#CareerBytes: Differences between Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaryship programs
Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Company Secretaryship (CS) are two of the most popular options for Commerce stream students in the country. The CA course is offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) while the CS program is offered by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). Here's everything you want to know about CA and CS programs.
To become a Company Secretary, one must register with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). After completing 10+2 or equivalent, one can join the Foundation course after which they should pursue the Executive program followed by the Professional program. Alternatively, after completing graduation, one can directly undergo the Executive and Professional programs of the Company Secretaryship course.
To become a CA, after completing 10+2 or equivalent, one needs to register with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). They need to clear the Competency Professional Test (CPT), pursue Bachelor of Commerce (full-time), clear the IPCC/IPCE (Integrated Professional Competence Course), pursue Articleship for three years, and clear the Final exam. However, after completing graduation, one can directly enroll for the IPCC/IPCE.
While both CA and CS courses involve three different levels, the duration of both the courses differs. CS is a shorter course when compared to CS. On average, the CS course takes around 2-3 years to complete while the CA course takes about 4.5-5 years.
While Chartered Accountancy deals with accounting, banking, taxation, law, audit, finance, etc., Company Secretaryship focuses on subjects to help students become experts at the corporate laws covering basic economics, tax laws, company law, etc. Coming to the salary, the salary offered to a fresher CA is higher at Rs. 6 lakh per year compared to that of a fresher CS at Rs. 3-4 LPA.
