You can get your ICB Certificate once you have successfully completed and passed all of your subjects. The final ICB Certificate will be sent to you directly from the Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training (FASSET), or your college will give you the certificate once it has been processed by FASSET.
For example, if you have completed the Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate, you will need to complete the following subjects:
- Business Management 1
- Bookkeeping to Trail Balance
- Business Literacy
After you have completed the Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) and final exam, and have a final pass rate of 60% or more, your results will be processed by FASSET.
What Is The Process Of Getting An ICB Certificate From FASSET?
ICB will process and analyse your results before sending the results to FASSET. They will do a quality check of your results and analyse whether the results match their requirements. This process can take anywhere from (6) six weeks to (8) eight weeks.
If you are completing a learnership programme, FASSET will issue you the certificate directly. This can take between (3) three to (6) six months to be processed.
Here is what you can do if you want a re-issue of your ICB Certificate or any certificate processed by FASSET:
ICB Certificates | Learnership Certificates | |
Which documents do I need? |
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Reasons for the re-issuing of your FASSET Certificate |
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How long does it take? | Between (6) six to (8) eight weeks. | Between (3) three to (6) six months. |
If you are an ICB student, you will put in your request for a re-issue with the ICB. If you are completing a learnership, you should put your request to FASSET directly.
As an ICB student, the re-issuing of your ICB Certificate will be sent to the closest local post office for collection.
ICB students will receive the following while waiting for their ICB Certificates from FASSET:
- An ICB Programme Certificate
- The entire transcript of your results
- Letters from the ICB for each subject, stating that you have completed these individual subjects. This is because the ICB no longer provides students with subject certificates.
ICB Digital Certificates
Students can also get their ICB Certificates directly from the ICB Student Portal. You may click on the “My Reports” tab to access your ICB digital certificates.
How Do I Pass The Portfolio Of Evidence?
You can pass the Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) by completing everything that is required from the PoE with 50% or more. Here are the different Learning Phases in the PoE:
Learning Phase 1 | Learning Phase 2 | Learning Phase 2 |
Assignment 1 Open-book test 1 | Assignment 2 Open-book test 2 | Assignment 3 Final exam |
You have to get 50% or more for all of your assignments, open-book tests as well as the final exam. The PoE counts 30% and the final exam counts 70%. Note: You must get 60% for your final combined mark. | ||
What Is An ICB Qualification?
An ICB Qualification is awarded to students that have completed an ICB Course. Here are the different types of ICB Certificates that you can be awarded:
- ICB National Certificate
- ICB Further Education and Training Certificate
- ICB Higher Certificate
- ICB National Diploma
Here is a list of all of our ICB Qualifications and the entry requirements for each:
ICB Qualification Type | Entry Requirements | |
ICB National Certificate |
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ICB Further Education and Training Certificate |
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ICB Higher Certificate |
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ICB National Diploma |
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As noted above, you have to complete one course to enter the next course. | ||
Are ICB Qualifications Recognised?
Yes, all ICB Qualifications are recognised by national and international professional bodies. The professional bodies in South Africa are:
- Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET)
- Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)
- Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)
- The South African Institute of Business Accountants (SAIBA)
- South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT)
- South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
The professional bodies in the UK are:
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB)
- International Association of Accounting Professionals (IAAP)
Are ICB Courses Accredited?
Yes, ICB Courses are accredited by:
- Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)
- Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)
Who Is ICB?
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is an accredited and recognised Independent External Examinations Body that administers exams. They have been in existence since 1931 and offer business, finance and office administration courses.
How Do I Register With ICB?
You can register with ICB by following these simple steps:
Step 1: Apply at Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
The first step that you have to take is to apply with us. You may contact us on:
- Ask us to call you
- Contact us on toll-free number: 0800 39 00 27
Step 2: Speak to a Course Specialist
You can get in contact with one of our friendly Course Specialists.
Step 3: Get your study material
After you have decided on a course and have successfully registered, you will receive your first set of study material. You may go through the content and decide when you are ready to register for your Portfolio of Evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need the following qualifications to be a Bookkeeper:
- Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate
- Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate
This depends on the institution and the type of course you choose. Our Bookkeeping and Accounting: ICB NQF 4-NQF 6 courses can take between (6) months and (36) months.
Yes, ICB is recognised in the UK and in South Africa.
Yes, ICB does recognise prior learning and will exempt you from certain subjects if you have already completed them through the ICB. They also recognise work experience. This is on a case to case basis, and these students are required to complete a Portfolio of Evidence.
Yes, online Bookkeeping is in demand. This qualification is considered a scarce skill.
Yes, Bookkeeping is a good job. This industry is:
- Diverse
- A scarce skill qualification
- You earn more money
- You are highly employable
- Manual Bookkeeping
- Computerised Bookkeeping
Yes, you can use Excel for bookkeeping. This depends on the software you feel most comfortable with, as well as what the company you are working for prefer.
A Bookkeeper in South Africa can earn up to R14 000 on average per month. This is a study done by Indeed and PayScale.
No, UNISA does not accept ICB Qualifications. They will however consider your ICB Qualifications. This means that it goes by a case to case basis. You have to get more information from UNISA directly.
Author: Jesmé Africa
Editor: Connor Bergsma
Date Published: May 31, 2022