Company Secretary : Course and Exam details

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Company Secretaryship course is divided into three sections. Foundation, Executive, and Professional Programme. After the final exam the candidate has to undergo practical training.

Foundation Programme :
Duration of the Foundation Course is 8 months excluding the months of admission and the examination. Students are required to pass the Foundation examination within 3 years from the date of their admission. Candidates who have passed senior secondary (10+2) or equivalent recognized by Central Government can apply for the Foundation course. Registration for Foundation course is open through out the year. The exams for the Foundation course are held in December and June. To appear for the exams in December, candidates should apply for the exam before March 31st of the same year. Similarly to appear for the June exam, candidates should apply before 30th September of previous year. i.e the Registration for each examination should be done at least nine months before the month in which the examination is held.

Subjects :
English and Business Communication (FCEBC)
Economics and Statistics
Financial Accounting (FCFA)
Elements of Business Laws and Management (FERBAM)

Executive Programme : Candidates who have passed the Foundation course, and are not less than 17 years of age can apply for to be an Executive Programme student. Graduates, post-graduates (excluding Fine arts) and those who have passed the Final exam of ICWAI or ICAI or of any other accountancy Institution in India or abroad recognized by the Council of the Institute can directly enroll to the Executive programme without doing the Foundation course. Executive Programme consists of two modules. Candidates should register before 28th February to appear for the examination held in December in the same year and in order to appear for the examination in June they should register before August 31st of previous year.
Subjects :
Module I
General and Commercial Laws (IGCL)
Company Accounts and Cost & Management Accounting (ICA&CMA)
Tax Laws (ITL)
Module II
Company Law (ICL)
Economic, Labour Laws
Securities Laws and Compliances

A candidate can get exemption for some individual papers on the basis of qualification. They should have obtained fifty percent or more in the aggregate in the examination -
1.Company Accounts and Cost & Management Accounting (ICA&CMA) - Master of Corporate Secretaryship/M.Com./M.B.A (with Accountancy as one of the subjects at B.A (C.S)/B.Com. level with full paper in Cost Accounting/Management Accounting/Financial Management at Master of Corporate Secretaryship/M.Com./M.B.A. level and must have secured fifty per cent marks in the subject concerned of a recognised university is exempted from this subject .
2. General and Commercial Laws (IGCL) - A degree in Law or Master of Corporate Secretaryship is exempted from this subject.
3. Tax Laws(ITL) - Master of Corporate Secretaryship is exempted from this subject.

A Candidate who has passed the Final examination of the ICWAI is eligible to seek exemption from the following papers of Intermediate examination under a reciprocal arrangement existing at present between the two Institutes- Company Accounts and Cost & Management Accounting (ICA&CMA), Tax Laws (ITL) in the intermediate level. Financial, Treasury and Forex Management, Direct and Indirect Taxation - Law and Practice in the final level.

Final Programme : A candidate should register for the Professional Programme at least nine months prior to the examination commences. Last date for enrolment applications for the final examination is 25th March (with late fee of Rs. 100, till 9th April) for June examination and 25th September (with late fee of Rs. 100, till 10th October) for December examination.
Subjects:
Module I
Company Secretarial Practice
Drafting, Appearances and Pleadings
Module II
Financial, Treasury and Forex Management
Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency
Module III
Strategic Management, Alliances and International Trade
Advanced Tax Laws and Practice
Module IV
Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management
Governance, Business Ethics and Sustainability

Training : A candidate who has finished Professional Programme of the Institute is required to possess the practical experience and undergo the practical training. The objectives of training is to apprise the students with the functioning of the Corporate Sector and to create a cadre of professional Company Secretaries having a sound theoretical base and practical exposure to serve trade and industry effectively, both as a part of the management team as well as independent practicing professionals. Students who do not possess the specified practical experience are required to undergo on the job training for a period of fifteen months in recognized companies or under a Company Secretary in Practice duly approved for the purpose. The students should have to undergo 15 days training with the registrar of companies, Stock exchange, Financial or banking institution. After passing the Professional programme and completion of other training requirements there will be 15 days long Secretarial Modular Training Programme (SMTP). How ever students may be excused from undergoing training depending up on the practical experience they are having.