How long does an AAT qualification take?
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Studying for your AAT qualifications is a popular way to fast-track a career in Bookkeeping and Accounting, with many students choosing to study AAT with e-Careers each month.
AAT courses are so popular as they offer a great way to study in a way that offers logical progression, that advances with your knowledge, through the different levels. They also offer a qualification recognised by employers around the world.
In this article, we review the range of AAT qualifications, show how long each one should take to complete and highlight a few career path opportunities.
AAT is the Association of Accounting Technicians, and they are an accounting body for accounting professionals. They have over 130,000 active members.
AAT training teaches you the fundamental and advanced principles and techniques required for a career in Bookkeeping or Accounting.
Improve your earning potential
Salaries for AAT certified professionals in the UK has risen this year. The average salary by job level has been outlined below:
Gain Designatory Letters after your name
Earning your AAT Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications will give you AATQB and professional MAAT status, letting you use the designatory letters AATQB and MAAT after your name. These designatory letters show you have gained the skills, experience and knowledge required to work in this sector.
Earning AATQB status (gained with AAT Level 3) makes you a qualified Bookkeeper.
Earning your MAAT status (gained with AAT Level 4) makes you a qualified Accountant. Your MAAT status lets you apply for a licence to run your own practice as an AAT Licensed Accountant or Bookkeeper.
Your AAT licence is a mark of professionalism and compliance.
Your AATQB status will enable you to start your own business and apply to provide up to 5 services to clients as an AAT Licensed Bookkeeper (first 5 listed below), and your MAAT status will let you apply for up to 18 services.
These include:
Read more: AAT, what you need to know
There are 3 AAT Bookkeeping levels and 4 AAT Accounting levels.
These are:
For most students, each AAT Bookkeeping qualification takes around 3-5 months to complete, and each AAT Accounting qualification takes slightly longer, with an average completion time of 6-8 months.
If you’re working full-time, you can expect to complete your AAT Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 2) in around 3 months.
The AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting (Level 2) can be completed in around 6 months.
If you’re working full-time, you can expect to complete your AAT Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 3) in around 5 months.
The AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting (Level 3) can be completed in around 8 months.
There is no AAT Professional Diploma in Bookkeeping (Level 4).
If you’re working full-time, you can complete your AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in around 18 months.
AAT qualifications are equivalent to GCSEs at Level 2, A-Levels at Level 3, and QCF Level 4 at Level 4.
Being AAT qualified means that you have earned your AAT Levels 3 and 4 qualifications, gained through passing your relevant exams, enabling you to legally offer a range of services (listed above).
Read more: 5 simple steps to becoming an Accountant
Most people will already have a preferred way to study, likely developed over the years through undertaking different study opportunities.
While some people may be more comfortable in a classroom setting, there are many benefits to online training (which has increased over the years since the pandemic).
Online training benefits include:
Greater flexibility – When you study online, you can study at times that suit you. This means that online learning is perfect for those with demanding jobs and busy lives.
Work at your own pace – Compared with classroom learning, online learning may be preferable to those who wish to work at their own pace.
Greater focus – Online courses enable you to choose your own environment for maximum focus and concentration.
Often cheaper – Many find online courses to be more affordable when compared to traditional in-person learning.
Read more: Online learning vs. Classroom learning
Ready to get started? Our AAT Course Consultants are available to discuss your career goals in more detail to help you decide which courses are right for you and your career progression. Simply call us on +44 (0)20 3198 7700 or fill out our contact form, and we will be in touch shortly.
