How to Become a Company Secretary?

By IIC Lakshya

19 Mar 2025

A company secretary is a senior position in a company that handles the efficient administration of a company and ensures the organization complies with the relevant legislation and regulations. The authoritative body that owns the Company Secretary certification is the ICSI, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. ICSI is a statutory body constituted under the Company Secretaries Act of 1980 to develop and regulate the profession of company secretaries.

Eligibility Criteria for CS (Company Secretary)

The CS course can be classified into three categories: CSEET, CS Executive, and CS Professional Program. You need to complete these three stages to become a professional company secretary. Regular examinations will be conducted by ICSI all over India. Once you complete these exams, you will be given a certification in the Company Secretary course.

At each level, you have to meet the following criteria to attain the accreditation:

CSEET	12th Pass
CS Executive	Graduation/CSEET
CS Professional	CS Executive Level

Here are some essential criteria that the candidate should satisfy to become a company secretary

To enroll in the CSEET program, the student should not be under 17.
Candidates who have passed the Higher Secondary (10+2 or equivalent) examination of any board constituted or recognized by the Central Government can join the CS Foundation Programme. There is no minimum requirement of marks or any cut-off to join the Company Secretary course.
Candidates can get the direct entry route to the second phase of the Company Secretary course if they graduate from a recognized university.
After completing the CS Executive level, candidates must complete 21 months of practical training to appear for the CS Professional level examination.

CS Course Registrations Process

ICSI is the sole governing body for the Company Secretary exams. Students can complete the applications and submit them online on their official portal. If you submit the forms online, you must also submit scanned copies of your document.

The documents that are required for the CS registration process are:

Latest passport-size photo
A scanned image of the signature
Class X and XII mark list
Roll number of your XIIth exams
Scanned documents of your degree (If applicable)
Proof of address, Photo ID, etc.

The online submission will be invalid if you do not pay the fees. The registration details and admit card can be downloaded from the official ICSI portal.

What Are the Key Features of the CS Exam Process?

A certified company secretary career possesses the versatility to thrive in both public and private sectors, as well as financial institutions and banks. The expertise of company secretaries is in demand in various arenas, including corporate law boards, numerous government agencies, and the Department of Company Affairs. A CS professional fresher can get a starting salary of anywhere between 60,000 and 80,000. The salary scale will increase as you gain experience and sharpen your skill set.

All the papers in the CS curriculum are paper-based exams.
There are four annual exam windows for CSEET & 2 for executive & professional levels.
To pass, candidates need 40% in each subject and 50% overall.
The CS program follows a group system in its curriculum.
There are MCQs and descriptive questions to be attempted (open book and descriptive for elective papers).
The exam duration for CSEET is 2 hours and 3 hours for Executive & Professional level.

What is the duration of the CS course?

Remember that enrolling in the CS course calls for commitment and persistence. The course duration entails the time from understanding the eligibility criteria to the examination procedure.

The CS Course duration breakdown:

The CSEET program will take a total duration of 3 months to complete. This program can be completed within the time frame of 3 years from the time of admission.
The CS Executive program will take 9 months to complete. A graduate can pursue this program.
The CS Professional program will take 10 months to complete. This program can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Program of the CS Course.

Job Opportunities for a Company Secretary

A candidate is enrolled as an associate member of the Institute and can use the descriptive title ‘CS’ after their name only after qualifying for the CS Professional Programme and by completing the training as per the CS Regulations. Remember that enrolling in the CS course calls for commitment and persistence. Select an organization that will give you the resources and assistance you need to transition smoothly and become a leader in your industry.

A CS-certified professional can work in the following roles:

Company Secretary
Compliance Officer
Legal Advisor
Corporate Governance Manager
Risk Management Specialist
Company Law Consultant
Financial Analyst
Ethics Officer
Corporate Trainer in Governance and Compliance
Board Secretary
Investor Relations Manager
Corporate Affairs Manager
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Company Registrar

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I register as a student for the Company Secretaryship Course? Where do I start?

For registration, please visit www.icsi.edu and click “online services, enter your details, pay the fees, and register successfully.

What is a company secretary?

A Company Secretary is a professional degree granted by ICSI. The candidate who successfully qualifies for the course can start practising as a company secretary or begin a rewarding career journey in the corporate sector.

What is ICSI?

ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) is the recognized institution that provides the Company Secretary course, and the board frames the course syllabus, conducts exams, and regulates the course.