Benefits of membership & exam details
What is a bookkeeper?
Book keeping is a growing profession - it is demanding, exciting, challenging and above all, rewarding. It is about understanding how a business works and then providing accurate figures that enable the business to know exactly how well it is doing. For men and women of all ages and from all backgrounds it provides outstanding career opportunities.
A career in bookkeeping
Every business, no matter how large or small, is required by law to 'keep books'. This involves the recording of the financial transactions of a business, whether manually into ledgers or by entering everything onto a computer. So, if you are well organised and methodical, like working through documents and enjoy seeing a set of figures add up properly, book-keeping could be the career for you.
People of all ages are becoming bookkeepers: Young people fresh from school or college can achieve a professional qualification that opens up a whole new world of business to them or may become the first step to becoming a qualified accountant. More mature people bring years' of experience to their role and are in great demand from businesses who want a safe pair of hands. Many are mothers wanting to find a well-paid career running a book-keeping business from home whilst still bringing up their family.
You and the institute
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers was established to provide a series of professional qualifications that reflect the needs of Business and the aspirations of people wanting to enter the profession. It exists to represent Bookkeepers at all levels and to promote the professionalism of Bookkeepers to business, government and the general public.
Becoming a member of the institute is like joining a club. You will receive strong on-going support from a team of qualified professionals. You will have access to free legal and technical advice. You will have the opportunity to meet other Book-Keepers and to update your skills through continuing professional development seminars.
The institute has more than 150,000 students and members spread across more than fifty countries, making it the largest BookKeeping institute in the world.
Benefits of Membership
The ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) is committed, not only to setting the standards for bookkeeping and helping individuals to achieve formal qualifications,
but also to maintaining those standards and continuing to provide members with full support once they have qualified.
The benefits of membership also include:
Professional letters after your name
Membership certificate sealed by the Institute
Membership card
Access to the 'members only' section on the Institute's web site
Notification of Bookkeeping Job Vacancies in your area
Free Technical advice line covering all aspects of bookkeeping
Free legal advice line for business and personal usage
Free access to technical and legal downloads
Free updates on changes in legislation which might affect bookkeeping
Free advice and guidance on setting up a private practice
Free information on employment opportunities which arise
Regional meetings
CPD (continuing professional development) seminars
Up to 40% off Private Medical Care with the HMCA
Applying for an Examination
We take care of this for you. As soon as your tutor is satisfied that you are ready to take any given exam we will notify you and ask you to get in touch to confirm that you wish to take the exam. On receipt of the applicable fee we will then organise this for you and pay the exam fee on your behalf without charging our registration fee.
Please note that candidates must take examinations in 'level order': this means that candidates cannot jump to a Level III Diploma in Manual Bookkeeping without completing the Level I Certificate in Basic Bookkeeping and then the Level II Certificate in Manual Bookkeeping examinations. Similarly with the computerised qualifications; candidates must pass the Level I Certificate in manual Bookkeeping, followed by the Level II Certificate in manual or Computerised Bookkeeping before they may apply for the Level III Diploma in Manual or Computerised Bookkeeping. The exception to this rule is for Payroll - there is only one payroll qualification, the Level III Diploma in Payroll Management, so students are not required to complete any preceding payroll levels to this qualification.
Examinations Required for Membership
Membership at Associate level AICB will require completion of the level I and II Manual examinations plus the level II Computerised Bookkeeping examination.
Membership at Full Member level MICB will require completion of the level III Manual Bookkeeping plus the level III Computerised Bookkeeping qualifications.
Level I Qualification
The Certificate in Basic Bookkeeping
All students wishing to complete the Institutes examinations and achieve membership, must first successfully complete the manual Level I Certificate in Basic Bookkeeping. Following completion of the Level I, students can then choose between manual or computerised bookkeeping, but are advised to complete both in order to achieve the required membership status.
Level II Qualifications
The Certificate in Manual Bookkeeping
The Certificate in Computerised Bookkeeping
Level III Qualifications
The Diploma in Manual Bookkeeping
The Diploma in Computerised Bookkeeping
The Diploma in Payroll Management
Pearson VUE Centre-Based Examinations
Examinations for the level II Certificate and level III Diploma in Manual Bookkeeping are delivered through Pearson Vue. Pearson Vue centres currently deliver the Driving Theory Test and have over 5000 test centres in 162 countries, and over 200 centres in the UK. The exams are computer based and can be taken at any time subject to availability at your nearest test centre. Your nearest centre can be located on the Pearson Vue web site.
Mock exam simulations are available in order to familiarise with the exam process.
Home-Based Examinations
The level I Certificate in Basic Bookkeeping examination has now changed from the traditional paper based written exam to a computer based online exam. This change in format has proven a great benefit for our students in so much as you now receive an instant result. We suggest taking the online computerised mock exam prior to the full exam in order to familiarise with the new format.
The level II Certificate, level III Diploma in Computerised Bookkeeping, and the Diploma in Payroll Management are Final Assignments which are sent to our student for completion. If any software or supporting materials are needed to complete the exams we will provide the materials for you. The Institute posts assignments to students every Friday. Students are allowed up to two weeks to complete and return the assignment for marking. Results are issued directly to the student within one calendar month of receipt of a completed answer paper.
Completing an Examination Abroad
Log on details for your home-based level 1 assignment can be emailed to you. Level II and III Computerised and level III Payroll assignments can also be e-mailed to you.
Your centre-based examination can be taken at your nearest Pearson Vue test centre.
Deadline Dates
Home-based examinations are issued to candidates every Friday by 1st Class. Each weeks application deadline date is 12:00 midday on the Thursday. If you have pre-booked an exam but then wish to cancel your examination, you will also need to let us know by this time too.
Centre-based examinations Depending on test centre the exams are available week days and in some cases weekends and evenings. Please check with your nearest centre.
