CAREER AS A COMPANY SECRETARY

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)

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

Role of a Company Secretary

A Company Secretary being multidisciplinary professional renders services in the following areas:

Corporate Governance and Secretarial Services

• Corporate Governance Services
• Corporate Secretarial Services
• Secretarial/ Compliance Audit and certification Services

Corporate Laws Advisory and Representation Services

• Corporate Laws Advisory Services
• Representation Services
• Arbitration & Conciliation Services

Financial Market Services

• Public Issue, listing and Securities Management
• Takeover Code, Insider trading, Mergers & Amalgamation
• Securities Compliance and Certification Services
• Finance & Accounting Services
• Taxation Services
• International Trade & WTO Services

Management Services

• General/ Strategic Management
• Corporate Communication and Public Relations
• Human Resources Management
• Information Technology

EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS

A qualified Company Secretary has openings in Employment and as Practising Independent Professional
Company Secretary in Employment

• Companies with a paid up share capital of Rs.5 crore or more are compulsorily required to appoint a whole-time Company Secretary under section 383A of Companies Act,1956.
• All companies seeking listing on Stock Exchange are required to appoint a whole-time Company Secretary
• Membership of the Institute is recognized for appointment to superior posts and services under Central Government
• Membership of the Institute is a recognised qualification for recruitment from Grade I to Grade IV in the Accounts branch of the Indian Company Law Service.
• Almost every kind of organization whose affairs are conducted by boards, councils or other association, federation, authority, commission or like , finds it useful to appoint a person who holds the qualification of Company Secretaries in key administrative position.

SELF EMPLOYMENT (PRACTICE)

After obtaining a ‘Certificate of Practice’ from the Institute, Members of the Institute can go for Independent Practice.

• Every company having a paid-up share capital of Rs. 10 Lakh or more but less than   Rs. 5 Crore, is required to engage the services of a Secretary in Whole-time practice to obtain a   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.
• Practising Company Secretaries have also been recognized to appear before various Tribunals such as Company Law Board, Securities Appellate Tribunal, Competition Commission, Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal, Consumer Forums, Tax Tribunals etc.,
• Recently the Reserve Bank of India has recognized the Practising Company Secretaries to undertake Diligence Report for Banks

Company Secretary as an independent professional
A Company Secretary in practice is recognized to issue certificates and attest documents inter alia under:

• • Companies Act, 1956
  • SEBI Act, SCRA and regulations made there under Depositories Act, 1996
  • Exim Policy etc.

Company Secretaries in Practice also render services in the following areas:

• Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Governance
• Corporate Restructuring
• Foreign Collaborations and Joint Ventures
• Arbitration and Conciliation
• Financial Management
• Project Planning
• Capital Market and Investor Relations
• Due Diligence
• Corporate Advisory Services

Course Highlights:

• 10+2 pass or equivalent / Graduate can join
• No Entry Barrier – opportunity for every student
• Cost Effective
• Distance Learning – any where in the world
• 24x7 study through e-learning
• Flexibility in the schedules – Registration valid for 3 to 5 years.
• Excellent career opportunities for CS professional
• Position of Power and Prestige
• Offers Self Employment  and Job Opportunities
• Direct Access to Top Management / Board Room
• Good remuneration and growth opportunities
• Good career option for girls also.
• Opportunities across various sectors at all locations.
• Opportunities Abroad – MOU with ICSA, London
• Opportunity to pursue B.Com with Major in Corporate Affairs and Administration and M.Com in Business Policy and Corporate Governance from IGNOU.

Compulsory Computer Training:

In terms of Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982 (as amended), all students are required to successfully undergo a compulsory computer training programme for becoming eligible to seek enrolment to appear in CS Executive Programme examination.

• • The students may undergo computer training from any Institute or training center including Aptech Limited all over India at his / her convenience.
  • For details about computer training course being conducted by M/s Aptech for the students of the Institute; the options under Studentsà Miscellaneous on the Institute’s website i.e. www.icsi.edu may be referred to.
  • The students may also directly refer to the portal http://icsi.aptechtrainingsolutions.com for this purpose.

