Chartered Accountant (CA) Vs Company Secretary (CS) – Course Details

Nowadays many candidates are very clear about their studies and career. And they choose the best courses which leads to good career. Chartered Accountant vs Company Secretary are the best and extra-ordinary courses and a lot of students are confused between which courses to take from these two.

But in this page, we have provided the detailed information regarding both courses and how they help students get best opportunities in their professional careers.

CA vs CS
CAvsCS

Here you can get the details like CA vs CS – which one is best? CS or CA which is better? Syllabus of the both CA and CS courses, which is the tough course between CA and CS etc, details. This post will get a depth knowledge about these two courses.

Comparison between CA & CS Course

About CA (Chartered Accountancy)

CA stands for Chartered Accountancy. To become Chartered Accountant you to have to take CA course which is offered by CA Institute. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is the only recognized professional body to regulate and develop the Chartered Accountancy profession in India. ICAI is established by the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.

Members of ICAI

More than 2, 62,000 Chartered Accountants are there including 1, 77,000 Associate Chartered Accountants & 85,000 number of  Fellow CAs and more than 1, 25,000 Chartered Accountants having Certificate of Practice under ICAI.

About CS (Company Secretary)

CS stands for Company Secretary. Anyone who want to become a Company Secretary have to join in the Company Secretaries course which is offered by CS Institute. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India is the only recognized Professional body to regulate and develop the profession of Company Secretaries in India. It is constituted under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.

Members of ICSI

There are more than 44,000 members including 8,000 members holding Certificate of the practice under ICSI. The current number of students is over 3, 70,000.

CA vs CS 

Differences CA (Chartered Accountant)CS (Company Secretary)
Number of levelsYou need to qualify for three levels to become a Chartered Accountant.

Competency Professional Test (CPT) is the first stage.

After clearing the CPT, you are eligible for Integrated Professional Competence (IPC).

If you clear IPCC, you will eligible for the Final examination.

The Company Secretary has also three levels.

You need to clear the Foundation course which is the first stage.

After clearing you will for Intermediate which is the second level of the CS Course.

And then you will be eligible for the Final course.

DurationApproximately four yearsApproximately four years
Eligibility Criteria 10+2 for CPT course

Direct entry to IPCC after completion of Bachelor degree in Commerce

10+2 for Foundation course

Direct entry to Executive after completion of Bachelor degree in Commerce

Courses FeesCPT Registration Fee- 6,000/-

IPCC Registration Fee- 9,000/-

Final

Registration Fee- 10,000

Articled Training/-

Registration Fee- 2,000/- & GMCS-5,000/-

Foundation Course Registration Fee- 4,500/-

Executive Course Registration Fee- 8,500/- for Pass candidates

9,000/- for Commerce Graduates

12,500/- for ICAI-CPT/ICAI (Cost) Foundation Pass Students

10,000/- for other Graduates

Professional Course Registration fee- 12,000/-

SyllabusThe CA subjects are as follows.

CPT:

-Fundamentals of Accounting (Paper 1)
-Quantitative Aptitude (Paper 2)
-Mercantile Law (Paper 3A)
-General Economics (Paper 3B)
-General English (Paper 4A)
-Business Communication (Paper 4B)

IPCC:

Group I
– Advanced Accounting (Paper 1)
– Law, ethics and communication (Paper 2)
– Cost Accounting and Financial Management (Paper 3)
– Taxation (Paper 4)
Group II
– Advanced Accounting (Paper 5)
– Auditing and Assurance (Paper 6)
– Information Technology and Strategic Management (Paper 7)

Final:

Group I
– Advanced Accounting (Paper 1)
– Management Accounting and Financial Analysis (Paper 2)
– Advanced Auditing (Paper 3)
– Corporate Laws and Secretarial Practice (Paper 4)

Group II
– Cost Management (Paper 5)
– Management Information and Control System (Paper 6)
– Direct Taxes (Paper 7)
– Indirect Taxes (Paper 8)

The CS subjects are as follows

Foundation course:

-English and Business Communication (Paper 1)
– Basic Economics and Business Environment (Paper 2)
– Financial Accounting (Paper 3)
– Elements of Business Laws and Management (Paper 4)
– Information Systems and Quantitative Techniques (Paper 5)

Intermediate course:

Group I
– General and Commercial Laws (Paper 1)
– Company Accounts and Cost and Management Accounting (Paper 2)
– Tax Laws (Paper 3)
– Management Information Systems and Corporate Communications (Paper 4)

Group II
– Company Law (Paper 5)
– Company Secretarial Practice (Paper 6)
– Economic Labour and Industrial Laws (Paper 7)
– Securities Laws and Regulation of Financial Markets (Paper 8)

Final:

Group I
– Advanced Company Law and Practice (Paper 1)
– Secretarial Practice Relating to Economic Laws and Drafting & Conveyancing (Paper 2)
– Secretarial, Management and Systems Audit (Paper 3)

Group II
– Financial, treasury and Forex Management (Paper 4)
– Corporate restructuring – Law and Practice (Paper 5)
– Banking and insurance – Law and Practice (Paper 6)

Group III
– World Trade Organization – International Trade, Joint Ventures & Foreign Collaboration (Paper 7)
– Direct and Indirect Taxation – Law and Practice (Paper 8)
– Human resources management and industrial relations (Paper 9)

Training Period Three Years Articleship under CA in Practice.Necessary Only for obtaining COP. The Articleship under a practicing CS. One year articleship for CS Final qualified student and two years articleship if done after completing CS Executive course.
Examination Period May and NovemberJune and December
Examination FeeCA CPT- 500/-

CA Intermediate (IPCC) – 2700/- for both groups.

CA Final 3,300/- for both groups.

CS Foundation- 1200/-

CS Executive- 2400/- for both modules.

CS Professional- 3600/- for both modules.

Pass Percentage(Last Term) CA CPT- 30%

CA IPCC- 14%

CA Final- 6%

CS Foundation- 40%

CS Executive- 10%

CS Final- 8%

Job opportunitiesAfter competition of Chartered course you will get massive Job opportunities in Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Management Accounting and Consulting firms etc.CSs can work in many areas. The job roles such as legal experts, corporate planner and strategic manager, chief advisor to the board of directors and as executive secretary to MD or CEO of any reputed company etc.
Post Qualification CoursesInformation System Audit(ISA)

Tax Management Course(CMC)

Diploma in Insurance and Risk Management (DIRM)

Corporate Accountancy Course (MAC)

World Trade Organization (ITL & WTO)

Tax Management Course(TMC)

Certificate Course in Compliance, Governance & Risk Management in Insurance
Name Prefix A member of  ICAI may prefix CA to his nameA member of  ICSI may prefix CA to his name
DesignationChartered AccountantCompany Secretary

 

You will get the best career opportunities if you do CA or CS. But you need to study really hard to crack the examination.

Go through the above details and pick the course what best suits you.

Book mark this page to know more information about CMA Course details like CMA Foundation, CMA Intermediate and CMA Final Course details etc.

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