AIBU to ask for people’s experiences with gaining aat (level 2) qualification

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First sorry for using AIBU for this question but I am looking for some speedy advice around gaining this qualification quickly, or at least starting it quickly (within a week!).

There are so many different providers and so much information on line I am struggling to work out what is the best route for me.

I am looking to complete this as quickly as possible so thinking the on demand route may be the best to go.

So my questions are if people have completed this qualification:

1. Which provider did you use and would you recommend them?
2. Which study method did you use?
3. How much did it cost?
4. How long did it take and how quickly do you think it would take (if you had wanted to do it ASAP)?
5. Any other information that you think is relevant.

I don’t see my self needing much support for this level as I currently work in a financial administrative role and have a masters degree, all be it in a different subject that did involve statistics.

Thank you so much in advance, I really am drowning in information!!!

Just thinking about the exams - I am on the North Wales border so North Wales, Chester or Liverpool would all be suitable for taking the exams.

Did you do a degree or any A levels previously? I did A level maths and a completely unrelated degree which meant when I did the aat qualifications I could start at level 3.

Level 3 I did remotely with a local college but they were useless as staff left all the time so had very little support. It prob took me 12-18mths but I was working and had a baby as well at the time.

Level 4 I did completely independently, brought the books and then booked exams as and when at a local Kaplan centre. This took me a lot longer and I had to re pass some as the syllabus changed. What I didn't like on level 4 is you take an exam and don't get the result for around 8 weeks. It just drags it out a lot!

I think level 2 you should be able to do in 6mths if you're really focused. I think the exams are mainly all computer based and at that stage they often give you the result as soon as you finish the exam which is handy!

Why do you want to do this qualification? What will it help you achieve if you are in a fin admin role already?

@Merryoldgoat I have an interview for graduate accountancy placement and with no direct accountancy experience I feel I need to have a solid accountancy knowledge foundation for the qualification offered with the placement. Applying for the placement has also given me a nudge to focus on myself more and not everyone else! So if I am not successful in this interview, I will be more prepared for the next.

@Roserunner Thank you, that is really helpful. I did an access course so no A-levels but a do have a degree with a statistics base so when I talk with providers I will ask the difference between level 2 & 3. I haven’t heard good things about our local college either so that is why I am looking at distance learning providers. I also want to complete as quick as possible so I am hoping to find a on demand provider. Also didn’t think about self study so will look at that too! Thanks again.

Is this a graduate trainee position for a professional accountancy qualification? ACCA/ACA/CIPFA/CIMA?

Or a graduate position in an accounts department where you are expected to work transactionally?

@Merryoldgoat Is a 2 year placement so working and completing either CIPFA or CIMA.

Then the AAT is irrelevant.

Prepare by understanding the organisation, the various finance functions and the areas you are particularly interested in.

AAT level 2 won’t give you any significant exemptions and you’ll just duplicate work.

I would generally recommend CIMA also as it’s harder to move sectors with CIPFA. Met loads of CIMA/ACCA/ACA when I worked in public finance. Met no CIPFA in private sector.

@Merryoldgoat Thank you for you replies, that is really helpful. I already work for the organisation but the placement is in a difference section so I will be asking some questions next week! Thanks again.

I’m doing AAT level 3 in a rush at the moment. I did the first 3 units about 10 years ago , started work in a related field and never finished.
Now trying to finish the 2016 syllabus before it closes.
Ive paid for a distance learning course with Accountancy learning and finding their own content quick to ingest (a mixture of written content, spoken presentations and quizzes) but tbh could do it a lot cheaper by using the AAT resources (included with student membership which you need anyway to sit the exams) and the Osborne textbooks which are cheap secondhand from world of books.

It takes me 2-4 weeks to complete a level 3 unit but I’m autistic af so not sure how this compares to general experience.

The spreadsheet unit is basic if you’ve ever used excel. The professional ethics unit is the same as your annual AML/whistleblowing etc refresher training if you work in a financial role. So don’t pay to be taught these units, you know most of it already.

In fact, buy the textbooks second hand, do the practice papers in them, then decide if you want to invest in training or just join AAT as a student, brush up with their resources and book your exams. If you work in financial admin already you really only need to learn the theory behind double entry bookkeeping i.e what is going on within whatever software you use.

I absolutely agree with this. And that CIMA would be more versatile.

We don't expect graduate trainees to have any accountancy background - that's the point of doing the qualification on a training contract.

I would have concerns about someone rushing through AAT at breakneck speed for the sake of it, especially when it has little to no relevance to the training route we are offering. I don't know what that would achieve and I would question whether meaningful learning would occur.

Focus on meaningful interview prep and understanding the qualifications on offer.

To add to the post from @Logistria

AAT is (ime) best when studied whilst in a financial role with transactional exposure but when still quite junior.

The skills without proper work experience are useless and I’d hire experienced with no qual vs qual with no experience.

I recruited and 4/5 couldn’t prepare a journal for payroll, calculate depreciation, or explain an accrual in lay terms yet they all had AAT Level 3 minimum. One even had ACCA (but that’s another story).

Self study is a fool’s errand without a relevant role alongside.