The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is a premier national professional body established by an act of Parliament to develop and regulate the profession of Company Secretaries.

Stages to become a Company Secretary:

The student who would like to join the course after 10+2 has to undergo three stages to pursue the Company Secretaries Course i.e.
 
1. Foundation Programme
2. Executive Programme
3. Professional Programme

The Student who would like to join the course after passing graduation has to undergo two stages of the Company Secretaryship i.e.              
1. Executive Programme
2. Professional Programme

Besides, a student has to undergo practical training for about 15 months.
 
Foundation Programme which is of eight months’ duration can be pursued by 10+2 pass students of Arts, Science or Commerce stream.

Executive Programme can be pursued by a graduate of all streams except for Fine Arts.

Subjects  For CS

There are 4 papers in CS  Foundation Programme
There are 6 papers divided into 2 Modules in CS

Executive Programme
There are 8 papers divided into 4  Modules in CS

Professional Programme

ICSI Journals

ICSI brings out Chartered Secretary journal for Corporate Professionals & Student Company

Secretary & Foundation Programme Bulletin for students. While, the Chartered Secretary Journal can be subscribed by the students at a concessional rate of Rs.300, the other bulletin are sent to the registered students free of cost.

Professional Programme can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course.

Training

A Student has to undergo 15 months Management Training in Companies sponsored by the Institute after passing the Executive or Professional Programme or under the guidance of a Company Secretary in Practice.

After qualifying Professional Examination and on successful completion of training, a candidate is admitted as an Associate Member of the ICSI and can use the letters ACS after his/her name i.e. Associate Company Secretary.

Admission to the CS Course is open throughout the year. Examinations are held twice a year in June & December.

Details of the course structure, fees and cut off dates can be obtained from the Institute’s website: www.icsi.edu

Role of a Company Secretary
Company Secretary is a senior level position in the company, at one level below the board, responsible for ensuring that the affairs of the company are carried on in compliance with the requirements of the Companies Act and other regulations. Company Secretary acts as a vital link between the Company and its stakeholders viz. the shareholders, the employees, customers & clients etc providing guidance to the Board of Directors for conduct of business, dissemination of information to the shareholders and compliance with the statutes. 

By virtue of integrated knowledge of multiple disciplines of law, management, finance and corporate governance, a Company Secretary is the vital link between the company and its:

• Board of Directors
• Shareholders
• Government and other Agencies

The Company Secretary is:

• An in-house legal expert; a compliance officer of the company.
• An expert in corporate laws, securities laws & capital market and corporate governance
• Chief advisor to the board of directors on best practices in corporate  governance
• Responsible for all regulatory compliances of company corporate planner and strategic manager

Employment Prospects

h A qualified company secretary has openings in employment for practicing as independent professional

h Companies with a paid up share capital of Rs. 2 crore or more are compulsorily  required to appoint a whole time Company Secretary who is a Member  of  ICSI (Amended – Paid-up capital of Rs. 5 crore or more - To come to effect from 15.03.2009)

h All companies seeking listing on Stock Exchange are required to appoint a whole time company secretary
h Membership of the Institute is recognized for appointment to superior posts and services under Central Government.

Self-Employment/Practicing Company Secretaries
• After obtaining a ‘Certificate of Practice’ from the Institute, Members of the Institute can go in for independent practice.
• Every company having a paid-up share capital of Rs. 10 lakhs or more but less than Rs. 2 crore is required to engage the services of a Secretary in Whole-Time practice for issue of Compliance Certificate.

• Pursuant   to Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement, Practising Company Secretaries have been authorized to issue certificate regarding compliance of conditions of corporate governance as stipulated in the Clause.

The CS Course is:
•  recognized by various universities for    admission to PhD course
•appointment of  lecturers in Commerce & Management

Placement

The Institute and its offices maintain the database of the members/students desirous of employment.

The Institute also assists the members and students for placement. 

Campus interviews are also conducted for assisting the students to get employment.

For further details visit www.icsi.edu and/or email your queries at: info@icsi.edu 

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India
ICSI HOUSE, 22 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110 003
Phones:  24617321-24, 24644431-32 Fax: 24626727