|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Frequently Asked Questions What is the address of the Institute?
What is the difference between Chartered Secretaries Canada and ICSA? Chartered Secretaries Canada is the Canadian Division of ICSA International, an international professional body founded in England in 1891 and granted its Royal Charter in 1902. The Canadian Division of the Institute was formed in 1920. The Canadian Division promotes and maintains professionalism in the fields of commerce and administration, with particular emphasis on our key professional areas of company secretarial practice and corporate governance. How do I contact the Institute? You can contact the Institute via the following means:
What are your hours of operation? We open from 9:00 am to 5:00: pm, Mondays to Fridays. I will change my address in the near future. How can I ensure that I continue to receive mail? If you are a member of Chartered Secretaries Canada: How do I register as a student?
Is there any annual closing date for applications for studentship? There is no closing date - admissions are on an on-going basis. What are the student fees? Please see our Student Fee Schedule, updated annually. What are the closing dates for examination entry? Candidates wishing to sit the spring examinations should apply no later than March 1; candidates wishing to sit the fall examinations should apply no later than September 1. Applications are forwarded to all students approximately 2 months before the actual exam date. Once I've completed the Professional Program and passed all the examinations of the Institute, how soon will I be admitted to membership? Successful finalists in the examinations automatically become Graduate Members and may use the designatory letters Grad ICSA. This is a temporary grade, during which it is possible either to apply for election to full membership (Associate or Fellow) or accumulate the required experience for membership Membership requires three conditions to be fulfilled; these are (a) examination, (b) relevant working experience and (c) personal character. In addition to passing the qualifying examination scheme, the requirement for relevant experience is a minimum of six years. Experience may be gained before, during or after examinations, and the application form requires employers to verify the position, duties, and period spent. The application form also requires character references. Applications for full membership are considered at least twice a year. What is Relevant Work Experience? In addition to completing the qualifying papers and holding the relevant educational pre-requisites, candidates must have had appropriate practical experience. Unless otherwise stated the standard period of practical experience is six years and at least this period of time must be documented and certified on the form. Where candidates are unable to get their forms signed by a previous employer, a reference or letter of appointment will suffice. The definition of work experience, relevant for election to full membership, is very broad. Experience can be gained in any number of different organisations, in both the private and public sectors. Some of the major relevant work areas include: company secretarial work, general management and administration, accounting and financial management, legal work, pensions, insurance, information systems management, committee administration. However, certain types of experience (e.g. teaching, personal secretary) will not be regarded as relevant, though a proportion of this time may be counted in some instances. The employer should be asked to provide a letter certifying the percentage of the applicant’s time spent on different types of duties. In such cases, either: (a) at least one third of the required period of work experience must have been spent in administrative posts; OR (b) the applicant must be holding a WHOLLY administrative post at the time of application for membership. Employment Records We recommend that all registered students keep a record of the experience gained at work, and get official confirmation of duties when leaving jobs. Records should in particular show the titles of posts held during employment, and outlines of duties, dates (month and year) of starting and finishing of each post. If the post is not considered as strictly relevant but contains elements of administrative or relevant duties, the employer should be requested to certify the percentage of time spent on such duties. All certification letters should be on employer official letterhead, signed by an appropriate person of the organisation and/or stamped with company chop. Letters of appointment and notifications of promotion will not be accepted as a proof of relevant work experience. I shall be leaving Canada to move overseas; can I transfer my membership? If you are leaving Canada, your ICSA membership may be transferred to an appropriate Division of the ICSA, in which case you would have to resign your Chartered Secretaries Canada membership. On your instructions, the National Office would be happy to provide the necessary details to the Division which you should transfer. If you choose to leave your ICSA registration in Canada, then your membership will remain administered by Chartered Secretaries Canada. There are two grades of membership; what are the differences? For a candidate to be elected to Associate ship, he or she must:
For a candidate to be elected to the senior grade of Fellowship, he or she must:
|
 |
|
||
|
|
