Help in choosing courses. - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

nmcc · Newbie

Help in choosing courses.

Wella · Expert

Hi and welcome

When I first wanted to learn bookkeeping, I approached the Home Learning College and found them to be an Hard Sell type of company, with all the patter and prices to match sending a rep to "interview" me. I believe others have found the same.

I finally opted for Ideal Schools. I found the courses well structured, the learning materials easy to understand and always had good responses when I contacted them. Their prices are very reasonable compared to other providers.
The only critisism I have of them, is that there was often a long delay in getting course work returned and as each assignment needed completing before moving on to the next, this delayed the time it took me to complete the courses (If you read this Brian, it is only a minor point)

Ideal Schools offers a "Career Path" course that covers you from the very basics (ICB Level 1) upto full membership (Level III) manual and computerised + Payroll Management. Its cheaper than your quote from HLC (£1099) It covers more courses and you get full Sage Instant and Payroll software to keep. With the way the ICB is changing it's membership requirements this may be the best option. If you intend to go down self employment route.

Follow the link to their website
http://www.idealschools.co.uk/courses/institute-of-certified-book-keepers-icb-

Bill

PS I have no connection with them other than being a student

-- Edited by Wella on Wednesday 20th of January 2010 01:01:04 PM

Harps · Veteran Member

I agree with Bill, I found Home Learning to be very expensive and after a lot of research, I went with ideal schools.
I found them always very helpful and unlike Bill didn't think their assessment turnround times were too bad when I did it.
I went down the career path route and obtained distinction in all the exams and home assignments. The career path inculdes the manual bookkeeping to level 3 and also computerised bookkeeping and payroll. It took me 12 months to complete but I must admit, I did start the next sections before waiting for the assessments to be returned.
Hope that helps

PJC Bookkeeping · Veteran Member

Would you be comfortable or confident without a tutor and rely on study or text books alone?

The text books available on the ICB website are very reasonable for all the manual levels 1, 2 and 3 of bookkeeping but you would also need to read other bookkeeping text books (try the library for example) to gain better understanding of bookkeeping principles and acquire practice on carrying out the exercises. For the computerised examinations you could buy the Sage Instant Self-study pack available on a 180-day licence.

That is what I did but it does depend on how you feel.

Good luck.

Peter

PJC Bookkeeping Services
www.pjcbookkeeping.co.uk

nmcc · Newbie

Thanks to all the replies. HLC had offered 20% off the £1400 if I paid before the end of January but I think I would rather try maybe level 1 and 2 to prove to myself I can do it before investing any more money. Would I be better doing level 1 and 2 in manual first before doing anymore or would I be better trying the computerised course. The only problem with learning by the books is running into difficulties and not having any one there to ask.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Don't know if it makes a difference to you or not but one consideration for some is that level II computerised is done from home where for level II manual you have to go and sit it at a centre.

The books suggested by Peter would be an excellent way to go but I would but them from Amazon rather than the ICB because they're generally cheaper.

Probably worth you investing in the Margaret Nicholson book Mastering Accounting Skills as a first step (around £12 from Amazon but take a look at the Waterstones and Play sites as well on the off chance that it's cheaper on one of those).

As for running into difficulties, you've always got us!... Although the simplest question will of course invariably instigate half a dozen different responses and degenerate into a technical debate.

Another option that you could consider is the Open university course B190 which is the equivalent of the ABC AAT bookkeeping course. It's around £295 including all of the books and materials including an excellent CBT bookkeeping course (which is actually the EQL one used in the ABC AAT!). You get a tutor and study group who you meet with occassionally and chat to all of the time on email.

When I did the predecessor course to that they also threw in a copy of Sage Instant but I don't know whether they still do that bit or not.

Anyway, it's an option. It's at least as good as the routes that you've looked at so far and it's only a fraction of the price.

Oh, and when I did the predecessor course a few years back one of the tutors was Alan Sangster of Woods and Sangster fame so there's certainly no issue about the quality of tutors with the OU.

For info, if you just decided that you wanted to do ABC AAT bookkeeping that's £175 direct from BPP and it gives you excemption from some of the modules if you decide to take the AAT route.

Hope this helps.

Shaun.

kazd · Member

I have just had the Home Learning College round tonight talking about the Sage Instant course. I must confess I had thought that if I was going to do Sage I might as well just go straight to Sage 50 but distant learning course for this level are hard to find. The lady had a point when she said it's probably something you can pick up easily if you already have the basics of Sage.

However, i thought the price was extortionate, I have already purchased in full the Level 2 and Level 3 diploma with the IAB so I think I will continue with that. They also offer Sage Instant accounts course for £495 which is a hell of a lot cheaper than £1410 minus 20% if I pay in full.

Amanda · Expert

Hi,

Have you had a look at adult evening courses at a local college, thats if you can get out 1 night a week. I learnt SAGE 50 about 6 years ago 1 night a week at college, did level 1 and 2, went Sept - June, well I think it was SAGE 50 and not instants it was so long ago. I do use SAGE instants now for 2 clients and although abit rusty at first it didn't take long to get back into it. Definately worth doing. I use Quickbooks more because the package was cheaper but the principles are very similar.

