Yes, you can study ICB Bookkeeping without Matric. Many people face the uncertainty of not knowing whether they may have a successful future with regards to their career aspirations, especially in the bookkeeping field, as knowledge plays a pivotal role in climbing the corporate ladder.
You may have thought that the only way to acquire substantial knowledge was through your Matric Certificate but you could not have been anymore wrong because Skills Academy and various colleges offer courses for bookkeeping without Matric.
Below is a list of various colleges that offer ICB Bookkeeping without Matric:
Study from Home – Let Your Career Take Off in 2017
All the ICB courses start at NQF level 3. Students begin at a level below Matric. If you keep studying the program, course by course you will be promoted to NQF level 6, which is two levels higher than Matric.
The ICB has established their courses to assist students who did not complete school, and who need to study and work at the same time. You start out with the easy concepts and advance until you become a professional!
As a home study student you are able to study an hour in the night, three or four times weekly. With five examination opportunities in 2017, you are able as soon as you are ready,to sign up for the next exam.
Get ICB Qualified at Matric College
Matric College offers various ICB courses that you can complete from the comfort of your own home. These courses will help you get qualified in each respective field of study. There are 3 study programs offered to Matric College students and they are:
- Financial Accounting
- National Certificate in Junior Bookkeeping
- FET Certificate in Senior Bookkeeping
- National Diploma in Technical Financial Accounting
- National Diploma in Certified Financial Accounting
- Business Management
- Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate
- Business Management Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate
- Business Management Financial Accounting: ICB National Diploma
- Office Administration
- National Certificate in Small Business Financial Management
- Higher Certificate in Office Administration
- National Diploma in Financial Accounting
Kick start your professional career with Matric College and the ICB.
No Matric? No problem! You can apply to do your Online Matric via distance learning at Matric College. The Matric Courses on offer are:
- Matric Rewrite
- Matric Upgrade
- National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate (Amended) depending on your age when you complete your studies
- Adult Matric
- Matric Equivalent
Matric College also offers NATED Courses via distance learning. These NATED Courses offer you fantastic opportunities if you want to advance your career prospects by giving you the chance of earning a National Diploma qualification in one of the following streams:
- Business Management Courses
- Educare Courses
- Financial Management Courses
- Human Resource Management Courses
- Legal Secretary Courses
- Management Assistant Courses
- Marketing Management Courses
This is how you can get your accreditation; step by step.
As you progress with the program, you will get certified at different levels. After finishing the first four courses, you will get your first certificate from FASSET, and your first ICB Programme Certificate.
ICB Bookkeeping Courses through Distance Learning
The ICB bookkeeping program is comprised of 4 different levels. Inside each level can be several courses.
- Foundation Level
- Intermediate Level
- Upper Intermediate Level
- Advanced Level
As you finish each level, you will get approved by the ICB. You will get an ICB Certificate. As you finish the different courses inside the levels, you will get recognition from FASSET in a formal qualification from FASSET.
Foundation Level
National Certificate: Bookkeeping (NQF Level 3) – Foundation Level
The foundation level is the starting point for many students. If you did not do well at school, stopped Matric or have not studied for many years, then the foundation level helps you to bridge the gap and return to studying.
Academically the level is rated as NQF 3. That is a level below Matric, so students with Grade 10 (Standard 8) will be able to manage the level of academic work.
You do not need any previous knowledge of accounting if you start at this level and you only need to be a minimum of 16 years of age to be accepted into the program.
To finish this level you must pass four courses. The recommended time to complete it is 12 months. However it is common for students to take up to 18 months.
Intermediate Level
FET Certificate: Bookkeeping (NQF level 4) – Intermediate Level
The intermediate level are for students who have successfully completed the foundation level. It is your 2nd step on the ladder towards becoming a Financial Accountant.
To progress to this level, you should have passed the foundation level. That implies you must already have your National Certificate: Bookkeeping to enter this level.
To complete this level you have to pass two subjects. Many students complete this level in 6 months. Correspondence learning students are able to complete this level in 9 months if they so wish.
Upper Intermediate Level
National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting (NQF level 5) – Upper Intermediate Level
At this level you move from Bookkeeper to Accountant. If your dream is to be an accountant, then this level can get you there!
To enter this level you are required to have passed the Intermediate level. That implies you need to have your FET Certificate: Bookkeeping to gain entry to the Upper Intermediate Level.
To finish this level you have to pass 2 subjects. The recommended time of study is 6 months. Home Study students can take up to 9 months to complete this level.
Advanced Level
National Diploma: Financial Accounting (NQF level 6) – Advanced Level.
This is the highest level in ICB studies. Here you will get your National Diploma: Financial Accounting (NQF Level 6). To enter this level you need to have passed all the other previous levels. That implies that you need to be in possession of a National Diploma in Technical Financial Accounting.
To pass this level you need to successfully complete 4 subjects. Students typically take around 12 months to finish this level. Distance learning students can take a bit longer.
