What is the ICB?

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, better known as the ICB, is an external examination board. They are a Quality Assurance Partner (QAP) of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupation (QCTO). They are a provider of accredited business and accounting qualifications.

How Did The ICB Start?

The ICB has existed since 1931. Back then they were not only education and training based, but also offered professional membership. These two parts split in 2015 when academic guidelines and laws changed. The professional membership split from ICB to form what is known today as the ICBA or the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and Accountants.

Being a QAP of the QCTO means that their courses are also measured on the National Qualifications Framework, which means that if you study a course by them your qualification will be NQF rated.

What are NQF Levels?

The NQF levels is a way to measure qualifications in South Africa. This means that it is possible to see which courses are more advanced than the next, even if the course is presented by two different entities. For example, Matric is an NQF 4 course, but a Bachelor’s degree is NQF 7 therefore it is easy to see that the degree comes after Matric.

The NQF is run by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which means that any NQF level course has a SAQA ID as a way to say that they passed a test to determine its level and quality.

What are the ICB Courses?

The ICB offers five streams of courses. These are Financial AccountingOffice AdministrationPublic Sector Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and Business Management. Below is a breakdown of these courses and their subjects.

Financial Accounting Programme

National Certificate: Bookkeeping (NQF 3)

  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB)
  • Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns (PMSR)
  • Computerised Bookkeeping (CPBK)
  • Business Literacy (BUSL)

Further Education and Training Certificate: Bookkeeping (NQF 4)

  • Financial Statements (FNST)
  • Cost and Management Accounting (CMGT)

National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting (NQF 5)

  • Income Tax Returns (ITRT)
  • Business Law and Accounting Control (BLAC)

National Diploma: Financial Accounting (NQF 6)

  • Corporate Strategy (CRPS)
  • Management Accounting Control Systems (MACS)
  • Financial Reporting and Regulatory Frameworks (FRRF)
  • Research Theory and Practice (RTAP)

Office Administration Programme

Certificate: Office Administration (NQF 5)

  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB)
  • Business Literacy (BUSL)
  • Cost and Management Accounting (CMGT)
  • Business & Office Administration 1 (BOA1)
  • Marketing Management and Public Relations (MMPR)
  • Business Law and Administrative Practice (BLAP)

Higher Certificate: Office Administration (NQF 5)

  • Business & Office Administration 2 (BOA2)
  • HR Management and Labour Relations (HRLR)
  • Economics (ECON)

Diploma: Office Administration (NQF 6)

  • Financial Statements (FNST)
  • Business and Office Administration 3 (BOA3)
  • Management (MGMT)

Business Management Programme

National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management (NQF 4)

  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB)
  • Business Literacy (BUSL)
  • Business Management 1 (BMT1)

Higher Certificate: Office Administration (NQF 5)

  • Financial Statements (FNST)
  • Marketing Management and Public Relations (MMPR)
  • HR Management and Labour Relations (HRLR)
  • Office and Legal Practice (OLPR)
  • Business Management 2 (BMT2)

National Diploma: Financial Accounting (NQF 6)

  • Financial Reporting and Regulatory Frameworks (FRRF)
  • Research Theory and Practice (RTAP)
  • Business Management 3 (BMT3)
  • Financial Management and Control (FMCL)

Get ICB Qualified with Skills Academy

Skills Academy offers various ICB courses that you can complete from the comfort of your own home via distance learning. These courses are assured get your qualified and ready to enter the work place.

Become a business professional with their industry leading range of qualifications. Start at a NQF 3 (Grade 11 equivalent) and work your way up to a NQF 6 (National Diploma), offering ICB courses in Financial Accounting, Business Management, and Office Administration.

 

How Do I Register?

The ICB do not present their own courses but only do the exams. They have several training providers that take care of the rest. One such ICB accredited training provider is Skills Academy. To start an ICB course you first have to register with the training provider of your choice. After this you register on the ICB Learner Portal for your course. After this step you will be mailed your Portfolio of Evidence (PoE). Your PoE consists of three assignments and two tests to be completed at home and handed in when you write your exam.

You also register yourself for your exams on the Learner Portal. Here you choose a date and venue that suits you best.

Registering is easy. Why not do it today?

Written by: Maretha Lubbe

Last Updated: August 02, 2023

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