Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate

Matric College offers an ICB Office Administration Higher Certificate that will give you all the skills and knowledge needed to start your office admin career.

Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate is the intermediate level of the ICB Office Administration Programme. This course builds on what you will have learned in the ICB Office Administration National Certificate and prepares you for the Diploma Qualification in Office Administration.

Matric College

Subjects - Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate

Having completed your Office Administration: ICB National Certificate, it is time to move up to the next level of the Office Administration Programme, which is, the Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate. Here are the subjects that you will study:  

  • Business and Office Administration (BOA2)
  • Human Resources Management and Labour Relations (HRLR)
  • Economics (ECON) 

Completion of Subjects In Previous Course Name

Remember that the ICB courses build on each other. This means that you must have completed all the subjects in the Office Administration: ICB National Certificate which is: 

  • Bookkeeping and Office Administration
  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance
  • Business Law and Administrative Practice
  • Business Literacy
  • Cost and Management Accounting
  • Marketing Management and Public Relations

Career Opportunities

The beauty of careers in Office Administration is that you are not confined to any specific industry. All sectors of the economy need Office Administrators.   These are your career opportunities on completion of your Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate:

  • Senior Office Administrator
  • Secretary  
  • Office Manager
  • Human Resources Administrator
  • Labour Relations Administrator
  • Office Manager
  • Office Administration Assistant

What Will I Learn? 

On completion of your Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate this is what you will have learned:

  • Applying Office Administration techniques
  • The fundamentals of Economics
  • Human Resources administration
  • Labour Relations administration and duties
How ICB Can Change Your Life

Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate Assessments

ICB constantly keeps students informed about examinations. Check your email or the ICB website for any changes that may occur with regards to the exams. Here is how ICB assessments are conducted.

Portfolio of Evidence

The ICB uses Portfolios of Evidence to conduct assessments. During your studies, you will add assignments and tests to your Portfolio of Evidence. You will complete three assignments and two tests before you write your final exam. 

Your assignments and tests will contribute 30% of your final exam while your exam will contribute 70%.

The Portfolio of Evidence is accessed through the ICB MACCI platform. MACCI is the online portal used by ICB students to access their Portfolio of Evidence. Your login details on the platform will be provided as soon as you register for your exams.

Exams 

ICB exams are written throughout the year. To be allowed to write your final exams, you must meet the following conditions:

  • You must have completed all the assessments, that is, the 3 assignments and the 2 class tests which you complete on the MACCI platform
  • Your Portfolio of Evidence must have been submitted online before the start of an exam. For students who are writing the paper-based exam, the Portfolio of Evidence must be submitted at least 48 hours before the exams.

Online Exams

Online exams are written in the months of April, June, August, October, December, and February. The 3-hour exams start at 01:00 pm. An allowance of 30 minutes is given for the setting up of your computer. You will write your final exams on the MACCI platform. The actual dates can be found on the ICB website.

Paper-Based Exams

You write your paper-based exam at an examination centre. Paper-based exams are written in March and August. The 3-hour exams start at 09:00 am. The actual dates can be found on the  ICB website.

How ICB Courses Are Assessed

An ICB Higher Certificate in Office Management is the intermediate level of the ICB Office Administration Programme. It is the successor course to the Office Administration: ICB National Certificate and the predecessor to the Office Administration: ICB National Diploma.

ICB OFFICE ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMME
LEVELCOURSE
FoundationOffice Administration: ICB National Certificate
IntermediateOffice Administration: ICB Higher Certificate
FinalOffice administration: ICB National Diploma

A Higher Certificate aims to equip a student with specific skills and knowledge that enable them  to undertake the work requirements of their field of study. The requirements for a Higher Certificate course are usually a Matric or a Matric Equivalent Qualification.

Yes, Office Administration is a good career. Here is why you should consider taking up an Office Administration course:

  • It is a scarce skill
  • You are not confined to one industry
  • Gain soft skills

It Is A Scarce Skill

Office Administration is a scarce skill. This means that employers are always searching for Office Administrators. When you complete your course, you can be rest assured that you will be employed in no time.

