What are the Stages in CS

Becoming a Company Secretary means studying through the Foundation, Executive, and Professional levels and gaining practical experience. It prepares you to take on important roles in companies, handle responsibilities, and earn a good salary.

Introduction: Journey to Becoming a Company Secretary

The CS full form is Company Secretary. If you enjoy law, business, and management, becoming a Company Secretary (CS) could be a great career choice. A CS works hand-in-hand with company boards and makes sure the business follows all the legal and regulatory rules. To become one, you’ll need to go through the stages in CS course, a structured programme run by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

The course has three main levels: Foundation, Executive, and Professional. Each stage builds your knowledge step by step. Once you clear them, you also go through practical training before finally starting your career.

A lot of students notice that getting a clear understanding of each level before moving forward makes the CS course journey much easier and less stressful. Setting up a study plan in advance and starting early can help handle the workload better.

Let’s go through each stage in detail so you know exactly what the journey looks like.

Overview of the CS Course Structure

The company secretary course has three main levels of CS.

1. CS Foundation Programme – beginner stage
2. CS Executive Programme – intermediate stage
3. CS Professional Programme – advanced stage

Apart from these exams, students also complete training programmes and internships to gain practical knowledge. On average, the company secretary course duration takes about 3 to 4 years. It can be a bit shorter or longer depending on whether you start right after Class 12 or join straight after graduation.

Students who actively participate in internships often find it easier to apply concepts from class and gain real-world exposure, which also helps with future job interviews.

The levels of CS exam are designed to move from basics to advanced topics. Foundation introduces you to business and accounting. The executive gets into company law and management. Professional level prepares you for top-level decision-making in companies.

Stage 1: CS Foundation Programme

The Foundation Programme is your entry point. Think of this stage as the “starter kit” for anyone who has just completed school and wants to enter the corporate world.

Eligibility Criteria for Foundation

• You need to have passed Class 12 in any stream, except fine arts.
• There is no restriction on minimum marks, which makes it open for most students.

Subjects Covered in Foundation

This stage has four papers, and they give you all the basic knowledge you’ll need before moving on to the higher levels of CS. These include:

• Business Environment and Law
• Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship
• Business Economics
• Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing

These subjects help you understand how businesses function, how basic laws apply, and how to read financial numbers.

Duration and Exam Pattern

• The duration is about 8 months.
• Exams are objective type (multiple-choice questions).
• Each paper carries 100 marks.
• Exams are conducted twice a year: in June and December.

By the end of Foundation, you will have enough grounding to move forward in the company secretary course.

Stage 2: CS Executive Programme

Once you finish Foundation, the next level is the Executive Programme. This is where the real depth of the course starts.

Eligibility Criteria for Executive

• Students who pass the Foundation can register.
• Graduates (except in fine arts) can skip Foundation and directly apply for Executive. This makes it the most common entry point in the levels of CS exam.

Subjects Covered in Executive

The Executive Programme has 7 subjects, divided into two modules.

Module 1:

• Jurisprudence, Interpretation, and General Laws
• Company Law
• Setting up of Business Entities and Closure
• Tax Laws

Module 2:

• Corporate and Management Accounting
• Securities Laws and Capital Markets
• Economic, Business, and Commercial Laws
• Financial and Strategic Management

Together, these subjects give you strong knowledge of company law, accounting, tax, and capital markets. This stage prepares you for more advanced learning in the Professional Programme.

It’s also the stage where many students start gaining practical experience through internships, which gives them a real edge in applying theoretical knowledge.

Duration and Exam Pattern

• The duration is around 9 months.
• Exams are descriptive and 100 marks each.
• Like other stages, they are held in June and December.

The company secretary course duration extends here because students usually take time to prepare properly. Many students also start doing internships after this stage, which gives them an edge when they move ahead.

Stage 3: CS Professional Programme

This is the final and most advanced stage of the stages in CS course. At this level, you are trained to become a professional who can handle complex situations in governance, compliance, and corporate management.

Eligibility Criteria for Professional

• Only students who have passed the Executive Programme can apply.

Subjects Covered in Professional

The Professional Programme has 9 subjects divided into 3 modules:

Module 1:

• Governance, Risk Management, Compliances, and Ethics
• Advanced Tax Laws
• Drafting, Pleadings, and Appearances

Module 2:

• Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management, and Due Diligence
• Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation, and Winding-up
• Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non-Compliances, and Remedies

Module 3:

• Corporate Funding and Listings in Stock Exchanges
• Multidisciplinary Case Studies
• Elective Subject (one option from Banking Law, Insurance Law, Intellectual Property Rights, etc.)

This stage focuses on advanced corporate practices. By the end of Professional, you are ready to handle leadership-level responsibilities in a company.

Duration and Exam Pattern

• The duration is about 10 to 12 months.
• Exams are descriptive and require analytical answers.
• Passing this stage makes you eligible to apply for membership at ICSI.

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Training Requirements Along with Stages

Completing exams is not enough to become a Company Secretary. The ICSI requires you to go through training so you are prepared for the real world.

Here are the main requirements:

• 15 months of training in a company or a law firm after Executive.
• 15 days Executive Development Programme (EDP) after completing Executive.
• 15 days Professional Development Programme (PDP) after completing Professional.

This combination of study and training makes the company secretary course duration longer but also more valuable. You graduate with both theoretical knowledge and real-world experience.

Career Opportunities After Completing All Stages of CS

Once you clear all the levels of CS and finish your training, you become a full-fledged Company Secretary. This qualification creates opportunities across many industries.

The following are a few of the career options:

• Work as a Company Secretary for a business.
• Become a compliance officer or a legal advisor.
• Others work in regulating bodies or public-sector organisations.
• You could also start your own practice as a CS consultant.

The company secretary salary in India really depends on your experience and the type of company you work for. When you’re just starting out, you’ll probably get somewhere around ₹3 lakh a year. As you get more experience and join bigger companies, it can go up to ₹15 lakhs, and honestly, with the right growth, it can get even higher.

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Conclusion: Step-by-Step Path to Becoming a CS Professional

The stages in the CS course take you on a clear journey: Foundation, Executive, and Professional. Each level sharpens your knowledge and skills. Along with training, the total company secretary course duration is 3 to 4 years.

Once you finish all the stages of the CS course, plenty of career options open up in law, finance, governance, and corporate management. The company secretary salary in India is quite good, making the effort worthwhile, and the role carries respect that adds to the satisfaction.

Being a CS means working with top management, taking part in board decisions, and helping run the company. The job comes with responsibility, respect, and a real chance to make an impact. Students who study well and get practical experience usually move ahead faster.

If you want a career that blends law, management, and leadership, the company secretary course or the CPA course is a strong choice.

FAQs on What are the Stages in CS

How many stages are there in the CS course?

There are three stages in CS course: Foundation, Executive, and Professional. These three levels together make up the complete company secretary course.

Can I skip the Foundation stage and directly enter Executive?

Yes. Graduates (except fine arts) can directly join the Executive Programme. This is the most common way students enter the levels of CS exam.

What is the duration of each stage in CS?

The company secretary course duration is about 8 months for Foundation, 1 year for Executive, and 1 year for Professional.

How many attempts are allowed for each stage of CS?

There is no limit. You can attempt each stage of the CS exam as many times as required until you clear it.

Partham Barot is an ACCA-certified professional. showcasing his expertise in finance and accountancy. he’s revolutionising education by focusing on practical, real-world skills. Partham’s achievements underscore his commitment to elevating educational standards and empowering the next generation of professionals.