Anyone done the AAT Accounting Technician Qualification (diploma pathway)?

Strapped

Israel has just moved to IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) so you should be able to study a course here that will be recognised there - although NB the AAT follows UK standards, which are different to IFRS, so probably not your best bet.

hjb123

Ive just completed the CAT scheme from ACCA via distance learning and found it to be good

Not sure of the difference between the AAT and the CAT schemes though

therealdessie

I'd say consider the AAT but perhaps not to full term if you intend to switch to another course later - you'll get exemptions but the course styles are very different.

I use BPP distance learning for my studies and CPD and find them perfectly acceptable, but very pricey. Handy to have an employer who pays for them if you're able

hjb123

a good siet to check out is https://www.accountancystudents.co.uk it has a forum section where you maybe able to get good advice from other students

hjb123

CompletelyLost wrote: »

Sorry to hijack your thread - I also have some questions about the AAT for anyone who has done it before.

I have been out of education for 18 months, never worked, I have very bad anxiety but really want to do this and think I am quite capable. Is it a bad idea for me to be doing the AAT without being on an apprenticeship/employed in an accounting envirnment? Will I struggle with it and will it make potential employers less likely to take me on due to no experience?

Ideally I'd do the first year then look for someone to take me one as part-qualified. I'd like to start this September instead of bumming around for another year, so not much time left :S

Thanks.

Hi there

Ive been out of work/education due to illness for over 3 years now and have been doing the CAT scheme from ACCA via distance learning. Ive found that I can do how much I want when I want or when I can manage

It does cost a bit however for the first few exams/papers I bought the whole distance learning study package, however now I get the study books through amazon and just get any help needed from the ACCA website and from the accountancy students website so am saving a bit of money

I dont know how it will affect future employers, I think of it in the way that rather than say I have been doing next to nothing while I have been ill I am able to say that I studied accountancy and have completed so many exams with such a result

therealdessie

You can buy study material from eBay for ridiculously low prices too - I do. It's always best to get started on a course as soon as you can regardless of your situation, however you will find with accountancy that if you're not a "bookish" person you might struggle with some concepts where you don't have practical examples to work with every day - this is why many accountants start out in low level Accounts Payable roles where little experience is needed and they can get exposure.

Later in the course in order to qualify, you may need to prove you have held a relevant position for a period of time (this is the case with CIMA), but for you this is some way away anyhow.

CompletelyLost

Hi,

Thanks for the info. Local college has quoted me £450 (not sure if this includes everything or is just the basic course fee). Another college slightly out of the way, quoted £430 plus £140 for exam, registration and admission fees. Does this sound about right? How much should I put aside for book and other course materials?

hjb123

CompletelyLost wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for the info. Local college has quoted me £450 (not sure if this includes everything or is just the basic course fee). Another college slightly out of the way, quoted £430 plus £140 for exam, registration and admission fees. Does this sound about right? How much should I put aside for book and other course materials?

Is that for the whole course? How many exams does that cover?

therealdessie

Registration and exam fees can vary by qualification, but as I recall my last renewal (one year) was £80, and exams presently at the base level cost £50 each so £140 doesn't sound unreasonable.

I'd check into the £450 as that's the kind of fee, in London anyway, you'd pay for a study course on one module, which should include some study material but not revision material.

CompletelyLost

I'm officially confused! She said the £430 is for tuition (September to June), £39 for one exam, £69 registration fee and £32 admission fee (not sure what that is?). I think she misunderstood what I was asking for as according to their website this is the cost for the AAT payroll administration NVQ, not the AAT certificate :rolleyes:

I have a prospectus from another college and it says the cost is:

*£330 tuition for AAT certificate level 2
*£13 for each skills test at level 2 (are there three of these?)
*£63 annual AAT membership plus an extra £28 if you are not currently a member.

That sounds more reasonable - I'm up North not London. I'm going to see Student Services on Tuesday and find out exactly what is included in the price.