AAT Qualifications – All Levels Explained

KBM Training & Recruitment Ltd. (KBM) is an authorised training provider of the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians). The AAT qualifications start from Level 1 to Level 4. These qualifications properly prepare you for various accounting and bookkeeping jobs. Most important, employers fully trust AAT qualifications' standards.

Professionals love AAT qualifications because they prove an individual has relevant theoretical and practical knowledge and skills. Also, the AAT qualifications provide the best pathway for being a Chartered Accountant.

Students, professionals, graduates, and school or college leavers must know about the AAT qualifications, a perfect career builder. You can get comprehensive information on the AAT qualifications from the following significant points:

AAT Qualifications
AAT Qualifications' Benefits
AAT Career Pathway
AAT Qualifications' Equivalence
Qualifications at AAT Level 1
Qualifications at AAT Level 2
Qualifications at AAT Level 3
Qualification at AAT Level 4
AAT Qualifications' Achievement

AAT Qualifications

The AAT is the accounting technicians' international membership body, offering bookkeeping, accounting and business skills qualifications from level 1 to level 4. The AAT qualifications are tremendously popular among students, professionals, employers and businesses worldwide.

The AAT offers professional memberships at their different qualification Levels. Globally, the AAT has 4,000+ practising accountants members network and expects all its members to:

Spread awareness about the AAT
Offer high-standard qualifications
Promote the expertise of professionals
Conform with AAT rules and regulations
Remain keeping skills and capability up-to-date
Offer proficient development and training to help professionals

AAT has been working since 1980, equipping students and professionals with skills to support them in securing senior positions in large organisations or running their businesses.

AAT Qualifications' Benefits

If you're pursuing a career in the accounting and finance field, AAT qualifications are the ideal option. By learning accounting fundamentals with an industry-recognised qualification, you will have all the capabilities and skills to start your bookkeeping business. Studying the AAT qualifications' benefits are enormous because they:

Provides professional memberships, the UK and global recognition
Expertise and competency in tax, audit, and credit management
Provide pathways to becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA)
Are more focused on practical alongside theoretical study
Are internationally recognised in more than 90 countries
Provide professional competence, helpful in every area
Prepare you for job, self-employment and freelancing
Integrate you with 4,000 AAT members' network
Provides progression career and further study
Enhance your employability and competence
Are employers' choice for their businesses

AAT Career Pathways

AAT qualifications are internationally accepted and recognised, offering substantial and sustainable job opportunities in various industries. Once you are AAT qualified, you can earn up to £40,000 annually in a few years.

The AAT Qualifications' Equivalence

AAT Qualification has equivalence to accounting technical level qualification. The equality of the:

AAT Level 2 is with the GCSE
AAT Level 3 is with two A Levels
AAT Level 4 is with QCF Level 4 qualification

Qualifications at AAT Level 1

AAT Level 1 Bookkeeping

The AAT offers a Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping. This entry-level qualification is suitable if you have no accounting knowledge. It provides manual, single-entry bookkeeping basics understanding. You can complete it between three and six months. This level 1 qualification prepares you for the following roles:

Trainee Bookkeeping Assistant
Clerical Assistant
Cashier

AAT Level 1 Business Skills

This AAT Level 1 Award in Business Skills provides business knowledge and understanding. Everyone can start it with any background. You will learn to apply numbers for business and work in a business environment. This level 1 qualification completion requires between two and three months to prepare you for jobs like:

Administrative assistant
Accounts administrator
Data entry clerk

Qualifications at AAT Level 2

AAT Accounting Level 2

The AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting offers a solid foundation and core accounting and finance administring skills. You can start it with any academic or work background. It provides basic costing and double-entry bookkeeping knowledge. Also, you will understand sales, purchase, and general ledgers.

This AAT level 2 course requires between six to twelve months for completion to perform the job roles, including:

Trainee accounting technician
Accounts Receivable Clerk
Trainee Finance Assistant
Accounts Payable Clerk
Accounts Administrator
Purchase Ledger Clerk
Accounts Assistant
Sales Ledger Clerk

AAT Bookkeeping Level 2

The AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping develops your double-entry bookkeeping system skills. You will learn transactions for accuracy and make entries in accounting ledgers and books. Further, you will understand credit notes and sales invoices calculation. Also, you will gain associated accounting documents and processes knowledge.

