How to Become a Company Secretary

Every year, many students, especially from commerce stream intend to opt for Company Secretary Programme. Out of which, a large number of students do not know how to become CS. To assist such students, we provide the complete details about how to become Company Secretary.

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) conducts the Company Secretary programme in India. After 10+2 in Science, Commerce or Arts, excluding Fine Arts, you can enrol for the CS programme conducted through distance mode. ICSI conducts CS programme in three stages: Foundation (eight-month), executive and professional.

Graduates in any discipline except fine arts need to do only the last two levels. After clearing the executive or professional course, one completes 16 months of training in a company or under a practising CS. Those with the specified work experience can take partial or full waiver from the training. Then, one has to complete training in a specialised agency and a Secretarial Modular Training Programme. After the professional course and training, you are an associate member of ICSI.

Skills Required to Become a CS

Good communication skills:

As a Company Secretary, one needs to communicate, verbally and written, so, s/he must have good both writing and speaking skills.

Analytical and decision-making ability

 A Company Secretary is liable for guiding the board of companies on governance issues. Hence, s/he must have an excellent analytical and decision-making ability.

Good at numbers:

Since a Company Secretary prepares the annual performance report of the company and is accountable for company’s legal cases and arbitration; s/he must be good at numbers and calculations.

Stock exchange:

A Company Secretary deals with mergers and acquisitions, shareholders and stakeholders