Career Guidance on Company Secretary Course

Are you at career crossroads? Many of us run a race to get admission for the routine courses taken by the majority after 12th. We never try to explore and find out what is in store for us and where there is high scope.  It’s high time to change our track and see what is in store for us? 
 
If the civil service officers are taking care of and managing the government related matter then the corporate secretary (CS) is in charge of the company including the public sector banks. There is no other professional who can go directly into the boardroom on the day he is employed and provide expert advice to the Board of Directors, Chairman and Managing Directors and ensure good corporate governance. Company Secretary, who is the key managerial personal (KMP), has a high rank in the organization. Company Secretary is the person who is a member of the (ICSI) Institute of Company Secretary of India appointed by the company to perform the functions of the Company Secretary. 

OWN PRACTICE: 
Company secretaries are free to practice on their own, like a doctor, engineer, chartered accountant and lawyer. With the introduction of new company rules, the practice arena has become even stronger. Work in secretarial audit, certification services, filing of annual returns, forming companies, internal audit, insolvency professional, valuer and arbitrator. In addition, the CS can appear in front of law tribunals (NCLT, NCALT etc.). 
 
LEARNING AND TRAINING: 
The Company Secretary course is conducted and managed by The Institute of Company Secretaries (ICSI). 

It is divided into three levels –  
 Foundation,   Executive and   Professional. 

FOUNDATION: 
 This is done soon after your 12th. There are four subjects. The objective test is online at this point. There is no entrance for CS at this point of time. The Institute is planning to implement entrance test by 2022 not only for foundation level, but for all the three. 

ELIGIBILITY FOR CS FOUNDATION: 
 Candidates who have passed Senior Secondary (10+2 or equivalent) examination of a Board/University constituted by law in India or any examination recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto can join the CS Foundation Programme. 
 
 There is no minimum requirement of percentage of marks secured at Senior Secondary (10+2 or equivalent) examination. 
 
EXEMPTION FROM CS FOUNDATION PROGRAMME: 
All graduates and post graduates (excluding fine arts) and those passed in the Foundation examination of The Institute of Cost Accounts of India (CMA) or The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI CPT) or of any other accountancy institution in India or abroad recognised as equivalent thereto by the Council of the Institute are exempted from passing the Foundation Programme examination. Such students may directly seek registration to Executive Programme of Company Secretaryship Course. 

 
EXECUTIVE PROGRAM: 
Degree, CPT / Foundation Winner of Chartered / Cost Accountant Institute can register here directly. Or else this level comes after the foundation. At this stage there are eight papers in two modules. If successful, you can join a third-level professional program.

 
PROFESSIONAL:  
It has nine subjects in three modules. The students should study law and other corporate law, taxation, accounting and management in depth. 

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. 

TIME LIMIT FOR COMPLETING CS EXAMINATION 
A student is required to complete the Executive and the Professional examination within the registration period. However, on payment of requisite fees the validity of registration may be renewed / extended for further period subject to fulfilling the applicable guidelines. 
 
INTERNSHIP:  
 Internship must be done under accredited companies or under the guidance of Practicing Company Secretaries. A stipend as prescribed by the institute will be received during the training period. 
 
OPPORTUNITIES: 
There are so many opportunities, but now it is not possible to get enough good and knowledgeable company secretaries. All listed company and all other company having paid-up share capital of Rs. 5 crore or more shall have whole-time Company Secretary. CS advice is pursued in carrying out general administration and in the decision-making process at the time of framing policies of the company. He is consulted to determine the lawful suggestions of policy decisions. Therefore, he/she is the only outsider who is present at the Board meetings. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPANY SECRETARY: 
The three main areas, a Company Secretary, has the role to play to the Board, to the Company, and to the Shareholder. 
 Core Duties of the Company Secretary  Meetings of the Board of Directors  General Meetings  Memorandum and Articles of Association  Requirements of Stock Exchanges  Statutory Registers  Statistical Books  Statutory Returns  Report and Accounts  Registration of Shares  Communications to and from Shareholder  Issues of Share and Capital and Restructuring  Acquisitions, Disposals, and Mergers  Corporate Governance  Common Seal of the Company etc 
 

ON THE MARK, GET SET, GO! 
For prospectus with details and application: Kindly visit www.icsi.edu.  
 
Course fee: Foundation 4500, Executive Rs 8500 and Professional Rs 12,000. Exams are held in every June and December.