I am new to all this and wondered if anyone has gained membership with ICB via exemption method??
I am one exam away from ACCA accounting technician level and have 10 years accounting experience and wanting to start bookkeeping from home business and liked the membership benefits ICB offer.
I have sent them the certificates I have available and my CV, etc but I could not provide any references as I do not work for an accountant.
Does anyone know how long the process takes, etc?? I would appreciate any views/comments.
Hi, I don't know how long it will take ICB to reply but I should think that you should easily get exemption if you have the ACCA accounting technician level exams as they are probably some of the best qualifications you can have. Also, it means alot having your experience as with bookkeeping your 10 years experience means alot more than any paper qualifications. The Association of Accounting Technicians is also very good and based on your experience they should give you associate membership.
I looked into exemptions in 2007 (when I had purchased level 3 not realising you must have the other 2 first), I was told that you had to have recent relevant qualifications (think they had a certain time scale that they worked to) or a reference from an accountant which I believe if you have experience rather then qualifications.
I decided it was just easier to take the exams as I was told the cost of exemption was similar price to the exams.
Have you checked the ICB website for information, or normally the helpline number they have they can normally answer most questions.
Thanks for info, I was wondering if it would be just as easy to sit exams so I will see what ICB reply is and then go from there.
I did call them and their advice was to send application form in, which I have done. Their website said it may take months, but hopefully I have enough qualifications/experience that I will only need to do entrance paper.
I think the rule is that they will only recognise other relevant qualifications if they were obtained in the last 2 years.
Failing that, you will require references from two appropriately qualified individuals to confirm that you are competent in carrying out the work covered by the syllabus.
ICB would not accept my qualifications, mainly because I could not provide references but they did agree to put the non refundable fee towards student membership and I have sent off for level 1 exam today.
