If you are wondering how much ICB exam fees are in 2023, look no further than right here. This year, writing your exams will cost you R785 per subject. This includes both the paper and online exam fees. Distance-learning students can pay their fees directly on the ICB student portal, but classroom-based students have to pay through their college.
What Are All ICB’s Exam-Related Fees 2023?
ICB’s exam fees are broken down into many different elements. This is because ICB knows that people experience life differently, and may face different challenges during their studies. So there are fees for late entries, private invigilation, exam re-marks and more. See what they are in the table below so you can plan your finances with ease.
| REGISTRATION FEE | |
| Annual Student Registration Fee (No member benefits) | R 430.00 |
| EXAM FEES | |
| Assessment fees for Digital PoE (Paper and Online) | R 785.00 |
| Assessment postponement fee per subject (Paper and Online Exams) | R 330.00 |
| Assessment late entry fee per subject (Paper and Online Exams) | R 560.00 |
| Assessment Re-mark & Examiners Report per subject (Paper and Online) | R 1200.00 |
| Private Invigilator Admin Fee (Prior Approval Required) | R 2100.00 |
| Printed ICB Programme Certificate (including postage) | R 400.00 |
| FASSET Certificate Reprint (including postage) T&C’s apply | R 400.00 |
| Workplace PoE Assessments (Learnerships) | R 1450.00 |
| RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING(RPL) /EXEMPTION FEES | |
| RPL/Exemption Application Fee | R 510.00 |
| RPL/Exemption Fee per subject (no POE Required) | R 430.00 |
| RPL PoE fee per subject (PoE to be Completed) | R 995.00 |
How Much Are ICB Registration Fees 2023?
In 2023, it will cost you R430. You only have to pay this fee once, and you will be all set for the year. This registration fee covers all the admin costs associated with your course.
How Do I Pay ICB?
All payments to ICB must be made through the ICB Student Portal. This platform is secure and will keep all your personal information safe. So you can pay your fees using one of the three payment methods below:
- Credit/Debit Card
- Instant EFT
- EFT and Bank Payments
Please note: Distance learning and self-study students can pay ICB directly. However, classroom-based students must pay through their training provider, and they will pass those payments on to ICB.
Does NSFAS Fund ICB Courses?
No NSFAS does not fund ICB Courses. They only fund students who are studying toward undergraduate degrees at public universities. If you are worried about how you will pay your fees, Skills Academy has a wide range of payment methods to suit you and your pockets.
How Can I Book An ICB Exam?
The good news is that you can book your ICB exams online. You can use the student portal to do this. All you have to do is follow the simple steps below:
- Log in to the student portal by using Google Chrome.
- Click on ‘enter assessment’ (on the left side of your screen).
- Use the drop-down menu to select the subject you want to book an exam for.
- Choose your exam venue.
- Pick an exam date.
- Click ‘add to basket’.
- Check your basket to make sure everything is correct.
- If you are happy, select ‘checkout’.
- Submit your assessment booking.
- Pay the exam fees.
When Is The Last Day To Book For ICB Exams?
Well this depends on when you want to write your exams. Each month has its own registration closing dates. We have put them in the table below so you can add them to your calendar and stay prepared.
| Exam Month | Exam Type | Closing Date |
| April 2023 | Online | 24 February 2023 |
| May 2023 | Paper | 31 March 2023 |
| June 2023 | Online | 28 April 2023 |
| July 2023 | Online | 26 May 2023 |
| August 2023 | Paper | 7 July 2023 |
| September 2023 | Online | 28 July 2023 |
| October 2023 | Online | 25 August 2023 |
| November 2023 | Paper | 29 September 2023 |
| December 2023 | Online | 27 October 2023 |
When Will I Receive My ICB Exam Results?
ICB usually takes about seven weeks to release your exam results. This is so they can make sure that they have marked all your questions accurately and to the best of their ability. Luckily you do not have to guess when you will receive your results, each date is available in the table below.
| Exam Month | Results Release Date |
| April 2023 | 19 May 2023 |
| May 2023 | 23 June 2023 |
| June 2023 | 21 July 2023 |
| July 2023 | 18 August 2023 |
| August 2023 | 29 September 2023 |
| September 2023 | 20 October 2023 |
| October 2023 | 17 November 2023 |
| November 2023 | 5 January 2024 |
| December 2023 | 19 January 2024 |
Where Do I Find The ICB Exam Timetable 2023?
You can check out the ICB timetable below, or feel free to download it right here:
How Do ICB Online Exams Work?
