AAT training - Is this a scam company?

fleesaurus

Calls itself The Training Place of Excellence.

I checked for its previous company registered names and TRAININGPOD LIMITED came up...

I'm thinking of paying for the Level 3 AAT training and then going through the unpaid work experience, but it's very expensive (exams come at a additional £50 per component) and the actual company the work experience is done with isn't named. Is this legit? Last thing I need is when I'm giving a reference the employer finds out they're a bunch of scammers so my referees are not reliable.

I really need to gain some work experience in the accountancy field but can't seem to find any, and it's been a number of months already.

saintjammyswine

Contact your local FE College and speak to the AAT co-ordinator. You may be able to get work experience and pay less for the course and depending on your circumstances, you may not have to pay for the AAT course.

dancingfairy

Hi. If you go to the AAT website aat.org.uk there is an option to find a training provider.

Your options include registering with the AAT, buying all the textbooks for the required level from Osborne books, Kaplan or BPP and then finding a centre to sit your exams, doing a course through your local college perhaps or you can try distance learning - I know Kaplan have centres and do distance learning - they look pretty good. I've not used them before but have used their textbooks and have found them useful (I prefer Osborne and that's what we have used in class but it's useful to have a second textbook to explain some things in a slightly different way and Kaplan is a workbook type approach which may suit some better than the slightly more traditional textbook approach of Osborne, although both have plenty of questions). I am considering possibly signing up to Kaplan myself for some of the level 4 modules by distance learning.
Also the AAT website has 1 or 2 sample papers for each exam plus a few interactive tutorials plus a green light zone where you can practise certain areas of the sylabus which is really useful.
In terms of costs I think my local college charge about 1200 for the tuition, you've then got 80 to register with the AAT plus textbooks for all the modules, plus exam fees for all the modules so it's not cheap I'm afraid (but hopefully worth it).
Best of Luck
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dancingfairy

Not sure about any training company offering work experience? Sounds a bit odd. Normally you'd find an employer willing to sponser you through the AAT course or you'd fund it yourself and try and get a job that way. Try volunteering or doing work experience in an accounts setting - maybe a charity or something?
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fleesaurus

I'm over 25 and currently employed so college running a course over the entire year isn't an option. Will have to pay myself since employers won't fund AAT for me. How hard is it to get work experience after qualifying AAT if I have no prior accountancy related work experience? I already tried applying for charities to get work experience but none gave me a chance.

saintjammyswine

fleesaurus wrote: »

I'm over 25 and currently employed so college running a course over the entire year isn't an option. Will have to pay myself since employers won't fund AAT for me. How hard is it to get work experience after qualifying AAT if I have no prior accountancy related work experience? I already tried applying for charities to get work experience but none gave me a chance.

Some colleges currently (for the next 3 years) have European funding to provide training in various courses to people who are employed, depending on criteria you may be eligible. Contact your local FE College and ask or PM me to see if you qualify. This is not like previous funding as there is no employer or employee contribution to the cost of training.

Kynthia

fleesaurus wrote: »

I'm over 25 and currently employed so college running a course over the entire year isn't an option. Will have to pay myself since employers won't fund AAT for me. How hard is it to get work experience after qualifying AAT if I have no prior accountancy related work experience? I already tried applying for charities to get work experience but none gave me a chance.

I started doing AAT two evenings a week at my local college. Once I'd finished the first level I managed to get an entry level job in an accounts payable department for a large company. I then finished the course and was successful in getting a promotion.

As stated, you can sign up to a college or tuition provider for taught classes, look for a online or distance learning course which is cheaper, or cheapest of all is to study from text books and take the exams as a self-studier. Look for various entry level jobs and try to get experience by volunteering or taking on related tasks where you work now.

xxSaffronxx

If i were you I would use a reputable company like BPP or Kaplan. Or go to your local college in the evenings to do AAT.
Both the companies have very good literature to prepare you for exams.

And for work experience, try applying for Accounts Assistant roles in your area - thats the only way you are going to do it.
You may even be lucky enough to find an employer who will pay for your study and maybe even give you study leave