The CS Professional Programme is the final and most advanced stage of the Company Secretary course conducted by ICSI. It requires not only a strong academic foundation but also a clear understanding of corporate laws, governance, and compliance frameworks. Many students struggle to find structured, updated information, especially when dealing with registration processes, exam schedules, or course content. This blog brings together everything you need to know about the CS Professional Programme in 2025: eligibility, syllabus, fees, duration, and career prospects. If you’re preparing for the final step in your CS journey, this guide is built to help you plan confidently.
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CS Professional Programme: Quick Highlights
Particulars | Details |
Course Name | CS Professional Programme |
Conducted By | Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) |
Level | Final Stage of CS Course |
Eligibility | Passed CS Executive Programme |
Duration | 9–12 months (excluding training) |
Training Requirement | 21 months mandatory |
Modules | 3 Modules (9 Papers including electives) |
Exam Mode | Offline (Descriptive, 3 hours) |
Registration Fee | ₹20,000 (approx) |
Exam Fee | ₹1,800 per module |
Exam Frequency | Twice a year (June & December) |
Pass Criteria | 40% per subject & 50% aggregate |
What Is the CS Professional Programme?
The CS Professional Programme is the final stage of the Company Secretary (CS) course, conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). It is designed for candidates who have successfully cleared the CS Executive Programme. At this level, students gain advanced knowledge of company law, corporate governance, financial reporting, and strategic management. Once you complete the CS Professional Programme and the required training, you can become an Associate Company Secretary (ACS) and are eligible to practice or work in senior roles in corporates, law firms, or regulatory bodies.
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CS Professional Exam 2025: Important Dates
Here know about the key enrollment and exam dates for the CS Professional Programme in 2025, so you can track your deadlines and plan ahead with confidence.
June 2025 Session
Event | Dates |
Registration Opens | February 26, 2025 |
Last Date to Register (without late fee) | March 25, 2025 |
Registration (with ₹250 late fee) | Until April 9, 2025 |
Correction Window (changing centre or module) | By May 1, 2025 |
Exam Dates | June 1–10, 2025 |
Exam Timing | 9:00 AM–12:15 PM (includes 15 min reading time) |
Admit Card Release | Around May 22, 2025 |
Result Declaration | August 2025 (expected) |
December 2025 Session
Event | Dates |
Registration Opens | August 26, 2025 |
Last Date to Register (both modules) | May 31, 2025 |
Last Date to Register (single module) | July 31, 2025 |
Exam Dates | December 22–29, 2025 (No exam on 25th Dec) |
Exam Timing | 2:00 PM–5:15 PM (includes 15 min reading time) |
Correction Window | To be announced |
Admit Card Release | Mid-December 2025 (approx.) |
Result Declaration | February 2026 (tentative) |
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Eligibility Criteria
To register for this programme, candidates must first have cleared the CS Executive Programme (both modules). Only then will they be eligible to enroll and appear for the Professional stage.
- CS Executive qualified candidates: Must have passed both modules of the Executive level.
- Graduate/Postgraduate students: Not eligible directly. They must first clear the Executive exams.
There’s no residency requirement. Domestic and overseas candidates are treated equally. Age is also not a factor, so you can enroll at any point after clearing the Executive papers.
Popular UG and PG Courses
While the CS course itself is independent and regulated by ICSI, many students choose complementary undergraduate (UG) or postgraduate (PG) degrees to strengthen their profile or open broader career options.
UG Courses | PG Courses |
B.Com | M.Com |
BBA | MBA (Finance / Corporate Law) |
B.A. (Economics) | LLM |
B.A. (Political Science) | PGDM (Corporate Governance) |
B.A. LL.B (Integrated Law) | PGDM (Compliance / Business Law) |
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CS Subjects and Syllabus
This programme covers three modules, with nine core papers, including two elective options. Each paper is worth 100 marks, and written exams are offline with a 15-minute reading time set before the test.
Module 1 (Group 1 – 3 Papers)
Paper No. | Subject |
1 | Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) |
2 | Drafting, Pleadings & Appearances |
3 | Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence |
Module 2 & Elective‑I (Group 1 continued and Elective 1)
Paper No. | Subject |
4 (Elective 1) | Choose one: CSR & Social Governance / Internal & Forensic Audit / Intellectual Property Rights / Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics & Cyber Security |
Module 3 (Group 2 – Core Papers)
Paper No. | Subject |
5 | Strategic Management & Corporate Finance |
6 | Corporate Restructuring, Valuation & Insolvency |
Module 3 Elective‑II (Group 2 continued)
Paper No. | Subject |
7 (Elective 2) | Choose one: Arbitration, Mediation & Conciliation / GST & Corporate Tax Planning / Labour Laws & Practice / Banking & Insurance Laws / Insolvency & Bankruptcy Law |
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Course Duration and Fees
Let’s understand how long this programme typically takes, along with the complete fee structure you need to plan for.
