http://www.skillsacademy.co.za/icb-institute-certified-bookkeepers/ The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is a Professional Body that has existed since 1931. In South Africa the roles of professional bodies use to combine both Professional Membership as well as Education and Training. However, educational regulations and laws in recent years made these bodies split those functions. Thus, the historic ICB was split into a Professional Body and an Academic Body in 2015. The educational body continues under the name Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. The (new) ICB, that is the body solely dealing with Academics, is a recognised Quality Assurance Partner of FASSET. FASSET is the Sector Education and Training Authority for Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and other Financial Services). This means that the ICB is authorised by FASSET to accredit training providers. Act as the assessment (exams) body for the ICB courses, offered by training providers accredited by them. Currently the QCTO (the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) is in the process of taking on the responsibility for all SETAs. That means that FASSET “falls under” the QCTO. This might have some effect on the details of the accreditation process in the near future. Both FASSET and the QCTO are bodies established in terms of an Act of Parliament. The ICB, under authority of FASSET (and soon under authority of the QCTO), is responsible for the quality assurance and exams (assessments) of a range of qualifications. More about that below, under the heading “ICB Qualifications”. http://www.skillsacademy.co.za/icb-institute-certified-bookkeepers/

1. ICB - Institute of
Certified Bookkeepers
http://www.skillsacademy.co.za/icb-institute-certified-
bookkeepers/

2. The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is
recognised by FASSET
 The ICB is a Quality Assurance Partner of FASSET.
 With FASSET now forming part of the QCTO, it can be
expected that there might be some changes in the roles
of the various bodies regulating education and training
for these accredited programmes.

3. Professional Bodies
 The ICB as processional body has set an example of
how professional bodies can stay relevant in this new
world.
 They have built relationships with government bodies
like SAQA, the SETAs (FASSET) and other
Professional Bodies.
 All of this to the benefit of education and of their
students and professional members.

4. Professional Bodies
 The ICB has professional relationships with the
following bodies:
 Institute of Accounting and Commerce (IAC)
 South African Business Accountants (SAIBA)
 South African Institute for Tax Professionals (SAIT)
 Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
 Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and
Training Authority (FASSET)

5. SETAs
 In South Africa the SETAs (Sector Education and
Training Authorities) plays an important role in
collecting and distributing taxes meant for education.
 They also accredit and quality assure education and
training in their various sectors.

6. QCTO
 The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations
(QCTO) is responsible for qualifications listed on the
OQSF (the Occupational Qualifications Sub-
Framework).
 They are one of the three top level Quality Councils.
These three are the Council on Higher Education (CHE),
Umalusi and the QCTO.
 Together they are responsible for the National
Qualification Framework.
 The QCTO is responsible for the accreditation of
providers / colleges / academies who offer occupational
qualifications.

7. How do I know a course or
college is accredited?
 To find out if a college is accredited to offer ICB
courses; and accredited for a specific course; the
easiest way is to ask to see the accreditation certificate
from the ICB.
 The ICB provides each accredited provider with a
certificate for that specific provider, and for that specific
programme.

8. ICB Qualifications
 ICB qualifications are divided into four different areas of
study. Financial Accounting, Public Sector Accounting,
Business Management, Entrepreneurship, and Office
Administration.
 Depending on how you combine your subjects, you can
build up to any of a number of high level qualifications,
and eventually membership of the ICBA.

9. ICB Courses
 To study towards one of the ICB Qualifications, you
register with a course provider.
 The course provider is where you got for your classes.
 Or, if you are doing home study, then the course
provider will send you your study material, help you
with your course work over the phone, or in online
study groups, marks your assignments, and keep
pushing you to finish your course successfully.

10. ICB Courses
 At TWP Academy we courier the study material to our
students.
 Then we help them in their online study groups, hosted
with Together We Pass.
 In this way you are in an electronic classroom every
day, with your lecturer and your classmates.

11. Difference between Bookkeeping
courses and Accounting courses?
 Bookkeeping is the process of keeping record of
financial transactions.
 So as the bookkeeper, you make sure that all the
transactions are properly recorded.
 Usually this means you record every transaction in a set
of “books”, or in a software package like Pastel or
QuickBooks.

12. Difference between Bookkeeping
courses and Accounting courses?
 Accounting is the interpreting, analysing and
summarizing of financial data.
 So it is one level above bookkeeping. An accountant will
be assisted by bookkeepers.
 The accountant makes sure that the bookkeepers
accurately record all the transactions.
 And the the accountant prepares and summarise those
transactions in the financial statements.
 The Accountant is also responsible for analysing and
interpreting the financial data.

13. Learner Portal
 The ICB has recently introduced a Learner Portal. Here
students can do a number of things themselves. This is
a “self-service” option for student who wants to:
 See and update their contact details with the ICB
 Pay ICB fees online
 Enter for assessments (register for exams) and see their
results (this option only available for home study
students)

14. Exams and Assessments
 ICB home study students can write their exams four
times a year. In February, May, August and November.
 You usually have to register for an exam two or three
months before the exam.
 So, if you are aiming for the February exams, you need to
be registered for them by the beginning of December.

15. Further Studies after ICB
 Because of the relationship the ICB has with a number
of prominent professional bodies, you can further your
studies on the foundation of your completed ICB
qualifications.
 You can further your studies with any of the following
bodies, that recognise your ICB qualifications.