AAT Q2022 syllabus change
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) introduced a new syllabus for its Bookkeeping and Accounting qualifications on 1 September 2022. These are known as Q2022 or Qualifications 2022.
What is AAT Q2022?
The AAT Q2022 syllabus will enhance the relevance and value of the AAT qualification which is widely used by entry-level and senior accountancy professionals. The new qualification is being introduced to ensure future accounting technicians have the skills and technical knowledge to ensure they are well prepared for changing business environments and to enhance their future career options.
What are the differences between Q2022 and AQ2016?
There are now four ‘themes’ which run throughout the qualification: technology, communication, ethics, and sustainability.
The main changes are
Removal of repeated syllabus content between levels
Fewer assessments per level
Removal of Level 2 Accounting Software, Level 3 and Level 4 Synoptic Assessments (for non-apprentices, apprentices will still
sit the relevant Synoptic exam as part of their End Point Assessment)
Introduction of new units, these being Level 2: The Business Environment and Level 3: Business Awareness
Some units have also been combined
Level 3: Advanced Bookkeeping and Financial Accounts Preparation have been combined into one unit called Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements (FAPS)
Level 4: Budgeting and Decision & Control have been combined into Advanced Management Accounting (AMAC)
Additional changes
The End Point assessment (EPA) will now sit outside of the qualification for Levels 3 and 4, meaning the synoptic assessment at these levels only needs to be taken by apprentices.
No more membership fees
For Q2022, annual membership fees will be removed. Learners will now have a one-off subscription fee, payable to the AAT upon becoming a student member, which is valid for the full level of study as opposed to being paid annually.
Early Q2022 courses for Level 3 and 4 start from June 22 onwards
We have Level 3 and 4 apprenticeship start dates in June 2022. Apprentices that are onboarded for these dates/ levels will study for the AAT qualification under Q2022. As a result, we will be running Q2022 Level 3 FAPS courses in June 2022 and Q2022 Level 4 DAIF courses starting in July 2022 for apprentices.
By allowing apprentices to start the new qualification in summer 2022, this will ensure they don’t face time restrictions to complete their qualification under the existing syllabus, as the current AQ2016 qualification will lapse on 30 September 2023, leaving insufficient time to complete the level by this date.
Anyone looking to complete the Level 2 or 3 qualification in April/May 2022, should be encouraged to start their next level under Q2022 by taking the above courses in June/July. Level 2 students looking to start can continue to do so under AQ2016. After September 2022, all Level 2 students would have to start under the new syllabus as the last date of registering as a new student under AQ2016 is 31 August 2022.
Key dates:
Last date of registration for AQ2016 – 31st August 2022
First date of registration for Q22 – 1st September 2022
Your questions, answered
The last date for registration on the existing AQ2016 qualifications will be 31 August 2022. The first date of registration for the new qualifications, under the Q2022 syllabus, will be 1 September 2022. However, there will be a transition period and learners on the existing AQ2016 qualification will have until 30 September 2023 to sit any remaining assessments for that qualification.