ICB Level 2 Associate and Level 3 Professional
Course Details
The ICB Professional Pathway training has been designed to provide students with the complete bookkeeping package from novice to a professional standard. The course will provide you with a combination of manual bookkeeping skills and computerised bookkeeping using the popular bookkeeping software – Sage.
As you progress through the course materials you will learn about double-entry bookkeeping, trial balance, credit control, suspense accounts and final accounts. You will explore more advanced bookkeeping techniques including calculating account ratios, partnerships, ledger entries and final account preparation.
During your studies you will be given practical examples and assignments to complete which will teach you how to supply precise financial information for different types of organisations.
The skills and knowledge acquired on the ICB Professional Pathway course will put you in the position to perform various high level roles within a business. Alternatively, you could become your own boss and set up your own bookkeeping practice.
Qualifications
Upon successful completion of the course materials and exams you will be awarded the following qualifications:
- Basic Bookkeeping Level 1
- Manual Bookkeeping Level 2
- Computerised Bookkeeping Level 2
- Manual Bookkeeping Level 3
- Computerised Bookkeeping Level 3
- Sage certificate of competency.
In order to sit any ICB exams you need to be a registered student with the institute. Once you commence your ICB course you can apply to become a registered student of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. This will enable you to submit an application to sit exams at the end of your course.
You will be required to sit two of your exams at an external exam centre. There are 5,200 exam centres around the world. Eligible students need to book their own exam seats and dates at a time to suit them and subject to availability at the chosen exam centre.
The ICB has over 150,000 members and is the largest recognised bookkeeping association in the world so potential employers will be in no doubt about your experience and knowledge of accounting.
Study Plan
The ICB Professional Pathway has 12 books with 53 different study units covering various topics including:
- Control accounts
- Methods of stock valuation
- Calculating and interpreting accounting ratios
- Ledger entries for special transactions
- Producing Accounts from Incomplete Records
- Preparation of Final Accounts in Vertical and Horizontal Format
- Accounting training practice question
- Double entry procedure
- Credit control, Discounts & Pricing
- VAT Registered Businesses
- The Cash Book and Petty Cash Imprest system
- Bank Reconciliation and control accounts
- Preparation of Final Accounts
- Accruals and Prepayments
- Depreciation
- Provision for doubtful debts
- Practical Bookkeeping entries for year end adjustments
Study Details
The course has been designed in a logical order so not only can you learn at a pace comfortable to you, you can also build on the knowledge you have already gained when you move onto the next topic.
During your studies there will be 37 assignments to complete. You will send your completed assignments to your personal tutor who will assess your progress and provide you with important feedback and advice.
In order to complete the Practical Bookkeeping course you will be required to sit 4 exams at home and two exams at a centre local to where you live:
- Level 1 - taken at home
- Sage Competency - taken at home
- Level 2 Manual Bookkeeping – taken at external assessment centre
- Level 2 Computerised Bookkeeping – taken at home
- Level 3 Manual Bookkeeping - taken at an external assessment centre
- Level 3 Computerised Bookkeeping – taken at home
The duration of the Professional Book-keeping course should amount to approximately 520 hours of study time.
Careers
With this bookkeeping course you'll be able to apply for jobs as a Purchase Manager, Sales Ledger Manager or Bookkeeper and could earn up to £48,260* per annum.
*Source: www.Payscale.com - May 2011
Other example roles include:
Accounts Manager£48,260
Source: www.Payscale.com - May 2011
Accounts Payable Supervisor £33,916
Source: www.Payscale.com, May 2011