ICB online exams work the same as paper-based exams. The only difference is that one is written at a venue with pen and paper, whereas the other is completed on your PC in the comfort of your home. The structure also remains the same and is made up of:
- True or false questions
- Multiple choice questions
- Fill in the gaps
- Long questions
Keep in mind that you can only write the online exams if you have a computer that meets the technical requirements. You do not have to wait until exam day to find this out, you can perform the technical systems check as many times as you want. It is easily accessible in your Portfolio of Evidence (PoE).
What Happens If You Fail An ICB Exam?
No need to worry, it is not the end of the road if you do not pass your ICB exam. You have two options:
- Re-book and re-write the exam (if it is in the same academic year you will not have to complete a new PoE).
- Apply to have your paper re-marked if you believe a mistake was made (take note of the costs in the exam-related fees table above).
How Long Are ICB Exams?
ICB exams are three hours long. But there is an additional 30 minutes set aside to help you get ready for the exam session.
How Are ICB Marks Calculated?
ICB uses a percentage system to mark your assessments. This means that the total of correct marks your receive will then be converted into a percentage. Your final mark is made up of both your PoE and the final exam. The PoE consists of all your tests and assignments and contributes toward 30% of your mark. Your final exam makes up the other 70%.
What Is The ICB Pass Mark?
In order to pass your final exam, you must receive at least 50%. But to pass the module, you must receive an overall mark of at least 60%. Students who achieve more than 90% will be acknowledged publicly by ICB.
Can I Postpone My ICB Exam?
Yes, it is possible to postpone your ICB exams. ICB knows that sometimes life gets in the way, but that does not mean your education has to suffer. So there are two types of postponements you could qualify for:
- Voluntary Postponements
- Mitigating Circumstances Postponement
Voluntary Postponements
This type of postponement can be used if you are not yet ready to write on the date you chose. But before you rely on postponing the exam, please check your exam timetable to make sure that there are other dates available.
- Go to the ‘My Exams’ tab on the student portal. Here you will see a list of all the exams you are booked for.
- Go to the table that says ‘My postponement options’.
- If you already postponed an exam, you will not see this section.
- Click the ‘postpone’ button next to the exam date you want to postpone.
- After clicking ‘postpone’, a list of venues will appear. You must choose one.
- You will only see venue options for paper-based exams.
- If a venue does not show up, it means there is no space left, or there were no exams scheduled for that date.
- Add the postponed exam booking to your cart.
- Click ‘checkout’ (found at the top of your page).
- Choose your payment option.
- Pay the postponement fee.
Mitigating Circumstances Postponements
A mitigating circumstance postponement is when you are unable to write your exam because of something that was out of your control. This includes illness, death in your immediate family or connectivity issues caused by loadshedding. To apply for this postponement, you must fill in the online form and provide sufficient proof.
When Is The Last Date To Postpone ICB Exams?
The last day to postpone your exam depends on which month you will be writing in. See the table below for all the 2023 postponement dates.
| Exam Month | Type Of Exam | Last Date To Postpone |
| April 2023 | Online | 17 March 2023 |
| May 2023 | Paper | 21 April 2023 |
| June 2023 | Online | 19 May 2023 |
| July 2023 | Online | 16 June 2023 |
| August 2023 | Paper | 28 July 2023 |
| September 2023 | Online | 18 August 2023 |
| October 2023 | Online | 15 September 2023 |
| November 2023 | Paper | 20 October 2023 |
| December 2023 | Online | 17 November 2023 |
Which ICB Courses Can I Study?
You can choose from three different ICB programmes. They are designed to equip you wth only the latest, most relevant skills in the finance, business and admin industries. So take your pick from:
- Bookkeeping and Financial Accounting Courses
- Business Management Courses
- Office Administration Courses
Bookkeeping And Accounting Courses
Take your passion for finance and use it to work your way into a successful career with ICB’s Bookkeeping and Accounting Courses. You can start with the bookkeeping certificate programme and end up with an NQF level 6 national diploma in Financial Accounting.
- Junior Bookkeeper Course
- Certified Senior Bookkeeping Course
- Technical Financial Accounting Diploma
- National Diploma in Certified Financial Accounting
Business Management Courses
You can study our ICB Business Management Courses without having experience in the industry. This programme lasts 36 months, and you will learn skills such as business literacy, office and legal practice, how to do financial statements, computerised bookkeeping and more.
- Certificate in Small Business Financial Management
- Higher Certificate in Business Management
- National Diploma in Business Management
Office Administration Courses
Become the admin all-rounder every office needs with ICB Office Administration Courses. In just three years, you can be a qualified admin professional with skills that are well-suited to any industry you decide to join.
