Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate

The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate is the first qualification in the ICB Financial Accounting Programme. This course is also known as the ICB Bridging course. This certificate equips you with skills and knowledge in the following: 

  • Reconciling supplier statements 
  • Calculating PAYE / Payroll tax 
  • Calculating bookkeeping to trial balance equations 
  • Manage credit sales and purchases 

Once you have completed the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate, you will be qualified as a Junior Bookkeeper.

Matric College

ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate Subjects

The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate consists of 4 subjects. These subjects are the introductory subjects of the ICB Financial Accounting Programme. 

These are the subjects in the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate: 

  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB)
  • Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns (PMSR)
  • Computerised Bookkeeping (CPBK)
  • Business Literacy (BUSL)

Career Opportunities

  • Junior Bookkeeper
  • Accounts Clerk
  • Reconciliation Clerk
  • Payroll Clerk
  • Accounts Assistant

What Will I Learn?

This is what you will learn in the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate:

  • Knowledge of Bookkeeping equations
  • Managing trial to balance sheets
  • Providing profit and financial position statements
  • Reconciling supplier and bank statements
  • Knowledge of personal and business taxation
  • Managing petty cash
  • Handling income, receipts, and payments

Bookkeeping to Trial Balance (BKTB)

  • This subject will teach you how to calculate debit and credit accounts and how to balance them.

Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns (PMSR)

  • This subject will teach you how to calculate SARS returns and process payroll payments. 
How ICB Can Change Your Life

Computerised Bookkeeping (CPBK)

  • This subject will teach you to calculate and file financial data on a computer. 

Business Literacy (BUSL)

  • This course will teach you how to communicate professionally in a business environment.

ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate Assessments

The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate consists of different assessments. You must complete the assessments to pass the course. The assessments are set up in a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE).   

Portfolio of Evidence

The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate consists of a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE). The PoE is made up of 3 assignments and 2 online tests. Each subject has a PoE. Aside from the PoE, you are also expected to write a final examination. 

Exams

There are two types of exams in the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate. These are online and paper-based exams.

Online Exams 

The online exams are written on the ICB MACCI Portal. Online exams are set for 01:00 pm to 04:30 pm. 

Paper-Based Exams

The paper-based exams are written at a physical location booked by the ICB or at a provider college. The exams are set for 09:00 am to 12:30 pm.

How ICB Courses Are Assessed

The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate is a qualification that falls under the ICB Financial Accounting Programme. This is the first certificate course you study in the programme. Once you have completed this course, you will be equipped with Bookkeeping skills and knowledge. This means you can start looking for employment in the Bookkeeping field.

Yes, The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate is a recognised qualification. All ICB Qualifications are recognised both nationally and internationally. This means you can use your qualification to further your studies or look for employment in South Africa or abroad.

Yes, the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate course is accredited by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) and the Quality Council of Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

The best Bookkeeping qualification is the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate. This qualification is accredited and recognised. This means your chances to gain employment or further your studies nationally and internationally increases. 

This qualification allows you to build a quality career in Bookkeeping. Once you have completed the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate course, you can apply for the ICB Bookkeeping Further Education And Training Certificate course. This qualification will help you build a career as a: 

  • Junior Accountant 
  • Senior Bookkeeper 
  • Assistant Accountant 
  • Credit Controller

Yes, the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate is worth it for the following reasons: 

Gain an accredited qualification 

  • This helps you be a desirable candidate when you look for employment.

Gain a recognised qualification 

  • This helps you to further your studies or look for work anywhere inside or outside South Africa. 

Gain important skills 

  • Bookkeeping skills are required in every business to help monitor, calculate and record financial transactions. This means you will be a required candidate in different companies/businesses

Yes, being a Junior Bookkeeper is a good career choice. Working as a Bookkeeper helps you grow. You can advance from a Bookkeeper to a Senior Bookkeeper and higher positions. With higher positions comes higher salaries. This means you will be able to create a decent living from your career.

Bookkeepers are responsible for a company’s / business’ financial books. The duties of Bookkeepers include: 

  • Recording financial transactions 
  • Reference books for accuracy 
  • Create invoices 
  • Track debit and credit statements

A Bookkeeper earns an average salary of R 177 874 per year. This is an average salary of approximately R 14 000 per month.

Your Next Step Is To Get The ICB Bookkeeping Further Education and Training Certificate 

Once you have completed the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate course, you can study the ICB Bookkeeping Further Education and Training Certificate course. This is the second qualification in the ICB Financial Accounting programme. The ICB Bookkeeping Further Education and Training Certificate will equip you with more skills and knowledge on Bookkeeping.

Why Choose To Study With Matric College?

Here is why you should study at Matric College:

  • You will study from home
  • You save time and money
  • You set your study schedule and study at your own pace
  • You can work while you study
  • We have tutors available to assist you with your course assessments every Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 05:00 pm.
  • There are Facebook study groups available to allow you to interact with other students
  • You gain an accredited qualification

Watch our CEO of Matric College, Jan Badenhorst, discuss the reasons why you should study with Matric College

No, Bookkeeping is not a stressful career. However, every career needs your time and effort. This is why you should study for a career that you love and have an interest in so that you do not find it challenging. Make sure that you have a passion for numbers because Bookkeeping involves financial books and calculations. If you enjoy working with finances, then Bookkeeping is the right career for you.

inancial Accounting Infographic

No, you do not need a Degree to be a Bookkeeper. You can work as a Bookkeeper if you have an ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate. This qualification will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge you need to become a professional Bookkeeper.

