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:

  • Free recruitment support 
  • Free vacancies information
  • AAT-approved training provider 
  • 24x7 student portal accessibility
  • AAT-approved assessment venue
  • Free Xero and Sage 50 certification
  • Course books, flashcards, and exam kit
  • MAAT and AATQB membership full support
  • Chartered and certified accounting workplace
  • Multiple locations across London and Birmingham
  • Free accounting work experience with a certificate
  • Free Sage 50 practical training on actual business files
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