How Do I Register As A New ICB Student?
No need to worry about the long lines that come with registration days on a campus. ICB has none of that. Your registration process can be completed with just a few simple clicks online. All you have to do is:
- Step 1: Open Google Chrome
- Step 2: Go to the ICB Student Portal
- Step 3: Register for the Student Portal
- Step 4: Click ‘Register for a Course’
- Step 5: Choose the programme you want to study
- Step 6: Select your training provider
- Step 7: Confirm your registration
What Are The Entry Requirements For ICB Programmes?
There are different entry requirements for each course, it all depends on what you want to study. However, these requirements are not strict, as ICB’s aim is to make quality, accredited education accessible.
- Bookkeeping Courses – You must have completed grade 10 and be at least 16 years old.
- Accounting Courses – Successful completion of the ICB Bookkeeping course
- Business Management Courses – Grade 11
- Office Administration Courses – Grade 12
Is ICB A Good Qualification?
Yes, ICB is a good qualification. ICB is a well-respected organisation that has been offering courses since 1931. This means that their courses are of a very high standard. So it comes as no surprise that many employers prefer to hire staff that have successfully graduated from ICB programmes.
Can I Get A Job With ICB Courses?
The skills you gain in ICB courses equip you with above-standard knowledge to make you an asset to any industry you decide to join. You can find employment in a wide variety of fields. Some of the jobs you can pursue include:
- Financial Accountant
- Bookkeeper
- Financial Accountant
- Personal Assistant
- Securities Trader
- Management Accountant
- Auditor
- Financial Manager
- Tax Accountant
- Budget Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- Business Manager
- Office Manager
- Secretary
- Payroll Clerk
- Office Administrator
- Financial Analyst
Are ICB Courses Recognised?
Yes, ICB Courses are recognised nationally and internationally. There are even professional bodies that will offer you membership opportunities once you have an ICB qualification. Some of these benefits include exclusive job opportunities, career advice and networking opportunities.
- SAIT – South African Institute of Tax Professionals
- SAIBA – South African Institute of Business Accountants
- IAB – International Association of Bookkeepers
- IAAP – International Association of Accounting Professionals
Are ICB Courses Accredited?
Yes, ICB Courses are accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and are also registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Each ICB course has a unique SAQA ID number which you can search and use to verify that each qualification is legit.
What Can I Study After ICB?
You can use your ICB qualification to study further for qualifications with organisations such as ACCA. But you can also study toward another ICB qualification. Their courses are designed in such a way that certain subjects overlap. So when you enrol for another course, it will be faster to complete.
Does Unisa Accept ICB Qualifications?
It is possible for Unisa to accept your ICB qualifications through their Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) application process. But it is not a given that your application will be successful, their committee has to be sure that the skills you have, match the course you want to study with them. If everything is in order, you could qualify for exemptions.
What Are ICB Qualifications Equivalent To?
Since ICB qualifications are registered on the NQF, they are arranged by the various levels on the system. Each course ranges from the NQF levels 3-6. For more details on each course, please see the table below:
| NQF Level 3 | NQF Level 4 | NQF Level 5 | NQF Level 6 |
| Junior Bookkeeping Course | Senior Bookkeeping Course | Technical Financial Accounting | Certified Financial Accounting |
| Small Business Financial Management Certificate | Higher Certificate in Business Management | National Diploma in Business Management | |
| National Certificate in Office Administration | National Diploma in Office Administration | ||
| Higher Certificate in Office Administration |
If you would like to study ICB courses through Skills Academy, please feel free to contact our friendly course experts to get started. To read more about your studies with ICB, go ahead and browse through our related articles below:
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, ICB exams are not open book. If you work hard and put in your best effort to pass your exams, you will pass your exams with flying colours. Please note that any attempt to cheat is a serious offence, and will result in disciplinary action from ICB. Both paper-based and online exams are strictly invigilated.
No you cannot study directly through ICB. This is because they are not a college, they are an external exam body. If you want to study ICB courses, the best way is to enrol with an accredited ICB training provider, such as Skills Academy. We are a distance learning institute, but you will never be alone during your study journey. Our tutors and lecturers are highly qualified to help you reach your study goals.
The ICB student portal is a great way to manage your ICB course. It is an online platform, and you can use it to:
- Register for ICB courses
- Exam bookings
- View your exam results
- Update your personal details
- Payments to the ICB
- Track your academic progress
Well, this depends on the course you study, and how far you decide to progress in the programme. This means your studies could last anywhere from 6 – 36 months. Keep in mind that if you decide to study part-time, it could take you a bit longer to finish the course.
