AAT

FAQs

AAT Accountancy Qualification

Why are there two routes to take the AAT?
Although the NVQ system works well, the AAT felt it did not meet everyone’s needs. To ensure the AAT qualification fitted a purpose for all students, the AAT developed another option – the Diploma pathway.

The Diploma Pathway is competence-based and includes a Professional Ethics for Accounting unit, which is considered essential by employers. The NVQ is competence-based and requires work based evidence to be compiled in a portfolio.

Which pathway should I take?
Anyone can take the Diploma Pathway, whether you are working in an accounts related role or not. The Diploma Pathway includes a professional ethics unit, which is considered essential by employers.

The NVQ pathway is most suitable if you are between 16 – 21 years old (or under 25 years old if within the M25 area) and you will need to be working within a finance related role. If you fulfil the criteria you may be entitled to a free apprenticeship course.

What level should I start at?
BPP Recommendations:

Certificate/Foundation: Ideal for a school leaver, someone returning to the work place or someone who has not studied for a while.

Advanced Certificate/Intermediate: More suited to someone with previous accountancy experience.

Diploma/Technician: Only suitable for someone with an accounting degree.

What qualifications do I need to do the course?
There are no formal qualification requirements. You can do the course whether you have GCSEs, A-Levels, a degree – or none of these.

You will need to be comfortable with figures and you will be required to complete assessments in English.

How long will it take me to qualify?
How long it takes is up to you. The AAT qualification is flexible so you can fit studying around your personal commitments. As a guide the AAT qualification should take no longer than two and a half years.

What happens when I qualify?
When you complete the AAT Accounting Qualification you can:

• Apply to become a full member of the AAT and use the letters MAAT after your name.
• Register to work for yourself – offering accounting and taxation services to small businesses and the public.
• Progress to Chartered Accountancy study (for example ICAEW, CIMA, ICAS and ACCA) through one of the fast track programmes.
• Study for a higher education degree. A growing number of universities recognise the AAT Accounting Qualification for entrance purposes onto their accountancy and business degrees.
• Work overseas. The AAT’s Accounting Qualification is very portable, and is widely recognised outside the UK.

What does the Diploma pathway involve?
The Diploma Pathway is based on occupational standards and delivers a high level of practical skills, knowledge and competence.

The pathway is a more simple and streamlined qualification than the NVQ pathway. The qualification has a relatively even spread of workload across the three levels to make the progression through the qualification more manageable.

The Diploma pathway recognises it is difficult for students to gather workload evidence for most units even when working in an accounting role. This is why you will be assessed by a combination of exams and skills tests.

What does the NVQ pathway involve?
The AAT is the only professional body that offers an NVQ competency based qualification in accountancy. This means that the qualification they offer is based on the work that accounting technicians do. It provides you with the knowledge and skills to move from one task to another and from one job to another. You will be assessed by a combination of exams and skills tests.

How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed in two ways:

Paper based exams which are externally assessed by the AAT and can only be sat in June or December.

Skills Tests which are set by the AAT but are assessed by BPP.

Which optional papers should I take?
If you intend to continue your studies by taking the CIMA qualification the AAT recommend that you choose units 18 and 19. If you intend to take ACCA units 17 and 18 will give the best exemptions. For ACA it is advised that options 17-19 are taken.

Does it matter which order I take the units?
You can take the units in any order as long as you take them all before progressing to the next level.

What are the requirements to be on the Apprenticeship scheme?
See the Apprenticeship scheme requirements on how to qualify for the scheme.

What are the benefits to being on the apprenticeship scheme?
Your studies could be absolutely free. You will gain important skills and improve your career and salary prospects.