You can quickly complete this AAT level 2 bookkeeping course in three months. It prepares you for the following positions:

Clerical Assistant
Finance Assistant
Trainee Bookkeeper
Accounts Administrator

Qualifications at AAT Level 3

AAT Level 3 Accounting

This AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting provides valuable knowledge and understanding of essential and higher-level accounting disciplines. With this qualification, you will understand advanced bookkeeping, cost accounting records maintenance, financial reports and returns preparation. Hence, you will learn financial processes more comprehensive range.

This level 3 accounting course completion offers the AAT bookkeeping membership (AATQB). The AATQB is professional recognition to use in your CV, emails, letters, etc. It demonstrates your bookkeeping expertise and skills to colleagues, employers, and businesses. Also, you can become offer bookkeeping services by self-employment.

You can achieve this qualification between six to twelve months, depending on your study method and timetable. It provides the following job roles competence:

Accounts Expenses Supervisor
Accounts Payable Supervisor
Accounts Payable Clerk
Payroll Administrator
Practice Bookkeeper
Accounts Assistant
Payroll Supervisor
Finance Assistant
Credit Controller
Tax Assistant
Audit Trainee

AAT Level 3 Bookkeeping

The AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping delivers complex bookkeeping knowledge and skills to work or to progress to higher-level accounting study or job roles. You will understand financial processes, accounting concepts and principles. Also, you will learn about advanced bookkeeping, payroll, value-added tax (VAT), and financial statement preparation.

With this level 3 bookkeeping course completion, you will become qualified to apply for the AAT bookkeeping member (AATQB). Also, at completion, it makes you capable of starting your accountancy, qualifying for the AAT Licensed Bookkeeper.

This level 3 bookkeeping certificate completes between six to twelve months to prepare you for jobs like:

Ledger Manager
Accounts Manager
Senior Bookkeeper
Professional Bookkeeper

Qualification at AAT Level 4

The AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting is the final level of the AAT. It offers limited companies' financial statement drafting skills and knowledge. Also, it provides complex accounting tasks mastery and various financial management skills and applications.

Further, it delivers an understanding of constructing and presenting complex management accounting reports and tasks. You will become confident in recommending accounting systems strategies. The qualification completion takes between twelve and eighteen months, preparing you for high-level accounting jobs like:

Payroll Manager
Cost Accountant
Commercial Analyst
Indirect Tax Manager
Fixed Asset Accountant
Assistant Financial Accountant
Accounts Payable & Expenses Supervisor
Senior Insolvency Administrator
Payments and Billing Manager
Senior Fund Accountant
Senior Finance Officer
Senior Bookkeeper
VAT accountant
Tax supervisor

Furthermore, this qualification opens senior accounting and finance jobs alongside providing the AAT full (MAAT) membership at completion. Also, it allows you to become an AAT Licensed Accountant or Bookkeeper, enabling you to start your own accounting business.

Also, the Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting helps you become a Chartered Accountant. It gives valuable exemptions from ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA and CIPFA. You can also gain exemptions from degree courses at over 30 Universities in the UK.

AAT Qualifications' Achievement

The AAT qualifications develop highly required skills in accounting and finance at the heart of every business. These AAT practical vocational qualifications meet the demands of economic roles across all industries.

KBM blends the AAT courses with extensive practical accountancy training. It means you will practice on actual business files to boost your confidence. We have our in-house ACCA Gold Level Chartered and Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors firm; we use it for your training.

KBM has a high-level Pro Advisors' team to provide you with practical computerised accountancy training on software solutions like QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Advanced Excel and many others.

Also, we provide flexible distance and online learning options, allowing you to adjust your study and daily life to complete your study at your own pace and time. For online learners, we provide free AAT study and practice materials. KBM has the following distinguished points to make your AAT study successful: