Membership of Professional bodies - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Damo8604 · Member

Membership of Professional bodies

Alison · Senior Member

Hi

I assume that you are talking about IAB or ICB.

I can tell you that after a few years I am now changing from ICB to IAB (IAB company policy was not to allow exemptions from ICB members but they said because of the number of requests they have changed their policy).

I would not recommend ICB to anyone, they are not professional. I am in the process of joining IAB and would say that they are professional and polite and punctual in replying to any form of correspondence unlike my dealings with the ICB.

Alison

Damo8604 · Member

The reason I asked is that ICB appear to be more high profile (although their website doesn't tell me much). Every web search I do there appears to be more members belonging to the ICB, although the IAB qualification is the one which is offered at all of the colleges. The ICB seems to be the course of choice for the distance learning establishments who charge triple what a college would charge

Marky65 · Guru

Hi

I know that Alison has put her point of view with regard to the ICB, I must say that I have not found that to be the case and in fact the service Alison has received from the IAB I have received from the ICB so I would have to recommend them.
Alison, I am not saying that I do not believe what you are saying, I am just giving my opinion as to the treatment I have received.

So my vote is for the ICB.

Regards

Mark

Terri · Senior Member

I have just upgraded my membership with the ICB after passing my level 2 manual and computerised and although I had a couple of slight hiccups with them, I am pleased with the service that I have received from them. I have taken three exams with them and each time, my results have come back earlier than they were originally promised and my certificates have been in the post within two to three days. Likewise, when I have requested mock exams and information packs, they have been posted out quickly. I find their website full of useful information and I am just in the process of applying for my practising license with them. They do take days to repy to emails but every time that I have phoned them, they have been very friendly and helpful so if I need assistance now, I pick up the phone to them instead of emailing and can always get the help that I need. Also, you can apply for jobs on ICB which I am looking forward to using when I get my practising certificate.

I think that like any other company, some people have bad experiences, but so far my experience with them has been very positive overall. When I was thinking about upgrading to full membership and applying for my practising certificate I have been calling them and asking lots of questions and they have been very patient, friendly and informative. Sending me a dvd and information as well to follow up.

That is my opinion anyway. I havent had any dealings with the IAB so I cant tell you who is better but I am more than happy to stay with the ICB.

Terri

Alison · Senior Member

Hi Terri

With the jobs they have now changed this. You have to pay for the letters for each exam you have passed, believe that is £15 per year per exam to be able to access the jobs.

Alison

Terri · Senior Member

Yes Alison that is right, I had to pay £60 for my manual certificate membership and a further £15 for my computerised certificate to be classed as AICB Cb. Cert and you also have to have a practising license to view the freelance/self employed job advertisements but I am applying for that at the moment and I already have professional indemnity insurance in place so that won't cost me any extra money.

It will be interesting to see how you find IAB compared to ICB, I hope that you find them better

Terri

Alison · Senior Member

Hi Terri

The £15 computerised certificate will let you see the ones for AICB Cb but the £60 associated membership on its own won't let you see some jobs unless you pay the £15 per exam.

Alison

Terri · Senior Member

Yeah, I know, I already paid the extra £15, I will let you know how I find the ICB once I have my practising license

Terri

Alison · Senior Member

Hi Terri

The £15 is per exam. Basically if you view a job that is not one that you have paid for the letters you cannot see more details. It comes up with a list of the exams and letters you need to be able to view this.

They all come up for different lists for me, this is an example of one job the newest, this is why I am changing because they claimed that they were not changing things with the job vacancies when I sent a polite enquiry, I have not had access to the jobs since shortly after I renewed my practising certificate in April. They are just becoming money grabbing making people pay more for things that used to be available with your £60 membership and £66 practising certificate.

Restricted Members Area:
We are sorry, but your membership level does not allow access to this section.
This section requires membership level of at least one or more of the following:

AICB (Comp) with Practice Licence
AICB (Comp) with Practice Licence WS
AICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence WS
Fellow with Practice Licence WS
Fellow with Practice Licence
MICB (Comp) with Practice Licence
MICB (Comp) with Practice Licence WS
MICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS

jpf · Member

First time I've posted. Hello. This thread seems to be drifting off the point. I too wonder about the merits of IAB and ICB.

Speaking without any bias I have had some limited contact with the ICB and found them to be quick, helpful, and efficient and I find their website more user friendly.

I can't comment on the IAB.

Very interested to hear more general comments on this issue.

