Laura Carter CA This is my logbook (right) which I completed back in 2005–08. I was asked to find it for this article and had to search the loft. I hadn’t looked at it or thought much about it since finalising in 2008. It reminded me of what life was like when I started with ICAS in 2005, when I had to use dial-up to connect to the internet and I corrected mistakes in Tippex! Logbooks have moved on a lot since those days.

Abby MacGregor CA At university you go to career fairs and speak to different organisations and accounting bodies, including ICAS, who set out the structure of the professional exams and the class timetables. The logbook is not discussed in such detail, initially coming across as a slight piece of admin. Many students in my position would have underestimated the work involved. For those who don’t know, the logbook is like a personal diary of your training programme and progress. At the outset you are presented with 76 pages and up to 1,200 competencies – I remember finding this quite overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t have to achieve all of these, as becomes clear once you familiarise yourself with the expectations and work towards the competencies, tracking individual progress via the online portal. Even so, I remember thinking this was going to be quite the challenge.

LC It is easy for students to focus on the exams only and underestimate the relevant practical experience side of the CA qualification. Often they leave this part of their logbook to be completed near the end of their studies. “Little and often” is the approach that should be taken with the new ICAS logbook, and it is easier to do this on the move now, anywhere that the student can access the Advantage platform. I remember the painstaking time I took to complete all the little tick boxes and references – there were far more competencies to meet when I completed. ICAS moved some time ago to an online logbook. Although this removed the paper copy version, it wasn’t the easiest to navigate, complete or review. And there were also some 1,200 competencies still to choose from!

AM I received an email from ICAS last year, informing me I could move over to a new, simplified format of the logbook. On acceptance, the dashboard appeared with three bold circles highlighting progress across the three elements of assessment. This identified the number of competencies completed, professional hours being chargeable time, and the number of days logged towards becoming a CA. Suddenly, it was so much easier to use. We went from having 1,200 competencies down to 39. Being a member of the business advisory team, I am fortunate enough to gain experience across a broad range of activities from year-end accounts to tax work including VAT, corporation and personal tax. The old logbook felt like, “What’s your speciality…?” So this development was specifically beneficial for my current role.

Among those 1,200 competencies were very specific requirements to be met. These would likely be more achievable if you’re working with the Big Four, but not at a mid-tier firm where you have a broad range of tasks and niche areas are rarely touched on. Before the new logbook came in, I remember thinking I may have to adapt my day-to-day activities. But the new – and improved – logbook removed the old obstacles.

LC I was super impressed when I saw the latest online logbook (right). From the outset, it is far more intuitive to complete and review. ICAS has made it more relevant to how students learn and train in 2024. It’s sharp, it’s concise, it’s clear. I think that’s what our current student cohorts like and work with more easily.

The competences have been completely stripped back, with just 39 showing, all of which need to be completed by the student, with evidence showing how they were met. ICAS has listened to student and ATO [authorised training office] feedback and incorporated it in the latest logbook. There are some teething issues, as with all new projects, but I am confident these will be ironed out quickly.

While I wouldn’t say I’m envious of students nowadays, because they have different pressures to deal with, I’m jealous they don’t have to fulfil the number of competencies I had to, all on paper with the danger of it being lost or damaged. And of course they don’t have to contend with Tippex!

Learn more about the new logbook and discover the user guide