From August, the ICB Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping and Accounts will be included on the mandated qualifications list for the Level 3 Assistant Accountant apprenticeship standard.
The change means apprentices following the Assistant Accountant apprenticeship will now have a direct route to achieving an ICB qualification as part of their training. It opens up another pathway into the bookkeeping profession, helping more people build the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for a successful career, while giving employers access to highly trained bookkeeping professionals.
As demand for skilled bookkeepers continues to grow, creating more routes into the profession will help ensure small businesses can continue to access the financial expertise they need to succeed and contribute to a strong UK economy.
The announcement comes as wider reforms to apprenticeships are introduced across 2026 and 2027, creating a more flexible approach to assessment while maintaining the high standards employers and learners expect.
The new apprenticeship assessment model replaces end-point assessment with apprenticeship assessment, allowing apprentices to be assessed throughout their programme rather than solely at the end. The changes are designed to make the assessment process simpler and more flexible, while maintaining the rigour and quality that employers can rely on.
Vanessa Aradia, Head of Learning and Development at ICB, said:
"This is fantastic news for apprentices, employers, small businesses that rely on great bookkeeping - and the bookkeeping profession. By creating another route to an ICB qualification, we're helping more people build rewarding careers in bookkeeping while giving businesses access to the skilled professionals they need.
At ICB, we're always looking ahead. Technology, automation and AI are transforming the way businesses operate, so we're continually evolving our qualifications to ensure learners leave with the technical knowledge, digital skills and professional confidence they'll need throughout their careers.”
ICB recently announced a full update to the syllabus and learning programme. Read more here.
Further information about the apprenticeship route for employers and training providers will be shared ahead of implementation.