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After having read through the training providers recommended on ICB website, I have narrowed it down to either, Kaplan, Ideal Schools or Training Links. All have a different price ranges for the 3 exams needed for AICB, and either Sage Instant or Sage 50. I have read lots of mixed comments regarding Ideal Schools and Training Links but not much about Kaplan though they did win training provider of the year. Any advice on which provider to go with and whether Sage Instant or Sage 50 would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi Hazydaze,
You have a big choice to make and I, like you, agonised over my own decision until I took the plunge earlier this week. From the research I did I found that Ideal Schools & Training Link offered more in the way of assignment completion, which I felt would help more in the preparation of exams. In the end I plumped for Ideal Schools based on the following:
- Their computerised courses provide software that I can continue to use on completion of my study. I selected their ICB950 course that includes Sage 50 Accounts & Sage 50 Payroll, which I’ll be able to use when I start my bookkeeping business in the future (a fair bit away, but that’s my goal). In terms of what is the best software for you, I found the following in their site, which may help:
Computerised Bookkeeping Course software:
We are able to offer you extensive Sage training using two of Sage's most popular software packages:
Sage Instant Accounts - suitable for businesses keeping their own accounting records in order, this software package offers a single company license. The course options including this software offer an affordable introduction to using Sage, with the skills you have learned being easily transferrable throughout the entire Sage 50 Accounting software range.
Sage 50 Accounts - Having the facility to add "multi-company" licenses, this is ideal for those who harbour the ambition to offer their own bookkeeping services. Although slightly more expensive, you will receive a fully licensed copy of this software to use professionally on completion of your study.
- Their openness with their exam results covering all subjects was quite refreshing, and very impressive. This gave me confidence that the courses on offer were of a high quality.
- In the end I spoke to 5 providers and I just felt comfortable with the way I was treated by IS. Of course, this is very much a personal aspect, but after speaking to an advisor, then a tutor for software guidance, I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for.
Having just received the course folder for my first level of study I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and make progress through my exams. Whoever you select for your own study, I hope everything works out for you.
Good luck.
OTM
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Thank you for your comment, I am like you say agonising over a decision at the moment! Good luck in your course.
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Hey!
When I started studying, I bought manual level 1 & 2 through Ideal Schools! I don't have a single bad word to say about them.
I'm now doing my level 3 from buying the Kaplan advanced bookkeeping text book online and am quite confidently studying without a training provider.
To do the computerised I have bought a sage course from training link which so far I am finding easy, and whenever I have emailed support services they respond really quickly!
Just a bit of food for thought though, you can buy the Kaplan beginniner/ Intermediate and Advanced book from the ICB shop along with the revision kits, I think these provide you with everything you need to know, and you could probably study without the use of a training provider. Another handy book is by Dr Peter Marshall titled 'Mastering Bookkeeping'
Best of luck with your studies :)
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 115 posts
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I've used 2 of the training providers you mention. 1 was a total waste of money, no help from the tutor infact they refused to speak to me, didn't understand the training material and still don't!! I ended up buying the course again elsewhere. I've used Training link for a number of my exams and highly recommend them. I always received responses to emails within 2 hrs, late at night and weekends, assignments also marked in less than 2hrs. My tutor did call me once as she thought it best to speak to me rather than email. Never was I pressurised into buying a course infact the owner at Training Link encouraged me just to book my level II manual without doing a course.
Training Link won tutor of the year and its your tutor who gets you through the exams!
Good luck.
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Hi
I used Training Link for my Self Assessment module and wasn't overly impressed in comparison to The Distant Learning Partnership which I used for Level 2 and 3 Manual and Level 3 Computerized who I thought were great. Good workbooks, the same tutor throughout and assignments were returned almost by return of post. They were also very reasonably priced which is even better! When I finished they sent me some vouchers to 'refer a friend' so if you quote PCV0411 you get another 5% off.
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Hi,
All I have to say one of my friend had a bad experience with training link last year. As when I was looking for traing provider for ICB he adviced me not to go for training link as their price is bit cheaper then other course provider but it's not worth to save some penny if looking for quality training. He told me there were so many mistakes in the books and the teacher was quite rude not getting back on times also when he compalin to the top director he was rude as well . They also threat him to suspend from the course without any refund. But his company was paying for the course so they dealt with all the problems. Also when you buy a course from them they asked you to sign the contract and if you are not happy with their services they can bully you and threat to suspend the services with extra charges slaped on your account. In my openion there is no need to get treated like that if you are forking out lot of money. So Be aware of training link. and don't go for training provider who asked you to sign the contracts.
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 51 posts
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Hi
I used Ideal Schools and I would certainly recommend them wholeheartedly; they helped me through to MICB with a 98% average across all the exams. I found the tutors exeptionally helpful, friendly and always available (except at the weekend!).
Whichever is your choice of training provider, you have to put in a great deal of long hard work, as there is no substitute for both repeated practice and reading across a range of books (and the Web) - not relying solely on the training materials provided, however excellent they may be.
I intend now to enrol on the new level IV course with Ideal Schools.
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- Companion
- Accredited Training Provider TL
- 115 posts
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OnTheMarchsaid:
“
Hi Hazydaze,
You have a big choice to make and I, like you, agonised over my own decision until I took the plunge earlier this week. From the research I did I found that Ideal Schools & Training Link offered more in the way of assignment completion, which I felt would help more in the preparation of exams. In the end I plumped for Ideal Schools based on the following:
- Their computerised courses provide software that I can continue to use on completion of my study. I selected their ICB950 course that includes Sage 50 Accounts & Sage 50 Payroll, which I’ll be able to use when I start my bookkeeping business in the future (a fair bit away, but that’s my goal). In terms of what is the best software for you, I found the following in their site, which may help:
Computerised Bookkeeping Course software:
We are able to offer you extensive Sage training using two of Sage's most popular software packages:
Sage Instant Accounts - suitable for businesses keeping their own accounting records in order, this software package offers a single company license. The course options including this software offer an affordable introduction to using Sage, with the skills you have learned being easily transferrable throughout the entire Sage 50 Accounting software range.
Sage 50 Accounts - Having the facility to add "multi-company" licenses, this is ideal for those who harbour the ambition to offer their own bookkeeping services. Although slightly more expensive, you will receive a fully licensed copy of this software to use professionally on completion of your study.
- Their openness with their exam results covering all subjects was quite refreshing, and very impressive. This gave me confidence that the courses on offer were of a high quality.
- In the end I spoke to 5 providers and I just felt comfortable with the way I was treated by IS. Of course, this is very much a personal aspect, but after speaking to an advisor, then a tutor for software guidance, I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for.
Having just received the course folder for my first level of study I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and make progress through my exams. Whoever you select for your own study, I hope everything works out for you.
Good luck.
OTM
”
I am a little concerned with some of the posts here. In particular with OnTheMarch signing up for the courses in March and come August not yet being a student or member. Is this an advert?
Tan.
SA is very different to standard Bookkeeping, and very often it takes a little more time to fully undrstand the logic and terminology required for completing SA's and as such not everyone gets it first time.
Kunti.
I am certain you are not refering to Training Link as if what you say is true then I would have closed it down by now. We do not ask our students to sign anything unless they are paying the fees monthly, and I am sure everyone would require some sort of agreement when lending money. We have no record of a student being threatened with suspension last year and no record of an employer sorting anything out for a student.
Last week and for the first time in 16 years we suspended a student for gross misconduct and non payment of fees so I am sure your friend is mistaken. To add to this we have a policy where all students questions and assignments are dealt with in less than 24 hours, even weekends. This is monitored by our moderators and I can assure you that we have kept our promise to our tudents.
Your spelling and grammar seem familiar to me. do I know you?
KR
Gary
Edited at 20 Aug 2012 09:31 AM GMT
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To give a bit of balance here (I have used a number of providers over the years), I studied with Training Link through all levels of ICB and found them briliant. Not sure what Kunti is referring to but there are no contracts, no bullying and the tutors are great. Indeed I switched to one of the other providers for Payroll and it was awful compared with Training Link.
Currently doing AAT L4 and I've got to add that Premier Training are first class too.
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- Companion
- Accredited Training Provider IS
- 435 posts
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garyhupstonsaid:
I am a little concerned with some of the posts here. In particular with OnTheMarch signing up for the courses in March and come August not yet being a student or member. Is this an advert?
Hi Gary,
Hope you are well and look forward to seeing you and your team at the summit in November. Since I was deemed to have breeched forum rules re self promotion (soon after its introduction), where I had a posting removed, I have been very careful not to repeat this error. I can assure you that the posting you refer to has nothing to do with me, or any other member of Ideal Schools Staff.
I can only assume that the student in question, when registering with us and subsequently with ICB, has used a different email address and therefore perhaps holds more than one forum account. I am sure if he/she is still actively using the forum and spots your post, he/she will add further light.
Kind regards
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Without mentioning which training provider just wondered if anyone else was having the same problems as am? I am currently doing level 2 computerised assignment 6. I completed all the course notes for sage and nothing would balance. Then after several emails and lots of weeks of frustration I finally get it confirmed that the notes and sage have a number of errors!! It had obviously not been checked before being sent out. Has anyone else had any problems with this? I wasted 2 months and have had no apology or anything. I have received new notes now and have had to go through all the notes again. I was surprised to see the posts that mentioned some students get to speak to their tutors, I can only email and you have no idea when you might get a response. I have also had 3 different tutors.
Thanks
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 746 posts
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Hi, I used Premier Training and would recommend them to anyone, the staff are brill, feedback is really quick,u have one dedicated trainer but if they are on holiday, someone else will mark or help, so feedback is really quick, but the software is yours to use afterwards. I havnt tried any of the others, but i cant fault premier training. good luck with your studies
very best wishes Elaine
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- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 66 posts
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I have used Ideal Schools and have found them to be really good. My assignments have been marked and returned within 3 days with helpful comments.
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