- The CS Professional Programme is designed to be completed alongside or after your 21-month mandatory training.
- Most students finish the syllabus in 9–12 months if taken after the Executive level.
- Therefore, the overall duration after clearing the Executive is typically around 2 to 2.5 years, including both study and training.
- The total fee assumes studying both modules at once.
- Each exam module costs ₹1,800; add ₹250 for late submissions or any exam-day changes.
- Fee concessions (up to 100%) are available for SC/ST, physically handicapped, ICSI staff, military personnel & Agniveers, and students from specific regions.
Fee Structure for CS Professional (2025)
Component | Fee Amount (₹) |
Registration / Education Fee | 19,000 |
Pre-Exam Test Fee | 1,000 |
Total Course Fee | ₹20,000 |
Examination Fee per Module | ₹1,800 |
Late Fee & Changes (per change) | ₹250 |
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Registration and Admission Process
Here you’ll learn how to register for this programme, its deadlines, documents, and admission steps you need to follow to avoid hassle.
Registration Timeline
- Enrollment opens twice a year: late February (for June exams) and late August (for December exams).
- The deadline without a late fee is typically one month after opening.
- A late fee (₹250) is applicable if registering within the late window.
Documents Required
- CS Executive Pass Certificate (for both modules)
- Recent passport-size photograph and signature (in digital format)
- Proof of identity (e.g., PAN card, Aadhaar)
- Educational certificates as proof of qualification
- No physical certificates are needed at enrolment
How to Enroll Online
- Visit the official ICSI portal and sign in (or register as a new student).
- Select “Professional Programme”, upload the required documents, and pay the registration fee in full or installments.
- Download and save the system-generated Registration Slip (essential for exam forms).
Filling Your Exam Form
- Exam forms become available in the first week of April for the June session and the first week of October for the December session.
- You must submit an exam form for each module you intend to appear in before the deadline; late filing incurs extra charges.
- Late exam forms are accepted up to specified dates with the late fee added.
Revalidation and Reactivation
- Registration remains valid for five years from the date of enrolment.
- If you fail to clear the Professional exam within that timeframe, you can reactivate your admission via Revalidation by paying a revalidation fee.
Admission Confirmation
- Once you’ve registered and submitted your exam form, ICSI issues the Admission Slip and later issues the Admit Card ahead of the exams.
- Your admit card and examination form status are available on your ICSI student dashboard once released.
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Top Colleges for CS in India
Here’s a list of top government and private collges for CS in India.
Private Colleges | Government Colleges |
Narsee Monjee College of Commerce, Mumbai | University of Delhi, Delhi |
Christ University, Bengaluru | University of Calcutta, Kolkata |
Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune | Government Law College, Mumbai |
Loyola College, Chennai | University of Madras, Chennai |
Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Delhi | Barkatullah University, Bhopal |
IIS University, Jaipur | Gujarat University, Ahmedabad |
St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad | University of Mysore, Mysuru |
Amity University, Noida | Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi |
Career Scope and Salary
Let’s understand the career scope, high-paying job roles, and their salary in 2025 after the CS professional programme.
Job Role | Average Salary (INR/year) |
Company Secretary (Listed Company) | ₹12–20 LPA |
Senior Compliance Manager | ₹15–22 LPA |
Head of Corporate Governance | ₹20–30 LPA |
Legal & Regulatory Affairs Head | ₹18–28 LPA |
Secretarial Auditor | ₹10–18 LPA |
Chief Financial Officer (with CS + CA) | ₹25–40 LPA |
Risk & Compliance Consultant (Big 4 Firms) | ₹12–25 LPA |
Investment and M&A Compliance Advisor | ₹15–30 LPA |
Corporate Legal Advisor | ₹10–22 LPA |
Independent CS Practitioner (High Clients) | ₹8–25 LPA+ |
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FAQs
Anyone who has successfully cleared both modules of the CS Executive Programme is eligible to register for the CS Professional Programme. You must also comply with ICSI’s training requirements during or after the course.
CS and CA are both tough in their own ways. CS is more focused on corporate law and governance, while CA deals heavily with accounting and finance, so it depends on your strengths and interest areas.
The CS Professional course typically takes 9–12 months to complete. However, with training and all stages combined, the full CS journey usually takes about 3 to 4 years.
If you’re extremely focused and pass each stage in the first attempt, it’s technically possible to complete the CS course in 2–2.5 years. But realistically, most students take longer due to training and exam schedules.
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