Level 7 apprenticeship

[hjklop]

Hi, my dd applied for a Level 7 AAT/ACA accountancy apprenticeship and has been offered in a contract the level 4 AAT. After this, it was confirmed in an email that she would be able to move onto the ACA after this, however this isn't covered in the contract. Does anyone have experience of these? Is it worth doing the apprenticeship or would it be better to still do a degree at university? My dd is quite academic, I hadn't realised previously that the Level 3/4 part is equivalent to A-level and my dd has already completed her A-levels.

AAT only goes to level 4, but you often need it to do CIMA or ACCA or ICAEW. Which are upto level 7 plus. If they're saying they'll fund the further levels under those other bodies then the employment route sounds good.
Studying accountancy at Uni isn't necessarily preferable in industry or the big 4 now I don't think.

Level 7 is equivalent to a masters degree ( I’m presuming we are talking about the uk) . It would be too much of a step up from A levels to masters which is presumably why she has been offered level 4 first. Level 3 is usually A level equivalent, level 4 higher diploma.

My ds has just done his A Levels but he's not applying for apprenticeships until next year - however, I've been having a think about them. He's unsure at the moment between finance/accountancy and surveying. My feeling about the level 4 accountancy apprenticeships is that it's a great opportunity to test out accountancy; if he's not convinced, he can at least do the 18months to get the level 4 qualification and then maybe change direction. I'm a chartered accountant and I don't think accountancy training can really go to waste, as it's so useful in life and in other careers. It's another string to your bow - and in my ds' case, he wants to be self employed/have his own business eventually, so it's vital to have an understanding of business finance/accountancy/tax.

As long as your dd passed the level 4, I can't see any reason why they wouldn't continue to sponsor her to do the level 7 apprenticeship. Doing a degree is totally different and perfectly valid if she's not sure what career she wants. But there's no benefit to having a degree if she wants to be a chartered accountant.

Dropped you a PM

You can go straight onto professional qualifications (ACA or ACCA usually in practice) at 18, but we always start them off on AAT (levels 3 and 4, so 2 years) with the expectation that they then go on to the 3 year professional qualification afterwards.

Graduates (relevant or otherwise) usually go straight on to the 3 year professional qualification.

I wouldn't be at all worried about the contract only being AAT. Assuming she does okay they'll be happy to have her progress, and if they don't then plenty of other firms will!

If she has the offer it is really a choice between whether she wants to go to uni or go into work at this stage.

Thanks everyone for your replies, they've been really helpful 😀