📜 Company Secretary (CS)
Any PUC stream · after SSLC (Class 10) · listed under PUC Commerce
Duration
3–5 Years across three stages
Entrance Exam
CSEET (ICSI)
Qualification
CS (ICSI)
Job Roles
7 mapped
Who can apply
Passed 10+2 in any stream except fine arts. There is no upper age limit.
The journey, step by step
SSLC through to leadership.
Your route
- Class 10SSLC
- PUC — any stream2 years
- CS (ICSI)3–5 Years across three stages
- Company Secretaryfirst job
- 1Foundation · 1 Year🎓 SSLC — Class 10Finish Class 10. Your marks decide which colleges and subject combinations are open to you next.
- 2Stream Selection · 2 Years📊 PUC — any streamTwo years of pre-university study in any stream — Science, Commerce or Arts all qualify. This guide lists the course under Commerce. This is where you prepare for the entrance exam.
- 3Entrance Exam · Exam year📝 CSEET (ICSI)Entry to CS (ICSI) is through CSEET (ICSI). CSEET is run by Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and leads to CS Executive programme after 10+2. Dates change every year — always confirm on the conducting authority's official portal.
- 4Qualification · 3–5 Years across three stages📘 CS (ICSI)Company Secretary (CS): 3–5 Years across three stages. You can specialise in Corporate Law, Securities Law, Governance & Compliance, Mergers & Acquisitions and more.
- 5First Job · After graduating💼 Company SecretaryCommon starting roles include Company Secretary, Compliance Officer, Corporate Governance Analyst.
- 6Higher Studies · Optional🎯 LLB alongside CSYou can continue with LLB alongside CS, MBA Finance, Post-membership qualifications (ICSI).
- 7Research · 3–5 Years for a PhD🔬 Corporate governance researchCorporate governance research · PhD in Corporate Law · ICSI research papers
- 8Government Route · Exam-based🏛️ SEBI Grade A (legal)SEBI Grade A (legal) · Registrar of Companies posts · PSU company secretary · Ministry of Corporate Affairs roles
- 9Entrepreneurship · Any time🚀 Independent CS practiceIndependent CS practice · Compliance consultancy · Corporate advisory firm · Secretarial audit practice
- 10Leadership · Long term⭐ Company Secretary of a listed firmCompany Secretary of a listed firm · Chief Compliance Officer · Board Advisor
Entrance exams & admission
CSEET (ICSI)
Clear CSEET, then the Executive and Professional programmes, registering at icsi.edu. Graduates, CA Intermediate and CMA Final candidates are exempt from CSEET and may enter Executive directly on paying the exemption fee.
Check exam details and official portals →What it costs to get there
Indicative total tuition for the whole course in Karnataka
Government seat
₹50,000–70,000
about ₹12,000 a year
Private / management seat
₹1–2L
about ₹30,000 a year
ICSI fees across CSEET, Executive and Professional come to roughly ₹50,000–70,000 on self-study. Coaching is optional and is what raises the total.
Fees change every year and differ by college — confirm with the college before paying. Scholarships can cover much of this.
Job roles and salary ranges
Salary figures are indicative annual ranges, not guarantees.
What you can do next
- LLB alongside CS
- MBA Finance
- Post-membership qualifications (ICSI)
Research routes
- ›Corporate governance research
- ›PhD in Corporate Law
- ›ICSI research papers
Government jobs
- ›SEBI Grade A (legal)
- ›Registrar of Companies posts
- ›PSU company secretary
- ›Ministry of Corporate Affairs roles
Start your own
- ›Independent CS practice
- ›Compliance consultancy
- ›Corporate advisory firm
- ›Secretarial audit practice
Senior roles later
- ›Company Secretary of a listed firm
- ›Chief Compliance Officer
- ›Board Advisor
Specialisations
- ›Corporate Law
- ›Securities Law
- ›Governance & Compliance
- ›Mergers & Acquisitions
Where it is taught
- ›ICSI regional chapters
- ›Self-study with ICSI coaching
- ›Christ University Bengaluru
Where these facts come from
Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) — CSEET entrance after 10+2, then Executive and Professional programmes
Find a college for this course
Explore the directory, then confirm eligibility, fees and available seats with the college.
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