I did AAT intermediate long distance learning at a local college (haven't done the Technicians yet although will prob start in September), I am currently doing AAT payroll with Premier training, they are definately worth a phone call, I found the payroll quite reasonable compared to others and you get asigned a tutor, that you can e-mail or phone.

Hope that helps,
Amanda

stephen72 · Senior Member

Hi ,
Ihave used training link for my courses and i found them to good value for money and they provided good tutor support .the icb computerised courses they do come with a 180 day trial version of sage 50 accounts.

nmcc · Newbie

Thanks everyone for comments. I have found ICB Practical Bookkeeping Beginner/Intermediate on amazon at £20. Also the Mastering Accounting skills is there as well. would this be enough to get me through the first two manual ICB courses. Also I have been reading the forum and everyone has a different opinion on whether to go with ICB or IAB. would these two books be enough if I went with IAB or is there a different book for the IAB course. Sorry for all the questions but the more I read this forum the more questions comes into my head. blankstare

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Nigel,

the books that you mention would get you through the lower levels of both institutions.
Its a difficult decision isn't it deciding which institute to go with as they both have good and bad points. I went down the ICB route as ICB at the time was the fastest route to a practicing certificate. Don't forget that you could also choose AAT or CAT whic would be more beneficial routes if you are looking for a job rather than self employment.
Have fun and good luck,

Shaun.

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Has anyone studied with DISTANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP ?

I am waiting on the JobCentre's Rapid Response Team yawn

to see if/when they will cover the cost.

Quote was for :

Manual Book-keeping Levels I-III
Computerised Book-keeping II-III
Payroll Management

with discounts, the total is almost that for your Home Learning (Level II?) course.
They are not VAT registered.

cheers

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Sunday 24th of January 2010 05:12:09 PM

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Sunday 24th of January 2010 05:12:38 PM

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Like MNCC, I picked up some books and old course volumes (ICB and AAT) from Amazon and eBay to do some pre-course study.

Open University is aimed at AAT Certificate, so it's comprehensive bookkeeping,
but still a "starter".

OU is more flexible than local Adult Education classes which seem to drag on (and you can't speed them up with extra study time).

I think, with the costly home learning courses, you need to know if the tutors are good and will spend the time to help with problems quickly.
Need to be sure you'll get your money's worth.

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Sunday 24th of January 2010 05:31:36 PM

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Bob,

The distance learning partnership is a group of training providers of varying sizes.

The home learning college is part of the distance learning partnership as well as offering services directly.

Some members are VAT registered whilst others are not.

Shaun.

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Shamus wrote:
The distance learning partnership is a group of training providers of varying sizes.
The home learning college is part of the distance learning partnership as well as offering services directly.

Some members are VAT registered whilst others are not.

That seems weird. A partnership competing against each other ? confuse

The quote I have is a pro-forma invoice under the heading of The Distant Learning Partnership.

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Sunday 24th of January 2010 09:42:53 PM

Brian McVean · Senior Member

Hi, My name is Brian McVean and I am a course advisor (not sales person) with Ideal Schools. I, or any of my colleagues, would be delighted to offer any tutorial advice on ICB, IAB or CAT qualifications.

I can be contacted on 0141 248 5200.

Kind regards
Brian

Robertson · Member

There are considerable variations in the cost of courses - I did one course with a distance learning provider for my first IAB exams (Level 2) and then just purchased the IAB text books for the Level 3 exams and bought second hand AAT textbooks on tax through EBay when I did the IAB Personal and Business tax papers ; if you read the syllabus carefully and get some past papers you can do most of the book-keeping exams of IAB/ICB at a fraction of the cost incurred with distance learning colleges.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Kenneth,

Welcome to the forum,

I've been pushing that approach for a while now and it's basically the route that I've taken all the way through my ACCA studies (Mostly successful but lets not mention advanced Audit!)

Some things though that people should bear in mind though for the teach yourself approach :

This approach is not applicable for AAT that requires for you to have a course provider.

For the following area's second hand books are fine :

Bookkeeping
Management accounting
Management theory

But for these subjects they're not (unless it's this years version for sale) :

Taxation.
Payroll.

And for corporate reporting don't consider anything older than 2006.

At the moment Amazon seem to have cheaper deals that Ebay especially when you take into account some of the extortionate delivery fee's changed by some Ebay sellers.

Great place for free exam papers is the ACCA site where you can get CAT papers (pretty similar to AAT) and ACCA professional scheme papers.

Best test your bookkeeping skills book that I know of is the BPP AAT Foundation revision companion for units 1-4. If you can't do it cover to cover then you're not ready to set up on your own yet. If you can do it without a problem then your ready for anything that the ICB or IAB can throw at you or the manual bookkeeping exams front.

Hope to talk soon,

Have a good one,

Shaun.