Accreditation
ICS Learn courses are accredited by a number of internationally recognised, industry-leading awarding bodies, including: * Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) *History
ICS Learn traces its origins back to 1889, when journalist Thomas J. Foster founded the Colliery Engineer School of Mines in Scranton, Pennsylvania. At the time, mining accidents were alarmingly common, and Foster, a seasoned journalist, had previously heavily advocated for safer working conditions, leading to Pennsylvania's adoption of the Mine Safety Act of 1885, which required miners to pass a safety exam to continue working. In order to help miners pass this test, Foster began an advice column in ''The Mining Herald'' answering mine safety questions. However, unsatisfied with the outcome, he quickly recognised the need for accessible education, and soon established a distance learning institution to help miners and other workers gain the necessary knowledge—without having to leave their jobs to do so. Thomas Coates of Peckville, Pennsylvania, was the first enrolled student of ICS. He enrolled in the complete coal mining course on October 16, 1891. He advanced steadily with the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and eventually became the mine's superintendent. The institution grew rapidly, eventually becoming International Correspondence Schools (ICS). Its revolutionary approach—sending course materials directly to students—made education more accessible than ever. By designing textbooks in clear, practical language, ICS enabled people from all walks of life to develop new skills, advance their careers, and improve their prospects. By 1984, ICS enrolled 3,000 new students and, with the creation of a sales force, matriculated approximately 100,000 new students annually in the early 1900s. By 1900, 1 in 27 Americans had taken a correspondence course with ICS. The '' Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography'' states that it is "by far the largest single educational institution in America’s history". As industrialisation surged, ICS expanded its offerings to include mathematics, engineering, office management, architecture, and even dog grooming. Millions of immigrants and workers across the United States used ICS courses to upskill and secure better opportunities. Finally, in 1904, ICS expanded to the United Kingdom, where it evolved into ICS Learn—now known as one of the UK’s leading providers of flexible, 100% online qualifications. Today, ICS Learn remains committed to its founding vision: providing simple, flexible, and affordable education that empowers learners to succeed in the constantly evolving professional landscape. Foster remained the president of ICS until his death in 1936 at age 93. ''The US branch, known asReferences
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