The Institute, in compliance of the above said requirements, has tied up with

• • M/s Sify Software Limited for conducting online exemption test for the students, who claim to have adequate knowledge on computer operation. The students who will pursue the computer training from any Institute including M/s Aptech will have to enrol for and appear this online exemption test to fulfil the computer training requirement of the Institute.
  • For details about online exemption test being conducted by M/s Sify for the students of the Institute; the options under Studentsà Miscellaneous on the Institute’s website i.e. www.icsi.edu may be referred to.
  • The students may also directly refer to the portal http://icsi.sifyitest.com for this purpose.

24X7 Study through E-Learning: (http://elearning.icsi.edu)
In order to facilitate students, e-learning portal is available for the Company Secretary Foundation Programme & Executive Programme and which will also be extended to Professional Programme in due course. Students through out the country including rural and semi-urban areas as well as from other countries can avail this 24x7 hours on-line study facility as the portal has global reach. The online CS Course includes:

• Under e-learning, students can have continuous access to studies and guidance of faculties on-line.  The e-learning module will enable the students to have access to learning and faculty support at any time as per their convenience.  Interactivity will be established by modules such as Discussion Boards and Online Chat. After the proposed virtual classroom facility under e-learning portal starts, students will be able to interact live with the faculty.  This will take the CS course studies virtually into the space age.
• Undergoing of e-learning is in addition and not in substitution to compulsory postal tuition.  E-learning is designed to provide a virtual contact between the teacher and the taught. Students intending to join e-learning are therefore, required to pay additional fees as determined by the Institute from time to time.
• Online SIP and EDP - Now the students can complete the mandatory Student Induction Programme (SIP) and Executive Development Programme (EDP) online thru the elearning portal.

Stages to become a Company Secretary: 
The student who would like to join the Course after 10+2 pass or equivalent has to undergo three stages to pursue the Company Secretaries Course i.e. 
Foundation Programme 
Executive Programme
Professional Programme
The Student who would like to join the Course after passing the Graduation has to undergo two stages of the Company Secretaryship i.e. 
Executive Programme
Professional Programme
Foundation Programme which is of eight months duration can be pursued by 10+2 pass or equivalent students of Arts, Science or Commerce stream (Excluding Fine Arts)
Executive Programme can be pursued by a Graduate of all streams except Fine Arts / CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation Program passed of ICAI-CMA .
Professional Programme can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course

ADMISSION TO THE CS COURSE is open throughout the year.  Examinations are held twice a year in June & December.Students have to register online at www.icsi.edu

Cut off dates for admission to CS course: .

SUBJECTS FOR CS COURSE

Fee Structure for CS Course

Examination

• Examination is conducted twice a year in June and December
•  Examination fee

Foundation Programme  - Rs. 1200/- 
Executive Programme     - Rs. 1200/- per Module
Professional Programme  -Rs. 1200/- per Module
 Last date for submission of application for appearing in the examination
25th March (with late fee of Rs. 250/- till 9th April)
25th September (with late fee of Rs. 250/- till 10th October)

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.

ICSI ORAL TUITION GUIDELINES / PPP GUIDELINES:
Salient features of the Oral Tuition Guidelines & PPP Guidelines: Under the revised guidelines 30 lectures of 2 hours duration for each subject of Foundation / 35 lectures of 2 hours duration for each subject of Executive / 40 lectures of 2 hours duration for each subject of Professional Programme has been made mandatory

Existing Practical experience and training requirements 
The students are required to undergo the following trainings:

• 7 days Student Induction Programme (SIP)-  within six months of Registration to Executive Programme or exempted therefrom for becoming eligible to seek enrolment to appear in Executive Program Examination.
• 70 hours compulsory computer training program- for becoming eligible to seek enrolment to appear in Executive Program Examination.
• 8 days Executive Development Programme (EDP) - after passing the Executive Programme and before commencement of 15 months training.
• 25 hours of Professional Development Programme (PDP) during 15 months training
• 15 months training after passing the Executive Programme or Professional Programme on completion of Student Induction Program and Executive Development Program with companies and Company Secretaries in Practice registered with the Institute for imparting training
• 3 months practical training is required to be undergone by the student if the student completes professional program examination and exempted from undergoing at least 12 months training on the basis of Company Secretaries Regulations,1982, as amended on submitting the documents to the Institute and fulfills the requirement of Regulation 48. This training will be exempted to the students who have undergone 15 months training.
• 15 days training in a specialized agency such as Registrar of Companies (ROC) / Stock Exchange / Financial and Banking Institution/Management Consultancy Firm can only be commenced if the student completes SIP,EDP , 15 months training and having passed professional program examination.
• 15 days Management Skills Orientation Programme (MSOP)- after Professional Programme and on completion of Executive Development Program and 15 months training

• The students can be exempted from undergoing training totally or partially depending on the practical experience possessed by them on fulfilling the requirement of the Company Secretaries Regulations,1982, as amended, on submitting the relevant documents.
•  A student after passing the Professional Programme may enroll as ‘Licentiate ICSI’ at his/her option until completion of training requirements.

