CS Professional Programme 2025: Eligibility, Fees & Scope

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CS Professional Programme
CS Professional Programme

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.

CS Professional Programme: Quick Highlights

ParticularsDetails
Course NameCS Professional Programme
Conducted ByInstitute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)
LevelFinal Stage of CS Course
EligibilityPassed CS Executive Programme
Duration9–12 months (excluding training)
Training Requirement21 months mandatory
Modules3 Modules (9 Papers including electives)
Exam ModeOffline (Descriptive, 3 hours)
Registration Fee₹20,000 (approx)
Exam Fee₹1,800 per module
Exam FrequencyTwice a year (June & December)
Pass Criteria40% 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

EventDates
Registration OpensFebruary 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 DatesJune 1–10, 2025
Exam Timing9:00 AM–12:15 PM (includes 15 min reading time)
Admit Card ReleaseAround May 22, 2025
Result DeclarationAugust 2025 (expected)

December 2025 Session

EventDates
Registration OpensAugust 26, 2025
Last Date to Register (both modules)May 31, 2025
Last Date to Register (single module)July 31, 2025
Exam DatesDecember 22–29, 2025 (No exam on 25th Dec)
Exam Timing2:00 PM–5:15 PM (includes 15 min reading time)
Correction WindowTo be announced
Admit Card ReleaseMid-December 2025 (approx.)
Result DeclarationFebruary 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 CoursesPG Courses
B.ComM.Com
BBAMBA (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
1Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
2Drafting, Pleadings & Appearances
3Compliance 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
5Strategic Management & Corporate Finance
6Corporate 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)

ComponentFee Amount (₹)
Registration / Education Fee19,000
Pre-Exam Test Fee1,000
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

  1. Visit the official ICSI portal and sign in (or register as a new student).
  2. Select “Professional Programme”, upload the required documents, and pay the registration fee in full or installments.
  3. 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 CollegesGovernment Colleges
Narsee Monjee College of Commerce, MumbaiUniversity of Delhi, Delhi
Christ University, BengaluruUniversity of Calcutta, Kolkata
Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, PuneGovernment Law College, Mumbai
Loyola College, ChennaiUniversity of Madras, Chennai
Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, DelhiBarkatullah University, Bhopal
IIS University, JaipurGujarat University, Ahmedabad
St. Francis College for Women, HyderabadUniversity of Mysore, Mysuru
Amity University, NoidaBanaras 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 RoleAverage 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

Who is eligible for CS Professional course?

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.

Is CS easier than CA?

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.

How many years is the CS Professional course?

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.

Can I complete CS in 2 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.

This was all about the CS Professional Programme, its eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, career scope, and everything else you actually needed to know. For more such reliable updates and insights on career-defining courses and professional exams, make sure to scroll through Leverage Edu and stay informed!

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