AAT Certifications Explained

Get started on your accounting career today with AAT Certifications. These certifications are accredited by the leading accounting body and can help you get started on or advance your career in accounting or bookkeeping no matter where you are in your career journey. 

Find out more below and see how you can develop your career in accounting today.

AAT certifications are accounting and bookkeeping qualifications which are accredited by the Association of Accounting Technicians. These AAT qualifications are the best starting point if you want to explore a new career in accounting or if you already have experience and want to expand on your continuous professional development (CPD).

AAT accounting qualifications are accredited by a recognised professional body that employers know as the authority on accounting. Therefore, an AAT certification demonstrates that you have the expertise and skills to thrive in a professional accounting career.

These courses are available at levels 2-4 depending on your prior experience and knowledge, and there are a range of diplomas and certificates available dedicated to subject areas and careers including accounting, bookkeeping and payroll.

AAT accounting qualifications are for people who want to get into a career in accounting or who are already in an accounting career and want to expand their professional qualifications to move up the career ladder.

AAT Certifications are incredibly useful as employers and clients around the world are keen to employ those with AAT-accredited qualifications, and they are an excellent way to develop your skills and confidence and demonstrate your expertise.  

There are a range of AAT courses available at different levels, including those in accounting, bookkeeping, administration and payroll. Therefore AAT courses are also designed for people in accounting adjacent roles (or wanting to explore them) such as bookkeeping, payroll and finance.

There are a range of AAT certifications available at different levels to accommodate people at all stages of their accounting or bookkeeping career. The three levels of qualification are suited to people at different stages in their careers and are each designed to give level-appropriate training to help you further your career or prepare you for a higher level.

At Level 2, AAT offers foundational level certifications which are equivalent to a GCSE Level qualification. This is a great starting point for those who have never studied accountancy and are looking to start on this career path. 

The contents of AAT Level 2 certifications include the basic fundamentals of accounting, such as bookkeeping, preparing financial statements, basic costing, double-entry bookkeeping, dealing with VAT and the relationship between different key financial records.

There are no entry requirements for this certification. Entry-level accounting roles are often available to those who complete Level 2 AAT courses.

At Level 3, ATT offers advanced level qualifications which are equivalent to A Level study. These courses will be more in depth than Level 2 courses, but are a great progression for those who have completed Level 1 or a good option for those who have studied or worked in accountancy to some degree before. 

Level 3 AAT certification courses cover areas such as advanced bookkeeping, advanced accounting software techniques and advanced costing. In order to study a Level 3 AAT certification course, you will either need to have completed a foundation course (Level 2) or have sufficient work experience or alternative, relevant training/qualifications.

AAT Level 4 certifications are known as professional level qualifications and are equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Certificate (HNC). This is the top level AAT certification one can achieve and is more complex than the two lower level certifications. 

Topics covered include advanced accounting theory, management accounting, budgeting, drafting and estimating financial accounting performance. The entry requirements for this level certification require you to have completed an Advanced Level (Level 3) certification.

AAT certifications vary in length depending on the qualification and whether you study part time or full time, but on average an AAT course takes 6-8 months. AAT Bookkeeping qualifications often take up to 9 months to complete.

Accessing an AAT certification is easier than ever, as the most common delivery method of these certification courses is online. This means that it is highly accessible; you can study in your own time and study around any commitments you already have via distance learning.

These online AAT courses will help prepare you for your certification and develop the accounting knowledge, confidence and practical skills necessary to excel in an accountancy or bookkeeping role. These online courses are segmented into modules so you can learn in digestible chunks and make sure you have completed the AAT skill check.

Upon completion of all AAT assessments, you will receive an accredited AAT certification. The certification you earn may be a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or professional diploma, depending on the level of the qualification.

If you’re keen to explore AAT courses, here are some examples of the kinds of courses you can pick to get you started:

• AAT Accounting Pathway – This course is ideal for those looking to start a career in accounting, and can be completed over the course of 12 months
• AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting – For those looking to become an accounting technician, this course can give you the skills you need to move forward in that area
• AAT Accounts Administration and Payroll Pathway – This course suits those who want to become an office administrator or a senior bookkeeper

An AAT certification is definitely worth it for anyone who wants to become an accountant, explore careers in finance or bookkeeping or wants to develop their career in these areas. Accountancy is a popular, lucrative and futureproof career path, and having an AAT certification under your belt signifies to employers that you have the skills and knowledge to be a successful accounting professional. 

When you enroll online, you can rest assured that you are learning from reputable training providers who are experts in their field. When you study or complete an AAT course, you can also explore AAT membership and gain professional status.

The three different levels available for AAT certifications also mean that anyone can study AAT accounting courses or AAT bookkeeping courses, whether you have prior experience or not, so it is ideal for everyone from beginner to advanced level. Each certification course teaches you what you need to know about accountancy, payroll or bookkeeping without overwhelming you, ensuring level-appropriate course material to help you in your career progression. 

Some of the careers you could explore with an AAT certification include: