What is AAT?

AAT stands for Association of Accounting Technicians and is an accounting body.

There are three levels of AAT. Level 2-Foundation certificate in accounting, level 3-Advanced diploma in accounting and level 4-Professional diploma in accounting.

Once you have completed level 4 and the relevant work experience, you are an AAT accountant. You can become a member of AAT and have MAAT after your name. After 5 years of work experience as a MAAT, you can become a fellow member of AAT and have FMAAT after your name.

What Does AAT Mean?

‘An AAT Accountant (MAAT) can perform the same accounting tasks as a chartered accountant, however they are unable to sign off an auditor’s report.’
‘An AAT Accountant can sign off the accounts for companies up to the audit threshold, where a company does not have a turnover more than £6.5 million and its balance sheet total is not more than £3.26 million.’

If you want to take you career further, then there are exemptions from all of the UK chartered accounting bodies. With ACCA you are exempt for F1-F3 of the chartered accountancy exams. You will also have a large amount of knowledge on most of the exams you have to take. Giving you a good head start.

Who is AAT For?

AAT is suitable for all ages. From those fed up in their old job and wanting a change of career, to those young people who don’t know if university is for them, or don’t want the debt that incurs as a result, but want to higher their education and skills. Or just simply a route into accounting!
I think it is also quite an accessible job for those who are disabled or have health problems.

I went into AAT as I am good at and enjoy maths. I needed something flexible, part time and I wanted to get more qualifications and further my education. Due to spending most of my teenage years in hospital, I missed most of my education and only had Maths, English and Science GCSEs. Although I don’t know whether I will be able to work, if I am whether that with be very part time, part time or full time in the future, due to managing my illnesses and disability as well as the symptoms. I liked the fact that there is the potential for me to work from home, as a bookkeeper or under a chartered accountant doing accounts or even be self-employed and my own boss. It means that there are more options for me. Working from home means that I could fit my work in to whichever hour or day is best for me each week. Rather than being tied to specific hours and getting to a specific place at a specific time.

Where Can You Study AAT?

You can study it on your own at home, through distance learning or sign up to a course run at a college.

I study AAT at college. I go in twice a week for three hours each evening and we have a 15-minute break in the middle. I have a height adjustable table and a wonderful teaching assistant that supports and writes for me.

My college offers daytime courses and evenings courses. The daytime course is one whole day and the evening is over two evenings. The daytime course is ideal if your employer gives you a day’s leave to study each week.

Some students fund the course themselves, whereas some students get the course funded by their employer.

There is also the option of AAT apprenticeships you can look into.

How Did I Find Studying AAT?

It is a lot of hard work. You have to be dedicated and focused. However, it is worth it is opens up so many doors. If you put the work and effort in you will be rewarded.

There is quite a big jump up between each level, especially from level 3 to 4. In terms of the difficulty and quantity of work. But you can do it. Believe in yourself!

How are You Assessed?

The syllabus gets updated regularly. At present all exams are online and probably will continue that way due to the way technology is developing! During level 2 and 3 all of the exams are marked by the computer, so you get your results more or less instantly. (Except for the synoptic exams which you have to wait 6 weeks for the results.) For all the level 4 exams a lot more writing is involved, which is something that accountants hate! Due to this, part of the papers are human marked, so you have to wait 6 weeks for the results.
Each level involves 5-6 exams including a synoptic exam. The synoptic exam tests your knowledge on everything you have studied at that level.
In level 4 there are 4 mandatory modules and then you have to do two of the five optional modules. I am doing business tax and personal tax.

I have really enjoyed studying AAT. Learning something new and embracing new challenges. I would definitely recommend it to others.

For more information go to AAT website.

The two quotes above are taken from the AAT website.

Hannah x

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