The ICB (Institute Of Certified Bookkeepers) was founded in 1931, with the aim of improving the standards of bookkeeping and accounting qualifications throughout South Africa. The ICB also became a professional body as well as course suppliers. The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers South Africa offers courses in bookkeeping, accounting, business management, office administration and entrepreneurship. You can read more on ICB here.
The function of the ICB
- The ICB has qualifications for many different types of business fields. Including accounting, bookkeeping, financial management, business management and entrepreneurship
- Every qualification that the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers offers consists of various modules/subjects. These can be studied as short courses, so that if you want to improve a certain section of the work you can
- The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers provide membership to those who have completed any of their courses, even the short courses. There are also designations that you could be awarded depending on what course you chose to study
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers’s Accreditation
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is based in South Africa and is recognised by FASSET as one of their QAP (Quality Assurance Partner). While the ICB is based in South Africa, it does have an affiliation with both the IFA (Institute of Financial Accountants) and the IAB (International Association of Bookkeepers) both of which operate from the United Kingdom.
Benefits of an ICB education and qualification
The course you will do provides you with all the knowledge that will help you in excell in the workplace. The course will also teach you essential skills to be deserving of a promotion or job in that field of work.
The accredited ICB Bookkeeping and Accounting Courses are a great option for students who would like to study an accredited course without a matric certificate. The entry requirement for Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate, the first course in the series is that you need to have grade 10. You will then move on to the Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate course and Certified Financial Accounting: ICB National Diploma course, which is the final course in the programme.
How do the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers courses work
The ICB sets up exams, and designs the ICB qualifications that they offer. However they don’t provide support for their own courses. Students who want to study an ICB course need find a college (like Skills Academy) to support them through their course. You can start even if you haven’t finished Matric by studying the ICB’s Junior Bookkeeping Certificate.
Additional Benefits Of Studying an ICB Course
There are two main additional benefits of studying an ICB course.
- Several professional bodies recognise Institute of Certified Bookkeepers courses. This means that if you want to work for a professional body or join them, you will only have a chance of doing so if the recognise your qualification. This means that you have an opportunity you wouldn’t have if the course wasn’t an Institute of Certified Bookkeepers course.
- There are several other organisations, who supply courses, that recognise the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers courses and will give you exemptions if you want to study with them. Exemption means that don’t have to do certain subjects, as they believe you have already completed an equivalent subject. This is very useful if you want to study further.
Professional Bodies that Recognise The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers:
- Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and Accountants (ICBA)
- International Association of Accounting Professionals (IAAP)
- Southern African Institute for Business Accountants (SAIBA)
- International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB)
- South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT)
Academic Institutions that Offer Exemptions for Some of Their Courses:
- CIMA: CIMA’s Management Accounting Studies, offers exemptions for ICB graduates
- ACCA: ACCA only offers exemption if you completed a National Diploma in Financial Accounting and wish to become a Certified Chartered Accountant
Places to study ICB Courses:
Find out more about the ICB here: Institute of Certified Bookkeepers
You can also read the ICB Office Administration page for more information.
To find out more about the ICB courses that Skills Academy offers you can read the ICB Distance Learning Courses page. For more information read the ICB prospectus page.
You can also study accredited ICB courses with Matric College from the comfort of your own home. If you are looking to further your studies in the financial or business management field, the ICB courses are just what you are looking for. There are 3 study programmes offered to Matric College students and they are:
No Matric? No problem! You can apply to do your Online Matric via distance learning at Matric College. The Matric courses on offer are:
National Senior Certificate
National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate (Amended) depending on your age when you complete your studies
- Matric Equivalent
Last Update: 11 January 2022