Introducing the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers

‘Institute’ is a protected title which requires Governmental approval from the Secretary of State and can only be used by “professional bodies of the highest standing.” And so the ICB’s rules that govern membership ensure that only the finest professionals are eligible to join, and that certification is based on exams. To maintain membership members need to maintain their training via Continuous Professional Development.

Over 150,000 ICB students and members

The ICB is currently in over 100 countries all over the world, including all 53 commonwealth countries.

“Not just a bookkeeper, an ICB bookkeeper”

The bookkeeping industry has been regulated since the introduction of the 2007 money laundering act. This means that to operate as a bookkeeper you need to be a member of a regulatory body such as the ICB. This makes an ICB qualification even more attractive.

As the reputation and recognition of the ICB has spread, businesses increasingly look for ICB certification when they are looking to hire a good freelance bookkeeper. Businesses are not just looking for a bookkeeper, they are looking for an ICB bookkeeper.

What are the levels of ICB membership?

There are 3 membership levels:

• Associate (AICB)
• Member (MICB)
• Fellow (FICB)

Associate (AICB) – Level 2 ICB Qualifications

The first level is associate member and you would be entitled to use the letters AICB after your name.

An associate member is somebody who is either on their way to a further qualification, or perhaps an accounts assistant, who doesn’t need to get as far as a set of year-end accounts but what they do need to do is be completely accurate with everything that is brought into those accounts.

Member (MICB) – Level 3 ICB Qualifications

The second level of membership entitles you to use the letters MICB after your name.

When moving from Associate to Member, you’ll learn the skills needed to work with any type of business. You’ll be able to produce VAT Returns, control the sales and purchases ledger, post year-end adjustments, and produce the final accounts for sole traders, partnerships, not-for-profit organisations, and limited companies.

And a full member will traditionally be working in a business where they are providing perhaps the only set of accounts for the management. The majority of members actually then start their own practice.

Fellow (FICB) – Level 4 ICB Qualifications

To become a Fellow of the ICB you must pass at least three of the Level 4 ICB Qualifications and have been a MICB for the previous 2 years. This is the final level of membership and this entitles you to use the letters FICB after your name.

This is where you use all of your experience of working with businesses and appreciate that small businesses may not understand what the figures are doing for them.

So this is where you go beyond compliance, and are able to analyse a set of accounts to show how a business is doing at the moment and how it could be doing better.

The benefits of ICB membership

By becoming an ICB member you are demonstrating your commitment to the profession and making yourself more attractive to potential employers.

• Networking – Build your professional network through local branch meetings, and the annual Bookkeepers Summit.
• Online resources – Access to exclusive areas of the ICB website
• Professional development – If you want to be the best then the learning never ends – Continuing Professional Development can help you to expand your knowledge and skills.
• Technical helpline – Need access to a specialist adviser? Help is at hand.
• Career support – Access to online resources and the job vacancy portal.
• ICBenefits – get preferential rates on services provided by partners.

Christine studied with us and started her own practice after 12 months…

“I achieved Distinctions in 12 exams with results ranging from 95% to 100%, and I won the ICB Student of the Year Luca Award. I set up my own business and won ICB New Bookkeeping Practice Of The Year”

Your learning experience includes…

• Award-winning tutor support- by email and phone
• More learning materials than any college or Training Provider
• Up-to-date, easy to follow, printed and bound workbooks for every unit
• Practical hands-on activities that ensure you have both knowledge and skills
• Online Enhanced Learning Resource with:
  • Extra lessons
  • E-books
  • Tests
  • Mock Exams
  • Videos
• 24/7 Assignment marking with instant results and personal tutor feedback
• Student Services department is open 7 days a week
• Private Facebook Group for support and chat with tutors and fellow students
• Top Sage software package (not Sage Essentials, not Sage One, and no subscriptions)
• Everything you need is included – No additional add-ons needed – no add-on reference material fees, no add-on resource fees

We sat down with a few of our former students to find out why they studied an ICB qualification, what they thought of the study experience, and what they have gone on to do after gaining their qualifications.

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