AAT Qualification is it worth it?

[Tiltheend]

Just that really. Looking to make a career change, will this open some new doors for me? What’s the earning potential? Are there many opportunities or has Covid affected them too much?

What is aat?

Do you have the qualifications to go straight to CIMA or ACCA?

AAT is very basic, so you won't get much past book keeping work/basic ish admin - ACCA or CIMA if you get up to chartered, have far better earning potential.

You also need the practical experience to back it up (like any professional qualification) - personally I found it gave me a good basic knowledge and a foundation for progression along with working in an Accounts based role.

I used AAT as a stepping stone into ACCA, to make sure I wanted to be an accountant. It definitely helps with the lower level jobs, but CIMA/ACA/ACCA will get the bigger money. You may be exempt from quite a lot of the levels, so might be worth doing as AAT gives you some exemptions for ACCA-that is what I did anyway!

Same here AAT then onto ACCA, I found AAT gave a good understanding of the basic of double entry and gives you a good sound foundation. You do also need to get practical experience at the same time.

Do you have some work experience in the pipeline? In my finance dept they will take people with experience and no qualifications over the just out of AAT ones. A lot of employers will even fund it for you but not sure how that looks in covid economy.

I agree with pp, do AAT first to give you a taste and than decide if you want to continue. ACCA is very tax heavy whereas CIMA is more management. If you do AAT first you'll know which you prefer.
ACA is where the big money is but that is a shlep.

How long is AAT nowadays? I loved the course and it gave me a great foundation. I was doing it along with an accounts job.
What I would suggest is going a shorter taster course before you commit. Used to be a Pitmams bookkeeping course six sessions - maybe look at local colleges to see what they offer.