ICB Correspondence Colleges – Accreditation
In order to become accredited, the ICB investigates the courses and application of each college to ensure that their practices are of a high quality. After sending out a portfolio of documents to validate the application, each college is assessed by a quality assurance supervisor from the ICB. At the college site a variety of things are checked, to make sure the college is successfully able to offer these ICB courses.
Some of the crucial things a college needs to reveal at a site evaluation from the ICB, are their financials, quality study materials, proper systems and processes to offer distance learning, certified staff, a tax clearance certificate and an OHS certificate to reveal that the college is safe for staff and students.
After successfully passing the site assessments, these colleges receive their accreditation from the ICB. That indicates they have an accreditation certificate for each ICB program that they are accredited to provide.
ICB Learner Portal
The ICB has a student website for home study students. Through the ICB student portal you can access a variety of self-service functions. You can also ask your college to access these functions in your area if you do not have internet access to, or if you have a tough time using the portal.
Some important things you can do via the learner portal are:
- View and edit your personal and contact information
- Order a reprint of a certificate you accomplished
- Pay your ICB fees (Credit Card).
- Register for Exams.
- See your Exam Results.
ICB Bookkeeping Courses Fees
There are a number of different costs that you must prepare for, if you are going to study an ICB course. Here are some of the costs you have to take note of and plan for:
- Study fees with your distance learning college.
- Book charges: some colleges will include this in your course charges.
- Carrier costs: Skills Academy includes this in your course charges.
- Test charges: usually you pay this straight to the ICB, so it is not considered part of your course fees.
- ICBA Student Membership charges: these fees are normally not included in your course costs.
- ICB Student Registration costs: this is a yearly fee that is generally not included in your course charges.
ICB Registration
When you choose to study for an ICB certification, you must take note of a number of things that are all part of your ICB Registration, of which include:
- Annual ICB Student Registration
- Registration with a home study college
- ICB Exam Registration
- ICB Exams
The ICB provides five test sessions to home study students in 2017. You should ensure you understand the test costs and it is crucial that you sign up for your examination, three months prior so you can prepare for the exam.
If you have not registered for an exam, you can not show up at the test center and expect an exam paper and seat for you.
The difference between Bookkeeping and Accounting Courses
Accounting and Bookkeeping are two sides of the same thing. At the entry level, it is called bookkeeping and you are working with the precise recording of all the deals of a business or department. You make sure that revenues and all cost are correctly tape-recorded.
When you have moved a few steps up on the ladder, you begin reporting on the bookkeeping details, and you begin assessing the info.
At the level where your job ends up being more complicated, given that you are also examining and reporting financial service info, we begin calling it accounting.
An Accountant is a senior Bookkeeper and a Bookkeeper is a junior Accountant!
Why Study Bookkeeping?
The government body for qualifications in the financial sector, FASSET, has done a research study on scarce skills in 2015. From that study they released their Scarce Skills Guide 2015.
FASSET is the SETA for Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and other Financial Services. In their scarce skills report they identified the following as scarce skills:
- Trainee Accountant
- Finance Manager
- General Accountant
- Accounts Clerk
- Payroll Clerk
- Debt Collector
These are all positions for which an ICB bookkeeping course will prepare you for. Your bookkeeping accreditation will ensure that you are constantly in demand. It is a wonderful career that can take you to the highest level in an organisation.
The scarcity of bookkeeping skills likewise affects federal government departments. All federal government departments have accounting and bookkeeping divisions and they work every year to get a successful audit. To get a tidy audit implies that they need experienced, licensed, committed and experienced bookkeeping and accounting personnel and supervisors.
As a certified bookkeeper or accountant, you will constantly stay in need. Either in private service, or in a federal government department, which can include both municipalities, along with larger national federal government departments.
Study further after completing your program – Other Courses
The ICB has accreditation with a variety of other professional bodies. Depending upon what credentials you have finished with the ICB, you can get credit towards obtaining qualifications with these bodies.
Here is a list of a few of the bodies that will determine if your ICB qualification can gain you entry into their programs, in addition towards membership of these professional bodies:
- South African Business Accountants (SAIBA)
- South African Institute for Tax Professionals (SAIT)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Keep in mind: These expert bodies each have their own set of entrance requirements and guidelines.
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and Accountants (ICBA)
The ICBA is an expert body that grants membership to students studying ICB courses. At first you can simply become a Student Member. Nevertheless as soon as you have finished your first certification, you will be get approved for Professional Membership.
This suggests you get to make use of a special title behind your name on your company card. In this regard you reveal to your coworkers and your clients that you are distinguished in your profession, as you are acknowledged as a professional by the ICBA.
The qualifications are numerous so make sure to learn more about the ICBA early on in your studies. This is a terrific way to polish your CV and your professional status.
All the ICB courses start at NQF level 3. Keep studying and course by course you can progress up to the NQF level 6, which is 2 levels higher than Matric.
As you complete each level, you will get licensed by the ICB. Home Study students can take up to 9 months to finish this level.
To enter this level you should have passed all the previous levels.
