Yes, you can study Accounting without Matric. Many people face the uncertainty of not knowing whether they may have a successful future with regards to their career aspirations, especially in the accounting field as knowledge plays a pivotal role in climbing the corporate ladder. You may have thought that they only way to acquire substantial knowledge was through a matric certificate but you could not have been anymore wrong because various colleges offer courses for accounting without matric. Below is a list of accounting colleges for correspondence learning with no matric: Register Now for 2017 Home Study All the ICB courses start at NQF level 3. Students begin at a level below matric. If you keep studying the program, course by course you will be promoted to NQF level 6. Two levels higher than matric. The ICB has established their courses to assist students who did not complete school. Those who need to study and work at the same time. You start out with easy concepts and advance until you become a professional! As a home study student you are able to study an hour in the night, three or four times weekly. With five examination opportunities in 2017, you are able as soon as you are ready,to sign up for the next exam.

This is how you get your accreditation; step by step.

As you progress with the program, you will get certified at different levels. After finishing the first four courses, you will get your first certificate from FASSET and your first ICB Programme Certificate.

ICB Bookkeeping Courses through Distance Learning

from- dropout-to-career-success The ICB bookkeeping program is comprised of 4 different levels. Inside each level can be several courses.
  • Foundation Level
  • Intermediate Level
  • Upper Intermediate Level
  • Advanced Level
As you finish each level, you will get approved by the ICB. You will get an ICB Certificate. As you finish the different courses inside the levels, you will get recognition from FASSET in a formal qualification from FASSET.

Foundation Level

National Certificate: Bookkeeping (NQF Level 3) – Foundation Level

The foundation level is the starting point for many students. If you did not do well at school, stopped matric or have not studied for many years, the foundation level helps you to bridge the gap and return to studying. Academically the level is rated as NQF 3. That is a level below matric. Students with Grade 10 (Standard 8) will be able to manage the level of academic work. You do not need any previous knowledge of accounting if you start at this level. You only need to be a minimum of 16 years of age to be accepted into the program. To finish this level you must pass four courses. The recommended time to complete it is 12 months. However it is common for students to take up to 18 months.

Intermediate Level

FET Certificate: Bookkeeping (NQF level 4) – Intermediate Level

The intermediate level are for students who have successfully completed the foundation level. It is your 2nd step on the ladder towards becoming a Financial Accountant. To progress to this level, you should have passed the foundation level. That implies you must already have your National Certificate: Bookkeeping to enter this level. To complete this level you have to pass two subjects. Many students complete this level in 6 months. Correspondence learning students are able to complete this level in 9 months if they so wish.

Upper Intermediate Level

National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting (NQF level 5) – Upper Intermediate Level

At this level you move from Bookkeeper to Accountant. If your dream is to be an accountant, then this level can get you there! To enter this level you are required to have passed the Intermediate level. That implies you need to have your FET Certificate: Bookkeeping to gain entry to the Upper Intermediate Level. To finish this level you have to pass 2 subjects. The recommended time of study is 6 months. Home Study students can take up to 9 months to complete this level.

Advanced Level

National Diploma: Financial Accounting (NQF level 6) – Advanced Level. This is the highest level in ICB studies. Here you will get your National Diploma: Financial Accounting (NQF Level 6). To enter this level you need to have passed all the other previous levels. That implies that you need to be in possession of a National Diploma in Technical Financial Accounting. To pass this level you need to successfully complete 4 subjects. Students typically take around 12 months to finish this level. Distance learning students can take a bit longer.

ICB Correspondence Colleges – Accreditation

In order to become accredited, the ICB investigates the courses and application of each college to ensure that their practices are of a high quality. After sending out a portfolio of documents to validate the application, each college is assessed by a quality assurance supervisor from the ICB. At the college site a variety of things are checked, to make sure the college is successfully able to offer these ICB courses. Some of the crucial things a college needs to reveal at a site evaluation from the ICB, are their financials, quality study materials, proper systems and processes to offer distance learning, certified staff, a tax clearance certificate and an OHS certificate to reveal that the college is safe for staff and students. After successfully passing the site assessments, these colleges receive their accreditation from the ICB. That indicates they have an accreditation certificate for each ICB program that they are accredited to provide.

