It is important to note that UNISA no longer offers any ICB courses. You cannot study ICB courses through UNISA. However, there are many other reputable distance learning institutions that offer ICB courses, such as:
Does UNISA Recognise ICB Qualifications?
Yes, but to get recognition, you must apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). UNISA reviews each case individually, and may grant up to 50% credit for the qualification you are applying for. However, note that UNISA reserves the right to accept or reject your application for RPL.
Can I Study Directly Through ICB?
Yes, you can, though this is not recommended. ICB does not provide any student support, so you cannot ask any questions. You will also have to find your own resources, as the ICB does not provide these for self-study students.
You will be given access to the ICB student portal, but you will not be able to graduate, as ICB does not offer their own graduation.
This results in most self-study students getting second-hand textbooks, which often have outdated information. In order to avoid any complications, it is highly recommended that you study through one of the accredited institutions that offers ICB courses.
Is ICB Accredited By SAQA?
Yes, ICB is accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). ICB is also accredited by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), which is an internationally recognised organisation.
ICB also has accreditation from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), which means that they can be recognised as formal qualifications in South Africa. This means you can use these qualifications to apply for work or to further your studies.
What Are The ICB Courses?
There are three ICB streams of study:
- Financial Accounting
- Business Management
- Office Administration
ICB Financial Accounting
| National Certificate: Bookkeeping | |
| Qualification | National Certificate |
| NQF Level | 3 |
| Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
| SAQA ID Number | 58375 |
| Credits | 120 |
| Entry Requirements | Grade 10 or Equivalent Certificate |
| Subjects |
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| Career Options |
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| Further Education And Training Certificate: Bookkeeping | |
| Qualification | FET Certificate |
| NQF Level | 4 |
| Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
| SAQA ID Number | 58376 |
| Credits | 130 |
| Entry Requirements | ICB National Certificate: Bookkeeping |
| Subjects |
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| Career Options |
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| National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting | |
| Qualification | National Diploma |
| NQF Level | 5 |
| Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
| SAQA ID Number | 36213 |
| Credits | 251 |
| Entry Requirements | ICB Further Education And Training Certificate: Bookkeeping |
| Subjects |
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| Career Options |
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| National Diploma: Financial Accounting | |
| Qualification | National Diploma |
| NQF Level | 6 |
| Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
| SAQA ID Number | 20366 |
| Credits | 280 |
| Entry Requirements | ICB National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting |
| Subjects |
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| Career Options |
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ICB Business Management
National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management | |
Qualification | National Certificate |
NQF Level | 4 |
Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
SAQA ID Number | 48736 |
Credits | 120 |
Entry Requirements | Grade 11 or Equivalent Certificate (Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate) |
Subjects |
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Career Options |
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Higher Certificate: Office Administration | |
Qualification | Higher Certificate |
NQF Level | 5 |
Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
SAQA ID Number | 23619 |
Credits | 240 |
Entry Requirements | National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management |
Subjects |
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Career Options |
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Qualification | |
NQF Level | |
Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
SAQA ID Number | 20366 |
Credits | 280 |
Entry Requirements | ICB Higher Certificate: Office Administration |
Subjects |
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Career Options |
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ICB Office Administration
| National Certificate: Office Administration | |
| Qualification | National Certificate |
| NQF Level | 5 |
| Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
| SAQA ID Number | 23618 |
| Credits | 120 |
| Entry Requirements | Matric or Matric Equivalent (Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate or Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate) |
| Subjects |
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| Career Options |
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| Higher Certificate: Office Administration | |
| Qualification | Higher Certificate |
| NQF Level | 5 |
| Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
| SAQA ID Number | 23619 |
| Credits | 240 |
| Entry Requirements | ICB National Certificate: Office Administration |
| Subjects |
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| Career Options |
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| Diploma: Office Administration | |
| Qualification | National Diploma |
| NQF Level | 6 |
| Accredited by | ICB & QCTO |
| SAQA ID Number | 35958 |
| Credits | 360 |
| Entry Requirements | ICB Higher Certificate: Office Administration |
| Subjects |
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| Career Options |
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ICB courses does not require you to have Matric to be able to apply. This means you can study ICB courses even if you do not qualify to study at a university. You can study ICB courses with or without a Matric.
You can apply to study:
- ICB Financial Accounting with Grade 10 or equivalent
- ICB Business Management with Grade 11 or equivalent
- ICB Office Administration with Matric or Matric Equivalent
| ICB Study Stream | Business Management | Financial Accounting | Office Administration |
| Entry Requirement | Grade 11 or Equivalent | Grade 10 or Equivalent | Matric or Equivalent |
| Examples of Equivalents |
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| Starting NQF Level | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Completion NQF Level | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Subject Examples |
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| Career Opportunities |
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There are other courses you can also study without Matric, such as:
- CIMA courses
- Short courses
CIMA Courses
CIMA courses are offered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) through reputable distance learning colleges. CIMA is also an international organisation, and their courses are accredited and recognised worldwide.
CIMA courses go up to the Degree level. There are four levels to CIMA courses:
- Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level
- Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level
- Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level
- Business Accounting: CIMA Strategic Level
CIMA Course | Entry Requirement | Subject Examples | Career Opportunities with Full Qualification |
Business Accounting | Be over 16, and taken Maths if you completed high school past Grade 9 |
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Short Courses
Short courses are made to help you develop your workplace skills so that you can begin your career journey fully prepared. The courses listed below are all open-access, which means the only requirements you must meet are:
- You must be 16 or older
- You must be able to understand, read and write in English
You must also be comfortable studying online, as all courses offered at these colleges are distance learning only.
Short Courses At Matric College
- Beauty Therapy Courses
- Educare & Child Care Courses
- Event & Wedding Planning Courses
- Tourism & Guest House Courses
Short Courses At Skills Academy
- Accounting, Bookkeeping And Finance Courses
- Beauty Courses
- Computer Courses
- Educare And Childcare Courses
- Forensics And Policing Courses
- Human Resource Management Courses
- Insurance Courses
- Interior Decorating and Design, and Digital Photography Courses
- Management Courses
- Marketing Courses
- Occupational Health and Safety Courses
- Project Management Courses
- Tourism Courses
- Wedding And Events Planning Courses
Short Courses At Ember Academy
- Beauty Therapist Programme
- Child Daycare Programme
- Child Psychology Programme
- Crèche Management Programme
- Digital Photography Programme
- Event Management Programme
- Facial Skincare Programme
- Guest House Management Programme
- Human Resource Management Programme
- Make-up Application Programme
- Nail Care Programme
- Operational Health and Safety Programme
- Personal Assistant Programme
- Project Management Programme
- Receptionist Courses
- Supply Chain Management Programme
- Tourism Management Programme
- Tourism Marketing Programme
- Wedding Planner Programme
Short Courses At Learning Group
ICB Accounting Courses Fees
Studying with ICB is exciting, and knowing the costs makes it easier to plan. There are different fees to pay, like signing up for the year and paying for each subject you want to write. The table below shows you all the important ICB fees for both online and paper studies in 2025 in a way that’s easy to follow.
ICB Course Fees | Cost |
Annual Student Registration Fee | R500 |
Assessment Fee (Digital PoE: paper & online exam) | R915 |
Assessment Postponement Fee (per subject) | R375 |
Late Entry Fee (per subject) | R585 |
Assessment Re-mark & Examiner’s Report | R1 350 |
Private Invigilator Admin Fee | R2 200 |
Workplace PoE Assessments (Learnerships) | R1 800 |
RPL/Exemption Application Fee | R600 |
RPL Fee per Subject (No PoE) | R475 |
RPL PoE Fee per Subject | R1 050 |
ICB Programme Certificate Reprint (Domestic) | R440 |
FASSET Certificate Reprint (Domestic) | R440 |
ICB Certificate Reprint (International) | R660 |
FASSET Certificate Reprint (International) | R660 |
Certificate Resend Fee (Domestic) | R220 |
Certificate Resend Fee (International) | R580 |
IQB SLP Certificate Prints (1–4) | R490 |
IQB SLP Certificate Prints (5–8) | R750 |
IQB SLP Certificate Prints (9–12) | R925 |
Results Transcript (Print & Send) | R180 |
These fees show what you might pay when signing up for ICB courses. If you take two subjects in one year, you’ll pay around R2 330, which includes your yearly registration and exam fees. Keep in mind, prices may change, so always check with a course expert to get the latest info and help with planning your studies.
What Does A Bookkeeper Earn In South Africa?
Knowing how much you can earn helps you see the value of your studies. With ICB Bookkeeping courses, you can start working in finance jobs that pay well. As you gain more experience and move up in your career, your salary can grow too.
Here are 4 possible salaries ICB accounting graduates can expect to earn:
- Junior Bookkeeper: About R8 000 each month
- Payroll Administrator: About R10 000 each month
- Senior Bookkeeper: About R15 000 each month
- Financial Accountant: About R25 000 or more each month
These jobs are a great way to earn money and build a stable future.
What Have We Learned?
- UNISA no longer offers any ICB courses
- There are many other reputable distance learning colleges that do offer ICB courses
- UNISA does grant RPL for ICB courses
- You can study through ICB directly, but it is not recommended
- ICB is accredited by SAQA, ICB, and QCTO
- There are three ICB streams of study
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
ICB stands for the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. It is a group that helps people learn bookkeeping and accounting. They offer courses that are trusted by companies and other learning groups.
Yes, you can get a diploma through ICB. If you complete the full course, like the Technical Financial Accounting or Certified Financial Accounting, you will earn a National Diploma. These diplomas are approved and help you find good jobs.
The hardest course in ICB is the Certified Financial Accounting: ICB National Diploma. It is the last level and includes difficult subjects like Corporate Strategy and Financial Reporting. You also need to do research and write a short paper. This course gives you advanced skills.
The person known as the “Father of Accounting” is Luca Pacioli. He lived in Italy more than 500 years ago. He wrote the first book about double-entry bookkeeping, which is still used in accounting today. His ideas helped build the way accounting works now.
ICB means Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. They offer trusted courses in bookkeeping, accounting, and office work. These courses help you get ready for work and are approved by important education bodies.
No, UNISA does not offer ICB courses. While it previously partnered with ICB for certain qualifications, these have been discontinued. If you want to study ICB programmes like Bookkeeping, Financial Accounting, or Business Management, you need to enrol through an accredited ICB training provider such as Bellview Institute, Skills Academy, or Matric College. UNISA now offers its own accounting and business qualifications, which are separate from the ICB curriculum and typically require a Matric certificate for entry.
Yes, ICB qualifications are officially recognised and accredited in South Africa. They are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and approved by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), and endorsed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
The ICB offers nationally recognised credentials ranging from NQF Level 3 to Level 6, up to full National Diplomas
ICB is also accredited by FASSET, now under QCTO, as a Quality Assurance Partner for finance and bookkeeping qualifications.
Additionally, ICB qualifications are accepted internationally—by global bodies such as ACCA, CIMA, and the International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB)—and graduates can pursue professional recognition abroad.
Yes, you can. ICB offers entry-level courses that only require Grade 10 and a minimum age of 16. From there, you can progress through the ICB pathway up to diploma level — all without needing a Matric certificate.
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Sive Ncanywa
Date: August 11 , 2022