E-Training (E-SIP, E-EDP and E-MSOP) Initiatives along with total number of students who have been enrolled
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) in collaboration with Gurukul Online Learning Solutions (GOLS) had come up with an initiative in the form of e-MSOP, in lieu of physical MSOP. e- MSOP is basically a web-based training (WBT) wherein physical presence of the participant at the venue is not necessary. The first such e-MSOP was organized by ICSI-Centre for Corporate Governance, Research& Training (CCGRT), Navi Mumbai and launched on 1st January 2012. eMSOP was launched w.e.f. 1st January 2012
After successful  launch of eMSOP  eSIP and eEDP were also launched on 14th April 2012.Students may undergo programmes at their ease.

MEMBERSHIP
q  After qualifying the CS Professional Programme and on completion of training as provided under the CS Regulations, a candidate is enrolled as an Associate Member of the Institute and he can use the descriptive title “ACS” after his / her name. 
Further Academic Pursuits

• The CS course is recognised by the various Universities for admission to Ph.D Course.
• Utilisation of services of members by various professional/educational bodies for academic activities
• ICSI conducts Post Membership Qualification (PMQ) Course in Corporate Governance.

Placement

The Headquarters and Regional Offices offer placement services to the Members of the Institute:

• Names of candidates are sponsored to prospective employers on request
• Members looking for job may register online on the Institute’s Website: www.icsi.edu for availing Placement assistance.
• Vacancies received from companies are also displayed on the website www.icsi.edu
• Campus Interviews are conducted to assist members for job and students for 15 months training

Financial Assistance/ Scholarship

Prizes, Merit Scholarship and Merit-cum-Means Assistance

• The Institute awards Prizes, merit scholarships to the meritorious students
• Merit-cum-Means Assistance is granted to the economically weaker students

Concession in Registration fee

• Applicants belonging to SC/ST are required to pay only half the Registration fees
• Physically Handicapped Students are required to pay the Registration fee as follows:         
• Foundation Programme: Rs.1500/-
• Executive Programme:   Rs. 2000/-
• Professional Programme: Nil    

ICSI Students Education Fund Trust  
The Council of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India has revised the criteria of Financial Assistance to economically backward and academically bright students by providing total fee exemption through ICSI Students Education Fund Trust. The revised criteria will cater to larger nos. of prospective students / CS Students in providing financial assistance With a view to encourage and motivate economically backward and academically bright students to pursue the Company Secretaries Course, the Institute has created a Trust viz. ICSI Students Education Fund Trust. The Students falling in the following revised criteria can avail the ICSI Students Education Fund Trust benefits for ICSI Foundation and Executive Programme:

Nature and Extent of Financial Assistance: Eligible students shall be fully exempted from paying the Registration / Admission Fee, Postal Tuition Fee, Exemption Fee and other fees usually payable at the time of admission to Foundation/ Executive Programmes. 
Depending upon their performance in the CS Examinations, the students may also be exempted from payment of Examination Fee and also the fees payable at the time of admission to Executive Programme and Professional Programme (for students admitted to Foundation Programme) and Professional Programme (for students admitted to Executive Programme).
Please note that under all above mentioned provisions, student concerned is firstly required to make the full payment of the requisite fees and then submit his/her claim for refund in the prescribed application form. If found eligible, his/her fees will be refunded. 
  Prospectus:

• Available at Headquarters/ Regional Councils/Chapters · 
• For C.S. Foundation Programme / CS Executive Programme 

Cash Payment Rs. 200/- Or by Post / Courier - DD of Rs.250/- ·

• Demand Draft/Postal Order in favour of "The Institute of Company Secretaries of India" payable at New Delhi

Registration of students (Online at www.icsi.edu):

Online registration facility is available at Institute’s student portal www.icsi.edu Students are advised to follow the instructions carefully. The fee can be remitted through Debit/Credit Cards /Net Banking facility.
After filling the particulars, making the payment of fees and uploading the scanned copies of desired documents, the system gives the Registration Number instantly.
On completion of registration as a student, the Registration Number will be intimated to the student through E-Mail and/or SMS. Students may also check the registration status at www.icsi.edu on the basis of Application Number, Mobile Number, E-mail Id, etc. Students can download the Registration Letter, Important Instructions, etc. through Institute’s website www.icsi.edu by entering the  Registration Number received through E-Mail/SMS.