Thanks
Jonathan

Gemma12 · Veteran Member

As Damo says

"The reason I asked is that ICB appear to be more high profile (although their website doesn't tell me much). Every web search I do there appears to be more members belonging to the ICB, although the IAB qualification is the one which is offered at all of the colleges. The ICB seems to be the course of choice for the distance learning establishments who charge triple what a college would charge"

I have a relative who works at a college who offers courses leading to the IAB and when I spoke to her originally about which to do and why the college didn't do the ICB her reply was that the IAB charge £190 per year to be an accredited centre whereas the ICB charges £1000 (yes one thousand) to be an accrediated centre - ad she didn't even know how long this was for !!! so this is probably your answer to the reason why colleges tend to offer IAB

Mike · Veteran Member

Alison wrote:

Restricted Members Area:
We are sorry, but your membership level does not allow access to this section.
This section requires membership level of at least one or more of the following:

AICB (Comp) with Practice Licence
AICB (Comp) with Practice Licence WS
AICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
AICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence
AICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence WS
Fellow with Practice Licence WS
Fellow with Practice Licence
MICB (Comp) with Practice Licence
MICB (Comp) with Practice Licence WS
MICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB (Comp) PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Cert with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Cert PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Dip with Practice Licence WS
MICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence
MICB CB.Dip PM.Dip with Practice Licence WS

Alison,

Just out of interest

(1) What is the difference between a Practice Licence and a Practice Licence WS?
- what does the WS stand for?

(2) What is the criteria for becoming a fellow member since if you complete all their quals this only leads to full membership.

As for the original question, I'd say that if you've already completed the quals leading to full membership of the AAT, then you should become a licensed member in practice of that establishment since it is far better known than either ICB or IAB.

Wella · Expert

I had a similar experience when trying to view jobs on the vacancy page, however I am a full member with CB Dip & PM Dip and a practice licence and I was still restricted even though my quals were listed in those required!

I contacted ICB by email and had quick response, apologising, saying that it is unacceptable for a member not to be able to view the vacancies and with an assurance that their IT people would look into it as there was obvoiusly a fault with the system.

Have just tried again and it appears to be OK now.

As it is possible to view international vacancies (haven't found any listed yet) it may be that the practice licence WS may be a requirement elsewhere?

I would also add that my experience, dealing the ICB has been positive but they do not exceed my expectations.

Bill

-- Edited by Wella on Monday 31st of August 2009 08:39:45 AM

BackOfficeGroup · Guru

I am a student member of ICB and have just completed the Level 2 comp exam and I am only going down this route for the MLR, no other reason!

I have found ICB ok to deal with, although have had problems with thier website, so I do not think their IT dept are very good. But give them a call and they soon sort things out.

I looked at the IAB website and foudn it very confusing and not sure what was what on it! Is it just me?

P

steve12 · Veteran Member

Hi,

As a professsional bookkeeper for a number of years, in my opinion the IAB are by far the most professional and certainly the best recognised in the accounting profession. The ICB project a very high profile image which comes across as very impressive. However, the IAB qualifications are better quality and officially recognised by the UK exam authorities which the ICB qualifications are not. The IAB are in my view the experts when it comes to the bookkeeping profession.

Steve.

Alison · Senior Member

Hi

I am glad you said that Steve.

I am in the process of joining the IAB and wish I had known of there existence in 2007 when I joined the ICB. I have found the ICB so unprofessional. They turned into money grabbing institute shortly after the MLR legislation came out in December 2007. They are now into how many members they can get and how many things can they thing of to new to charge it's current members.

So far with the IAB they have replied to my emails in a fast and professional manner.
Think it is good that the IAB get references and that they take new member requests to a committee it shows that they are into quality rather than quantity unlike the ICB so they are not money grabbing. Also they don't put blockages for its members - ICB won't let you do bookkeeping for Limited Companies (IAB say that as long as you don't take on work that you know is beyond your capabilities then who are they to get in your way as a bookkeeper willing to study when any bookkeeper could just get MLR from HM Customs and do anything they like with bookkeeping.

Alison

Mike · Veteran Member

steve12 wrote:

Hi,

As a professsional bookkeeper for a number of years, in my opinion the IAB are by far the most professional and certainly the best recognised in the accounting profession. The ICB project a very high profile image which comes across as very impressive. However, the IAB qualifications are better quality and officially recognised by the UK exam authorities which the ICB qualifications are not. The IAB are in my view the experts when it comes to the bookkeeping profession.

Steve.

Steve,

But surely the point you make, re. officially recognised exams, is irrelevant if the IAB are willing to award IAB membership to those with only ICB qualifications such as Alison.

Clearly, the IAB consider the ICB qualifications to be of a comparable standard (even if you do not)

Alison · Senior Member

HI

I think the IAB do this. They said it was originally not their policy to offer exemptions but they changed this because of the sheer number of requests from ICB members.

When I sent my application form I needed to send proof of my qualifications. I don't know yet at what point I will need to study with their qualifications but I will ask this once my membership has been approved by the committee. It may not be like for like but I don't mind having to take an exam or two with IAB if it is not like for like as would probably not need to do any courses because I have 14 years experience and with ICB I did no course or any revision for the level one manual, just one revision course for the level 2 manual and did not do any courses or revision for the level 2 and 3 computerised or the level 3 payroll.

Alison