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Have you ever wondered how long it would take to complete your AAT study?
AAT remains the leading choice for professional qualifications if you want to secure a job in finance. Their promising bookkeeping and accounting qualifications train practical skills that hone you to be an accounting specialist.
However, one of the biggest questions when considering AAT qualification is the time it takes to finish the courses. You want to ensure that the programme duration matches your study commitment level for the qualification.
So, in this article, we'll share 5 facts about how long it takes to study AAT.
The AAT qualification is a reputable credential from its professional body, the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). AAT has three accounting qualifications that equip you with essential accounting and finance skills, making you job-ready in finance.
Aside from accounting qualifications, AAT also offers three bookkeeping qualifications. These bookkeeping qualifications prepare you to be adept in performing bookkeeping tasks.
You can choose to study AAT either part-time or full-time, depending on how much time you want to allocate to your studies. AAT qualifications are flexible, allowing you to tailor your studies to your lifestyle and existing commitments.
You can study AAT full-time if you can fully commit to your courses. Full-time study means you'll dedicate more time and focus on your studies.
On the other hand, you can opt to study AAT part-time if you have other commitments. So, even if you have a full time job or family responsibilities, you can study AAT at your preferred pace.
AAT bookkeeping qualifications are short as you only have to finish 1 or 2 units in each bookkeeping level. Let's learn how long it takes to complete each AAT bookkeeping qualification.
The AAT Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping is a beginner-friendly short AAT course if you have zero knowledge of bookkeeping skills and roles. This bookkeeping qualification level only has the Bookkeeping Fundamentals as its course unit.
AAT Level 1 Bookkeeping takes 1 to 2 months to complete if you spend an average of 8 to 10 hours weekly.
The AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping is an introductory AAT qualification that equips you with the basic principles of bookkeeping. Level 2 has two units that teach you double entry bookkeeping and control accounts. These units are:
AAT Level 2 Bookkeeping takes 3 to 4 months to complete if you commit 8 to 10 weekly study hours.
The AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping is an advanced course expanding your core bookkeeping skills. Level 3 has two units that teach you to prepare financial statements and tax processes. These units are:
You can finish AAT Level 3 Bookkeeping in 4 to 6 months if you commit 8 to 10 weekly study hours. After getting a certificate for this level, you can apply for a professional membership and have the AATQB (AAT Qualified Bookkeeper) designation.
Studying AAT accountancy qualifications takes longer because the courses cover more topics than bookkeeping qualifications. Let's learn how long it takes to complete each AAT accounting qualification.
The AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting is the introductory AAT qualification establishing your core understanding of accountancy principles. Level 2 has four units that teach you double entry journalising, basic costing, and control accounts. These units are:
You can finish AAT Level 2 Accounting in 6 to 9 months if you study 8 to 10 hours weekly.
The AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting is an intermediate AAT course that delves deeper into advanced accountancy concepts. Level 3 has four units that teach you to prepare financial reports, management accounting, and tax processes. These units are:
Most students who study 8 to 10 hours weekly often complete the course within 9 to 12 months. After getting an AAT diploma for this level, you can apply for a professional membership and have the AATQB (AAT Qualified Bookkeeper) designation.
The AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting is the advanced level that comprehensively builds on its previous qualifications. Level 4 has three mandatory units that focus on drafting financial statements, interpreting financial performance, and applying management accounting techniques. These units are:
Additionally, Level 4 includes two optional units that you'll choose from five selections. These five elective units are:
You can complete AAT Level 4 Accounting in 12 to 15 months if you dedicate 8 to 10 weekly study hours. After getting a diploma in accounting for this level, you can apply for a membership and have the professional MAAT status (Full AAT Membership).
AAT students will have varying learning paces on their AAT qualifications and there are four factors that influence their pacing. These four factors are your study commitment, prior knowledge, learning style, and the course difficulty.
Your commitment to your AAT studies determines your course progress for each level. The more you put a lot of time into your studies, the faster you'll finish the AAT course units. So, while there is flexibility as you study AAT, full-time students will finish the curriculum faster than part-time students with existing commitments.
At e-Careers, our students will spend 8 to 10 hours per week studying AAT. You can also achieve the completion time mentioned per AAT levels if you follow the same average hours to allocate in your studies every week.
Course difficulty also affects how fast or slow you progress in your AAT qualification. Concepts and topics discussed will become increasingly complex, so courses will get progressively difficult as you move up each level. As a result, you will spend more time finishing AAT Level 4 compared to AAT Level 2.
You might progress faster in the programme if you have some prior accountancy job experience or formal education background. Existing knowledge means you already have a foundation knowledge of the concepts, which makes learning new topics easier. You can even use your prior experience to get exemptions from sitting through assessments.
Everyone has different styles of learning, which eventually affects your pacing. Understanding your learning style can help you choose the most effective study method and accelerate your progress.
At e-Careers, we offer every resource you need to match your learning style. We mainly deliver our AAT courses through:
Every aspiring AAT student like you will have a different learning pace and completion time for the qualification. But ultimately, you should prioritise understanding the concepts more than optimising your own pace. Find a pace that you're comfortable with and commit to it until you finish studying the qualifications.
Study AAT at your preferred pace with e-Careers! We deliver flexible AAT-accredited courses crafted by award-winning instructors. Contact us at +44(0) 20 3198 7700 or visit our Accounting and Bookkeeping page for more information about our AAT-related courses.
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