Steps for Online Registration: 

1. Click the “ Online Services” button on top of the ICSI website (www.icsi.edu) 
2. Go to the Students tab and click on “Student Registration” 
3. Click onto the checklist of documents as applicable to students on the basis of their qualification, 
4. Now Click on ‘Proceed to Registration’
5. Select the Course type as applicable viz. Foundation, Executive Programme etc.
6. Fill other fields. 
7. Click on the option-‘Make Payment’ for effecting necessary payments. ( Payment is to be made either by credit/debit card /net banking or through bank challan system)
8. After making payment students shall get user name & password at their registered e-mail ID / or Mobile No. for uploading their documents. Username of the student is “Student’s Registration Number” which students get instantly after making payment. 
9. Students are further required to upload scanned copies of the documents in support of their qualifications in specified file formats by login at their respective accounts at “My Account” option to get their registration process completed. 

NOTE: Animated help to do online registration is also available on www.icsi.edu before student proceeds for online registration. 

Attention:-
Before Proceeding to registration form please make sure that you are ready with the softcopy of the documents mentioned on this page. 
ü Photograph of the candidate 
ü Signature of the candidate 
ü DOB Certificate (10th Pass Certificate) 
ü Roll Number (if appearing) 
ü Qualification Passed Certificate 
ü Category Certificate

Guidelines: 
Ø All the files should be present in one of the following formats (jpg, jpeg, png, gif, bmp).
Ø The maximum allowed file size is 5 MBs.
Ø File size of student photo should be between 20kb - 50kb.
Ø File Size of student signature should be between 10kb - 20kb.

ICSI - IGNOU Course 
BACHELOR OF COMMERCE (B.COM) WITH MAJOR IN CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION 
Eligibility for Admission: 
(a) 10 + 2 or its equivalent ; and
(b) Registration in Company Secretaryship, Foundation Programme.
Students who have passed Company Secretaryship Intermediate/Executive Programme Course shall also be eligible for admission.
Medium of Instruction: English and Hindi.  
Fee Structure:  Rs. 4800/- 
Programme Structure: This programme comprises of:

• 4 courses of Bachelor Degree Programme (BDP) programme of IGNOU,
• 4 courses of Foundation Programme of Company Secretaryship and
• 6 courses of Executive Programme of Company Secretaryship.

Duration of the Programme: Minimum 3 years and maximum 6 years
MASTER OF COMMERCE (M.COM) IN BUSINESS POLICY AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
Eligibility for Admission: 
      (a) Graduate in any discipline or equivalent qualifications from a recognized University/Institute.
      (b) Passed in Company Secretaryship Executive Programme.
Candidates who have already passed the Company Secretaryship course shall also be eligible for admission.
Programme Structure: The programme consists of:

• 4 courses from the existing M.Com. programme offered by IGNOU
• 8 courses of Company Secretaryship Professional Programme offered by ICSI. 

Medium of Instruction:  English and Hindi. 
Fee Structure: Rs. 6000/-
Duration of the Programme: Minimum 2 years and a maximum period of 5 years.

OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD FOR CS 
Many Company Secretaries are already working in various countries like the US, Canada, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-east, Africa, etc.  With their research and legal bent of mind, their employers have recognized their professional skill sets.  They also possess managerial capabilities and analytical skills.
After the globalisation of services through WTO and GATS, the field is opening in various countries for practicing Company Secretaries as well.  India is entering into bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements with countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Mauritius etc.  These agreements recognize Company Secretaries for free movement of professionals across borders.  ICSI has entered into an MoU with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, UK. This MoU recognizes Company Secretaries of both the countries on certain conditions.  The process of globalisation and the process of comprehensive economic cooperation that India is initiating has also set in motion mutual recognition agreements between the ICSI and Institutes governing the profession in various other countries.  This is opening up the world to Company Secretaries.