minimum eligibility to gain entry in the Foundation Course is a pass in 10+2 examination or its equivalent in any stream. The course is of 8 months duration.
Executive Course: A pass in the Foundation Course Examination of the ICSI/Graduation degree or a Master's degree/Pass in ICWAI, ICAI can allow you entry in the intermediate course. The course is of 9 months.
Professional Course: Once you pass the Intermediate Course you automatically become eligible for admission to the Final Course.
Company Secretary Training:
•The Training Orientation Programme (TOP) is for 5 days and is done before commencement of training.
•This is followed by training for 15 months after the candidate has passed the Intermediate Examination or Final Examination.
•There is a practical training for 3 months. This is after passing the Final examination and that too, for those, who have been exempted from undergoing the 15 months training.
•There is Training with Registrar of Companies (ROC), Stock Exchange, financial or banking institution for 15 days.
•The Secretarial Modular Training Programme (SMTP) is conducted after the candidate has passed the Final Examination and completed the Training requirement. It is for 15 days.
•Depending on the practical experience of the candidates, they can be exempted from training completely or partially.
Qualities to become a successful Company Secretary:
- Candidate must be dedicated and skilled in writing and speaking good English.
- Bearing a moral character is important.
- Diplomacy should be followed in understanding the company strategies and policies of the company.
- Intellectual, Loyal, sophisticated, loyal and meticulous individuals become successful company secretary.
Company Secretary Course Institutes:
The headquarters of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India is situated at:
ICSI House, 22, Institutional Area Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003
The institute also has regional offices at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai and Delhi besides having four regional councils and thirty six chapters in other important cities of India.
On successfully clearing the Intermediate and Final Courses a candidate is required to serve a training period of 1-2 years with a Company or under a qualified and practicing Company Secretary. On completion of four months training thereafter the candidate becomes a member of the Institute of the Company Secretaries of India and is assigned a professional membership number and can use the suffix ACS after his / her name. A Fellow Member of the Institute who is normally a senior pro can use the suffix FCS after his / her name.
Company Secretary Course Scope:
Scope in India: With the onward march of globalization in India remaining unabated the corporate sector has witnessed tremendous growth. Numerous companies from diverse fields have emerged on the Indian economic scene and with it the complexities involved in the running of an organization have also skyrocketed. It is here that the role of a Company Secretary is so important to an organization or business house, since he is competent to provide sound advice on corporate, legal, secretarial, administrative and even tax related matters. While a Company Secretary can aspire to get employment opportunities in government accounts or law departments, he can become a Chairman or Managing Director of a Company or be a part of the esteemed Board of Directors of a Company.
A budding and meritorious Company Secretary can hope to start his career with a monthly remuneration of Rs.20, 000 - Rs.25, 000.
Scope Abroad: Although Company Secretaries are in great demand in India, in USA, UK and other western countries the profession or the professionals do not find tailor made opportunities. This is because the Company Secretary course is based on the Companies Act 1956, which has its roots in the Indian legal and political system and does not have much relevance outside India. A qualified Company Secretary may however find employment opportunities similar to those available to Business Graduates in USA, Australia UK or other European countries.
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 December Exams in the same year
- 31st August for June Exam next year
CS Prospectus can be obtained from any of the offices of the Institute across India and Cost of Prospectus for Foundation Programme: Rs. 200/- by cash payment while Rs. 250/- by Post or courier.
Cost of Prospectus for the Executive Programme: Rs. 300/- by cash payment while
Rs.350/- by Post or courier.
Payment Option: The payment can be sent to the Headquarters by demand draft drawn in favor of: The Institute of Company Secretaries of India” payable at New Delhi OR by cash across the counter from the Headquarters, Regional Offices & a few of the Chapters.
Fee Structure for CS Course
- The fee for CS Foundation Programme is - Rs. 3600/-.
- For Executive Programme - Rs. 7000/- for Commerce Graduates while Rs. 7750/- for Non Commerce Students
- please visit www.icsi.org.