ICB Learner Portal

The ICB has a student website for home study students. Through the ICB student portal you can access a variety of self-service functions. You can also ask your college to access these functions in your area if you do not have internet access to, or if you have a tough time using the portal. Some important things you can do via the learner portal are:
  • View and edit your personal and contact information
  • Order a reprint of a certificate you accomplished
  • Pay your ICB fees (Credit Card).
  • Register for Exams.
  • See your Exam Results.

ICB Bookkeeping Courses Fees

There are a number of different costs that you must prepare for, if you are going to study an ICB course. Here are some of the costs you have to take note of and plan for:
  • Study fees with your distance learning college.
  • Book charges: some colleges will include this in your course charges.
  • Carrier costs: Skills Academy includes this in your course charges.
  • Test charges: usually you pay this straight to the ICB, so it is not considered part of your course fees.
  • ICBA Student Membership charges: these fees are normally not included in your course costs.
  • ICB Student Registration costs: this is a yearly fee that is generally not included in your course charges.

ICB Registration

ICB logo (1) When you choose to study for an ICB certification, you must take note of a number of things that are all part of your ICB Registration, of which include:
  • Annual ICB Student Registration
  • Registration with a home study college
  • ICB Exam Registration
  • ICB Exams
The ICB provides five test sessions to home study students in 2017. You should ensure you understand the test costs and it is crucial that you sign up for your examination, three months prior so you can prepare for the exam. If you have not registered for an exam, you can not show up at the test center and expect an exam paper and seat for you.

The difference between Bookkeeping and Accounting Courses

Accounting and Bookkeeping are two sides of the same thing. At the entry level, it is called bookkeeping and you are working with the precise recording of all the deals of a business or department. You make sure that revenues and all cost are correctly tape-recorded. When you have moved a few steps up on the ladder, you begin reporting on the bookkeeping details, and you begin assessing the info. At the level where your job ends up being more complicated, given that you are also examining and reporting financial service info, we begin calling it accounting. An Accountant is a senior Bookkeeper and a Bookkeeper is a junior Accountant!

Why Study Bookkeeping?

The government body for qualifications in the financial sector, FASSET, has done a research study on scarce skills in 2015. From that study they released their Scarce Skills Guide 2015. FASSET is the SETA for Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and other Financial Services. In their scarce skills report they identified the following as scarce skills: financial accounting
  • Trainee Accountant
  • Finance Manager
  • General Accountant
  • Accounts Clerk
  • Payroll Clerk
  • Debt Collector
These are all positions for which an ICB bookkeeping course will prepare you for. Your bookkeeping accreditation will ensure that you are constantly in demand. It is a wonderful career that can take you to the highest level in an organisation. The scarcity of bookkeeping skills likewise affects federal government departments. All federal government departments have accounting and bookkeeping divisions and they work every year to get a successful audit. To get a tidy audit implies that they need experienced, licensed, committed and experienced bookkeeping and accounting personnel and supervisors. As a certified bookkeeper or accountant, you will constantly stay in need. Either in private service, or in a federal government department, which can include both municipalities, along with larger national federal government departments.

Study further after completing your program – Other Courses

The ICB has accreditation with a variety of other professional bodies. Depending upon what credentials you have finished with the ICB, you can get credit towards obtaining qualifications with these bodies. Here is a list of a few of the bodies that will determine if your ICB qualification can gain you entry into their programs, in addition towards membership of these professional bodies:
  • South African Business Accountants (SAIBA)
  • South African Institute for Tax Professionals (SAIT)
  • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Keep in mind: These expert bodies each have their own set of entrance requirements and guidelines.

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and Accountants (ICBA)

icba The ICBA is an expert body that uses subscription to students studying ICB courses. At first you can simply become a Student Member. Nevertheless as quickly as you have really finished your initial certification, you will be get approved for Professional Membership. This suggests you get to utilize a specialist designation behind your name on your company card. In this approach you reveal your coworkers and your clients that you are distinguished in your profession, which you are acknowledged as a professional by the ICBA. The various qualifications create numerous categories. So make certain to discover more about the ICBA early on in your research study studies. This is a terrific approach to enhance your CV and your professional status. All the ICB courses start at NQF level 3. Keep studying the programme, and course by course you will rise up the NQF level 6, which is 2 levels higher than matric. As you complete each level, you will get licensed by the ICB. Home Study students can use up to 9 months to finish this level. To enter this level you should have passed all the previous levels. ICB Courses Distance Learning
Last updated : April 19th, 2017