ICSB CS Professional
ICSB Certified Professional
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The ICSB Certified Professional - often written as ICSB CS Professional - is a corporate-secretary credential aimed at people who govern, advise, or administer companies rather than at general management candidates. It suits sitting and aspiring company secretaries, governance and compliance officers, board support staff, in-house counsel, and finance professionals who work directly with boards. The syllabus is organised around seven domains: boardroom practice and governance, company law and regulatory compliance, secretarial practice and records, governance codes and standards, risk management and internal control, ethics and anti-corruption, and shareholder and stakeholder relations. Questions are multiple choice, and the emphasis falls on applying rules to realistic boardroom scenarios rather than reciting definitions. To prepare, start with the statutory and regulatory framework, because the records, boardroom, and shareholder domains all depend on it. Then work through governance codes alongside risk and ethics, which reward judgment more than memorisation. Practise short scenario questions until you can spot the decisive fact quickly, and keep a running list of the documents, filings, and approvals that recur across domains. Check the ICSB's official website for current registration requirements, the exam format and scheduling, fees, and results policy, since these details are set by the issuing body and can change between sessions.
What you'll study
About ICSB CS Professional preparation
What is the exam format?
Questions are multiple choice, delivered as a timed assessment. The number of questions, the time allowed, and whether sittings are online or at test centres are set by the ICSB and published on its official site, so confirm the current format there before you book.
How difficult is it?
Most candidates find the law and records domains manageable because they are rule-based, while governance and ethics questions are harder because two answers can look defensible. The exam rewards people who can identify the single decisive fact in a scenario, not those who memorise the most text.
What happens if I fail - can I retake?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and any limit on attempts are set by the ICSB. Check its official site or candidate handbook for the current policy before registering, and factor a possible resit into your study plan rather than assuming a single attempt.
How much time do I need to prepare?
Professionals working full time typically need a few months of steady study, perhaps six to ten hours a week, with more if company law is new to you. Candidates already working in a secretarial or compliance role often need less, because the records and filing material is familiar.
In what order should I study the domains?
Begin with company law and regulatory compliance, since boardroom practice, records, and shareholder relations all rest on it. Add governance codes next, then risk and ethics together, because both test judgment. Leave practice questions and timed revision for the final weeks.
Why do candidates fail?
The usual causes are memorising statutes without practising application, ignoring the records and filing domain as 'easy marks', and misreading scenario stems that hinge on one word such as 'must' versus 'may'. Weak candidates also skip timed practice and run out of time on longer questions.
Are there prerequisites or eligibility criteria?
Eligibility conditions, any required professional experience, and membership requirements are determined by the ICSB. Review the current criteria on its official website before applying, because they can differ from what colleagues experienced in earlier years.
How is the credential kept current?
Many professional bodies require continuing professional development or periodic renewal. The ICSB publishes its own requirements, including any CPD hours or membership fees, so check its official site rather than relying on second-hand summaries.
Does this page come from the ICSB?
No. This is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the ICSB. Use the official body's website as the authoritative source for registration, format, fees, results, and policy.