You Are Not Confined To One Industry

The beauty of Office Administration is that you are not confined to any specific industry. Your skills and knowledge are required in the Commerce, Industrial, Public and Non-Profit sectors. You will choose which economic sector you feel comfortable working in.

Gain Soft Skills

On your journey to qualifying for this rewarding career, you will gain soft skills along the way. Here are some of the soft skills that you will gain:

  • Numeracy skills
  • Organisational 
  • Computer
  • Strategic planning
  • Communication
  • Time-management

Yes, Office Administrators are on demand. As already mentioned, they are not confined to any industry. Every organisation needs its office to be administered. This is so that operations within the organisation move swiftly.

For you to be admitted to the ICB Office Administration Programme, you need to have the following:

Matric

When we say Matric, this refers to either the National School Certificate (NSC) or the Senior Certificate (Amended).  

Matric Equivalent Qualification

Here are the Matric Equivalent Qualifications that are acceptable. Remember we also offer these qualifications at Matric College:

  1. Bookkeeping: Further Education and Training
  2. Small Business and Financial Management: National Certificate

Can I Study Office Administration Without Matric?  

No, you cannot study Office Administration without Matric.

Here is the duration of each of the ICB Office Administration courses:

ICB OFFICE ADMINISTRATION COURSEDURATION
Office Administration: ICB National Certificate18 – 24 months
Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate9 – 28 months
Office Administration: Diploma9 – 36 months

The duties of an Office Administrator vary from organisation to organisation. The duties also vary depending on the size of the organisation. Here are some of the duties of an Office Administrator:

  • Dealing with correspondence
  • Report writing
  • Trains office staff
  • Implement office policies and procedures
  • Coordinates office workflow 
  • Supervising Office Administrative staff

Your Next Step Is To Get Your Office Administration: ICB National Diploma

After completing your Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate, you are now set for the Office Administration: ICB National Diploma. This is the final level of the ICB Office Administration Programme.

Why Choose To Study With Matric College?

We take pride in having you pass your exam the first time. We will assist you in this journey. Here is what Matric College will do for you. 

  • Textbooks will be provided 
  • Expertly written study notes will be availed 
  • You will have access to our Facebook Study Groups 
  •  Academic support will be provided from 08:00 am till 05:00 pm, Monday to Friday
  • We will assist you with creating your study timetable
  • Tips will be given on exam preparation

One of the main factors that will lead you to become a successful Office Administrator is to make use of the soft skills that you will have gained during your studies. The following are some of the soft skills that you need to use to be effective in your job:

  • Computer
  • Organisation
  • Communication
  • Time-management
  • Critical thinking

Computer

The computer is the main office tool for an Office Administrator. It is important that as an Administrator you are conversant with computer packages such as Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. 

Organisation

An Office Administrator must be organised for him/her to be effective. Your workflows smoothly if you are organised. As you will multi-task, you will be in a position to report to the extent you have gone in your various projects. 

Communication

As an Office Administrator, the way you communicate is of importance. In day-to-day duties, you will communicate with both internal and external people. Always make it a point to use business language whether it is in writing or verbal. 

Time-management

Time management is of the essence. If you fail to plan you are on a sure path to plan to fail. Complete your tasks within the expected timelines. 

Critical thinking

An Office Administrator needs to act fast in times of a crisis. As an Office Administrator, you are a problem solver. You will need to do what needs to be done, at times, in a very short space of time.

