Student Registration
Booking the Exam
Taking the Exam
How do I register?
You can register online at any time. You will need to set up an account and pay the annual Student Registration fee.
> Registration Information
If you're studying an Accredited Course
If you are studying with one of our Accredited Training Providers they will take care of your registration for you. You can expect to receive a welcome letter from us with your ICB student card within one month of signing up on your course. If you have not received your card within this time please contact your Training Provider.
Please be aware that ICB does not offer refunds on Student Registration fees. If you register yourself before your Accredited Training Provider does so, you may be registered twice. In this event please contact your Training Provider.
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Will my Training Provider pay?
If you are studying with one of our Accredited Training Providers they will pay your registration for you, and the cost of some examinations may also be included in your course fee.
Please contact your Accredited Training Provider for more details.
Please be aware that ICB does not offer refunds on Student Registration fees. If you register yourself before your Accredited Training Provider does so, you may be registered twice. In this event please contact your Training Provider.
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Do I need to be an ICB Student?
Before you take ICB examinations you need to become an ICB Registered Student. You can register online at any time.
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Where can I study?
If you do not yet have any bookkeeping knowledge, you can view a list of our Accredited Training Providers on the Bookkeeping Courses page. Most of our students train from home by part-time 'distance learning' but you can also study at college. ICB does not provide training.
Please visit the ICB Shop to find textbooks to supplement your studies.
Please note that, if you have prior learning, you can Register as a Student without enroling on a course.
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How do I revise, do mock papers?
Mocks or 'Practice Papers' are available to purchase from the online Shop 24 hours a day and are available immediately. You can also call ICB to order a mock, or ask your Accredited Training Provider.
Mocks make an excellent tool for examination preparation and ICB strongly suggests that every student attempt at least one. You will get a good idea of what the actual examination is like and could help learn how to pace yourself to complete the questions in time.
Each examination and mock may only cover part of the ICB syllabus so please be advised to ensure that your revision covers the entire published syllabus for your qualification.
You may also find useful study materials in the Technical Guides online library.
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After I pass, will I become a member automatically?
No, membership is optional. If you do wish to become a member, you can contact ICB by telephone to upgrade your membership or upgrade online by logging in to MyICB. Fees are payable - please see Fees & Subscriptions.
Members are required to abide by the Professional Conduct Regulations.
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How do I book exams?
Students and members can apply for examinations, and order mock papers, either online or by telephone. Your course provider may cover the cost of your examinations so you should always check with them first before booking.
Please note the Level III Diploma in Payroll Management must be booked by telephone.
Booking Online
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Booking by Telephone
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Log in to MyICB and select Book Exam from the menu.
If you would like to order a mock paper please visit the Shop
This service is available 24 hours a day.
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Please call us on:
0845 060 2345 or 020 3405 4000
Our office hours are Mon-Fri 08:30-17:30
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Most ICB qualifications need to be completed in order so you will find that you can only book certain examinations. For a full list of qualifications and their entry requirements please visit:
> Qualifications & Examinations
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When are the exams?
ICB exams are available when you want them, in any week of the year.
Please note, centre-based exams can be booked according to availability at your chosen centre. You should try to book at least two weeks in advance to make sure you can sit the exam on the day and location of your choosing.
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How soon will my exam arrive?
Most home-based examinations are available immediately upon booking with details sent to your registered email address. Please check your SPAM and Junk Mail folders for your email which will be sent from a @bookkeepers.org.uk address. If you have not received your email please contact ICB Customer Support on 0845 060 2345.
The Level III Diploma in Self Assessment Tax Returns is not available immediately. This examination will be posted to you on the Friday you specify when booking.
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Problems logging in to Pearson Vue
You need a special username and password to book your centre-based examination via our third-party booking portal, Pearson Vue. As soon as you pass the necessary exams to apply for your centre-based examination, we will send you an email containing your special login details. If you have not received this email please call ICB on 0845 060 2345 to have your email resent.
Please note that the Pearson Vue site will ask you to change your password when you first login. After you change your password, ICB will no longer be able to help you with your login and you will need to direct any login issues to Pearson Vue directly.
> PearsonVue.com/ICB
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Why can’t I book an exam?
Most ICB qualifications need to be completed in order so you will find that you can only book certain examinations. For a full list of qualifications and their entry requirements please visit Qualifications & Examinations.
Please note the Payroll Management examination can only be booked by telephone.
The two centre-based examinations (Manual Bookkeeping Levels II and III) must be booked on an external site.
You need a special username to book your centre-based examination via our third party booking portal www.pearsonvue.com/ICB. As soon as you pass enough exams to apply for your centre-based examination, we will send you an email containing your username. If you have not received this email please call ICB on 0845 060 2345 to have your email resent.
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Doesn't my Training Provider pay?
If you think your Accredited Training Provider should pay your examination fees you should contact them before you try to book your examination.
Please be aware that ICB does not offer refunds on examination fees.
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Why can I book an exam I’ve already passed?
You can apply to re-take any examinations you have passed. This means that they will remain available to book in your MyICB exam booking account.
