PROFESSIONAL COURSE
CS — Company Secretary route explained.
Understand the ICSI pathway, the restructured CSEET, Executive and Professional stages and the careers available after qualification.
What is Company Secretary (CS)?
The Company Secretary qualification is administered by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). The course develops professionals in corporate law, compliance, governance, secretarial practice and related areas.
2026 update: ICSI announced a restructured
CSEET effective from the June 2026 session. The current CSEET route and
eligibility should therefore be checked on ICSI's latest student portal before
registration.
Typical CS pathway
| Stage | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CSEET | Entry-level examination for eligible candidates under the current ICSI structure, with exemptions/direct-entry categories as prescribed by ICSI. |
| CS Executive | Professional-level study of corporate and business law, compliance, taxation and related subjects. |
| CS Professional | Advanced professional study and completion of the requirements prescribed by ICSI. |
| Training / practical requirements | Students must complete the applicable training, orientation and other requirements specified by ICSI. |
Who can consider CS?
Students interested in company law, corporate governance, compliance, board processes, legal documentation and business regulation may find CS a strong career option. The course can be considered by students from different academic backgrounds subject to the current ICSI eligibility rules.
Career opportunities
- Company Secretary / Secretarial Department
- Corporate compliance and governance
- Legal and regulatory support
- Listed-company and securities compliance
- Corporate advisory and due diligence
- Secretarial audit and related professional work, subject to applicable rules
CA vs CS — simple distinction
| CA | CS |
|---|---|
| Strong emphasis on accounting, audit, taxation, financial reporting and finance. | Strong emphasis on corporate law, governance, compliance and secretarial practice. |
| Administered by ICAI. | Administered by ICSI. |
| Best compared by looking at your interests in finance/accounting versus broader corporate compliance and law. | Best compared by looking at your interests in corporate law, governance and regulatory work. |
Official source: ICSI publishes the current CSEET structure,
eligibility, syllabus, registration information, examinations and student
announcements.