Here are the salary levels of Administrators in South Africa according to payscale.com:

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR LEVELAVERAGE SALARY / MONTH
Entry-Level – 0 – 3 years of experienceR 5 000.00
Middle Level – 4 -9 years of experienceR 9 750.00
Senior Level – more than 10 years of experienceR 19 000.00

Indeed.com gives the following as the highest paying Administrative jobs:

  1. Teller
  2. Receptionist
  3. Legal Assistant
  4. Accounting Clerk
  5. Administrative Assistant
  6. Collector
  7. Courier
  8. Customer Service Manager
  9. Legal Secretary
  10. Customer Service Representative

The other title for an Office Administrator is Office Manager. In some cases, the Office Administrator is just called an Administrator. Here are the other titles that may be used to refer to an Office Administrator;

  • Supervisor
  • Manager
  • Head of Department
  • Executive Secretary
  • Controller
  • Department Head

Yes, an Office Administrator is a position that is higher than an Office Assistant. An Office Assistant can report to an Office Administrator. 

The difference between a Clerk and an Office Administrator is that a Clerk’s duties are clerical while an Administrator’s duties are supervisory. An Administrator may supervise a clerk. 

Application Process

At Matric College we aim to provide you with all the resources that can make you be successful as you set yourself up for a rewarding career. Here is how to apply to study with us:

Within 5 – 7 days of your successful registration, your study material will be couriered to your door.

How Do I Study Office Administration Higher Certificate?

Here are the steps that you can take to start studying for the Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate:

Step 1:
When you register successfully, we will send you your study material 

Step 2: Register as an ICB student on the Portal 

Step 3: Register your student account on the ICB MACCI platform

Step 4: Write and submit your assignments on MACCI

Step 5: Write tests online 

Step 6: Complete the exam entry form on the ICB Student Portal 

Step 7: Write your ICB final exam online or in-person (remember to submit your digital portfolio)

Step 8: Write and pass your exam

Step 9:  Matric College will issue you with your Certificate Qualification once it is received from ICB and FASSET

When Can I Start Studying Office Administration Higher Certificate?

With ICB courses you can start studying at any time. Online exams are written 6 times a year while paper-based exams are written twice a year.

Where Can I Study Office Administration Higher Certificate?

You can study Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate at Matric College.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is an Independent External Examination body. ICB has been in existence since 1931. The body does not offer tuition or study materials. Tuition is offered by their accredited Learning Providers including Matric College. They offer nationally and internationally recognised Business and Accounting courses.

ICB

The ICB Student Portal is one of two online portals (the other is ICB MACCI) where students can: 

  • Register as an ICB Student
  • Register for the ICB Exam (Matric College does NOT register students for exams)
  • Retrieve digital copies of official documents and Qualification Certificates
  • Pay ICB Associated Fees
  • Update Personal Details

ICB Student Portal

ICB MACCI is the second online portal where students can:

  • Monitor their course progress
  • Complete and submit assignments
  • Write Online Tests and Exams

macci digital portfolio

If you have studied a Business or Accounting course or worked previously, you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If approved you will receive exemptions from some of your course subjects. You will have to apply to the ICB if you want to be considered for an exemption.

It Is Important To Note That Credit Exemptions Are Not Guaranteed.

Yes, ICB has associated fees for all the programmes and courses they offer which can be paid directly to the ICB. Associated 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.

You will be awarded your Certificate in 3 – 6 months.  Once your results have been audited and your Qualification is conferred for Graduation, FASSET will direct ICB to prepare your Certificate which then gets sent to Matric College where you will be awarded your Qualification.

The Office Administration Programme has three levels. Here is the NQF level of each level: 

  • Office Administration: Certificate – NQF level 5 – 120 credits
  • Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate is NQF Level 5 – 240 credits 
  • Office Administration: Diploma – NQF level 6 -360 credits 

An Office Administrator should have any one of the following ICB course certifications:

Other ICB Office Administration Courses

ICB Office Admin National certificate

ICB National Certificate Office Administration

ICB National Certificate Office Administration

Read More
ICB Office Administration National Diploma

ICB National Diploma Office Administration

ICB National Diploma Office Administration

Read More
ICB Office Administration

ICB Office Administration Course List

ICB Office Administration Course List

Read More

Author: Collin Wilbesi

Editor: Amy Venter
Date Published: February 22, 2022

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