You can check which exams you have passed in the Results section of MyICB.
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Can I retake an exam to get a higher mark?
You can apply to re-take any examinations you have passed, should you wish to achieve a higher grade. Examinations you have passed will remain available to book in your MyICB exam booking account.
You can check which exams you have passed in the Results section of MyICB.
Please note you will be charged an examination fee to retake an examination you have passed even if your examinations are included in the cost of your course.
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How much do exams cost?
You can find out the cost of examinations in the Qualifications & Examinations Fees page.
You can also see the cost of your next examination by clicking the Book Exam link in MyICB.
Some Accredited Training Providers will pay for your exams on your behalf so always check first before applying. Accredited Training Providers do not usually pay for resit attempts so you please bear in mind you may need to pay to retake any exam that you fail.
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What if my Student Registration expires?
You cannot book an examination unless your Student Registration is valid (i.e. in date.) If you are booking your examination in advance, you must ensure that your Student Registration will still be valid at the date of examination.
You can renew an expired Student Registration at any time online via MyICB or by telephone on 0845 060 2345. By viewing your Account Settings in MyICB you can see when your Student Registration expires.
It does not matter if your Student Registration expires before you receive your results; the results will still be issued to you.
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Can I take exams in any order/all at once?
No. ICB exams need to be completed in order so you will find that you can only book certain examinations. For a full list of qualifications and their entry requirements please visit:
> Qualifications & Examinations
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Can I take exams anywhere in the world?
ICB examinations can be completed outside of the UK and in most countries around the world.
Home-based examinations can be completed anywhere that you can connect securely to the internet and open your emails.
Centre-based examinations are available at more than 5,200 centres worldwide throughout the year. If you can't find a centre in your country via our external booking site www.pearsonvue.com/ICB please contact ICB so that we can help you. Remember you cannot use this site to book your examination until you are eligible and have been issued a special username.
For more information on completing exams outside of the UK please visit:
> Completing Exams Overseas
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Can I take exams at home?
Some ICB examinations are 'home-based' and must be completed at home. However, some examinations are 'centre-based' and must be completed in an examination centre.
To achieve ICB membership via the examination route you will need to complete at least one centre-based examination.
If you have a disability that might affect your examination, you can find more information about possible examination adjustments on the following page:
> Special Considerations & Adjustments
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Where is my nearest exam centre?
When you are ready to sit a centre-based exam, you can choose from our network of 5200 examination centres around the world. You can find your nearest examination centre via our third-party booking site:
> PearsonVue.com/ICB
You will also use this site to book the centre-based exam but you cannot do so until you are eligible and have been issued a special username by email. If you think you should have received your username already, please call ICB on 0845 060 2345.
Please note that you do not always need to attend a centre as some examinations are completed at home.
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Can I have extra time or special consideration?
If you have a disability or condition that might affect your examination, you may be able to apply for an adjustment to the normal examination so that you are not disadvantaged. You will need to submit some form of documentation to support your application and we would advise you to contact Customer Support at least one month prior to your examination.
For more information please contact ICB on 0845 060 2345 or visit the following page:
> Requesting Special Consideration
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What can I take with me to the centre exam?
It is vital that you bring the correct ID with you or you will not be permitted to take your examination. Please visit the ID Requirements page for more details.
You will not be permitted to take any personal items into the actual examination room with you. Some examination centres may permit you to bring your own calculator with you. In the event that you are not permitted your own calculator, the centre will provide you with one.
You will be provided with a locker for storage. Please note that personal items include course materials, ID, wallet, mobile phone, and scrap paper. You will be given writing materials once you are inside the examination room.
> Test Centre Rules
> ID Requirements
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What ID should I bring?
It is vital that you bring two forms of accepted ID to your centre-based exam or you will not be permitted to take your examination and you will forfeit the examination fee. Please visit the ID Requirements page for more details on accepted ID.
Please note that both forms of ID must match your ICB-registered name and the name in which you booked the examination. If you are unable to satisfy the published ID requirements, or if you have changed your name, please contact ICB in good time before your examination.
> ID Requirements
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What do I need for the home-based exam?
You will need access to the internet, and your emails, for all home-based examinations. If your examination requires you to use accounting software you will need to supply your own.
It is important that you can take your examination in private without being disturbed. Some examinations require you to submit your answers online within a certain period of time and you will not be able to 'pause' the timer, so please ensure that you will be able to give your full attention for the length of the exam, not getting up to go to the bathroom or answer the telephone.
Please note that all work must be your own and you are not permitted to ask anyone for help during ICB examinations.
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What if I fail my exam?
Because ICB examinations are available in every week of the year you can resit your examination as soon as you're ready. You will be required to pay the standard examination fee for your resit. Your resit will be a different version of the same examination, so the questions will be different.
After three failed attempts a candidate may be asked to delay further application until:
a) further study has been undertaken
or
b) the new season's examination papers are available
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Can I cancel my exam?
Home-based examinations are issued immediately upon booking and so cannot be cancelled.
Centre-based examinations can be cancelled or transferred five working days prior to the examination via the third-party booking site:
> PearsonVue.com/ICB
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