You can become a qualified Bookkeeper by studying a quality qualification in Bookkeeping. At Matric College, we offer accredited ICB Bookkeeping courses. This means that they are registered with a professional body and produce quality education according to the standards required by the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). 

Yes, Bookkeepers are in demand. The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate equips you with scarce skills. These are the skills in demand in South Africa. This means you increase your chances of finding employment.

Watch Our CEO, Jan Badenhorst, Discuss Everything You Need To Know About Scarce Skills

Bookkeeping is a part of Accounting. Bookkeepers and Accountants work together. Bookkeeping focuses more on planning, recording, and organising data while Accounting focuses more on interpreting and presenting the data from Bookkeepers.

Critical Skills Infographic

Bookkeeping is important in any business because it records all financial transactions. For a business to succeed, there must be a balance between the profit, the cost, and other business deductions such as tax. This is where the importance of Bookkeeping is to a business, by monitoring and filling every financial transaction made. The business can reflect on the account books and see how they can keep their business flourishing.

Bookkeepers work 40 hours a week. However, companies are different, a Bookkeeper may work more hours depending on the number of duties they have in the company.

Each career is unique. Both the Bookkeeping and Accounting careers have important duties to perform in a company or business. Here are the unique duties of Bookkeeping and Accounting:

BookkeepingAccounting
Clerical dutiesAnalytical duties
Records informationReviews information
Enter tax data by tracking incomeFile tax returns
Prepares general ledgersGenerate statements from the ledger
Does not need a license to practice bookkeepingNeeds a license to practice accounting

Application Process

At Matric College, we have a simple application process that you can follow. You can do this online or through the phone. Here is how you can apply: 

  • Click here to apply for the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate 
  • Our course experts will contact you and register you for the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate course 
  • When you have been successfully registered, we will send your study material by courier 
  • This process takes 5 to 7 days

How Do I Study ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate?

Here is how you can study the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate: 

  • Register as an ICB Student as outlined in your registration pack
  • Sign up on ICB MACCI to build your Portfolio of Evidence (PoE).
  • Complete and submit your Assignments on ICB MACCI
  • Write your Open-Book Tests using the ICB MACCI Portal 
  • To register for the final exam, complete the ICB Student Portal exam entry form
  • You can write the ICB final exam online or in-person (remember to submit your PoE).
  • The ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate will be awarded to you by Matric College once it is received from ICB and FASSET

When Can I Start Studying ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate?

Once you have been registered, you will receive your course study material in 5 to 7 days. Once you receive this, you can start studying.

Where Can I Study For An ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate?

You can study the ICB Bookkeeping National Certificate at Matric College. We are a distance learning college and this means you study from home. You communicate with your tutors through email, calls, and WhatsApp. They are available to assist you Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 05:00 pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

ICB is the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. They are an Independent External  Examination Body that sets external assessments. Their ICB courses are offered through training providers that are registered with them. Matric College is one of the training providers registered with ICB. We offer all three (3) of the ICB programmes.

The ICB Student Portal is one of two online portals. You can do the following on the ICB student portal:

  • Register for your ICB course
  • Register for the ICB Exam (Matric College does NOT register students for exams)
  • Get digital copies of qualifications and other official documents
  • Pay your course fees
  • Update personal details

ICB Student Portal

ICB MACCI is the second online portal. You can do the following on the ICB MACCI portal:

  • Get course updates
  • Access your PoE
    • Write and submit your assignments
    • Write and submit online tests
  • Write your examinations

macci digital portfolio

Yes, you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for the studies or work experience you completed within 5 years of enrolling for an ICB course. 

Work Experience Credits 

ICB will ask that you complete a Portfolio of Evidence that they send to you. The results will determine if they can give you credits or not. 

Prior Learning Credits 

You are given credits for prior learning if your previous qualification has the following: 

  • Registered on the NQF 
  • SAQA ID number 
  • NQF Level 
  • Proof of accredited provider e.g DHET
It Is Important To Note That Credit Exemptions Are Not Guaranteed.

Yes, ICB courses have associated fees. All payments can be made through the ICB student portal. ICB fees include:

  • Registration Fees
  • Exam-Related Fees
  • And Recognition of Prior Learning Fees

ICB Courses- Price List

Above are the most updated prices of fees due to the ICB. Fees are correct as of the date of publication and are subject to change.

Once you have completed your ICB Qualification, your results will be audited. ICB will ask FASSET to prepare your Certificate. FASSET will send the Certificate to us and then we will award you with your qualification. This process takes 3 – 6 Months.

Once you have completed an ICB course, you can further your studies at Matric College or you can look for employment.

Yes, ICB Qualifications are recognised in the UK. The bodies that recognise ICB in the United Kingdom include: 

  • ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK)
  • CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK)
  • IAB (International Association of Bookkeepers UK)
  • IAAP (International Association of Accounting Professionals UK)

Other Financial Accounting Courses

ICB Senior Bookkeeping FET Certificate

ICB FET Certificate Senior Bookkeeping

ICB FET Certificate Senior Bookkeeping

Read More
ICB Certified Financial Accounting

ICB National Diploma Certified Financial Accounting

ICB National Diploma Certified Financial Accounting

Read More
ICB Technical Financial Accounting

ICB National Diploma Technical Financial Accounting

ICB National Diploma Technical Financial Accounting

Read More

Author: Mulisa Nethononda
Editor: Amy Venter

Date Published: February 22, 2022

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