AAT accountancy level 2 - anyone done this online??

[fierydormouse]

Hello! Seeking advice and recommendations!

I am a SAHM but I would like to return to work now my son is at school, and after much thought, I believe an AAT level 2 qualification in accountancy would be a good next step for me.

I wanted to ask, has anyone studied for AAT with a distance/online provider and if so, which one? Would you recommend them? And how long did it take you to get the qualification? Did it work well to study online or do you think a classroom based course would be better?

(A little background...I'm 42 and I've had several years out of the workplace but in the (distant!) past had a few junior accounts/bookeeping roles, mostly in the public sector. I was pretty good at my job and I enjoyed the work, so it seems an obvious area to try and return to, and I think this qualification would really help).

I'd really appreciate any advice!
Many thanks. xx

So you can definitely self study for the Using Accounts Software unit? That was the one putting me off as it requires software. So you just get a free trial from Sage website?

This thread has spurred me on to pester my boss about getting started on the next level.

She’ll love me asking about that with 11 days left in January

@reddragon6uk to be honest, even if you exceed the free trial period, a paid for trial is like £26.40 or something a month, you can always cancel after you finish the exam

A paid for subscription**

Sorry everyone. I have another question! I have had a look at the Kaplan study book and it looks really good.

For self study, would just the study book be ok or would anyone recommend the whole pack with the pocket notes (which I don’t think I need) and exam materials?

I think I just need the study notes as there is a practice mock exam at the end of that and, I believe, test exams on the AAT student website?

Any thoughts?

I would buy both the tutorial workbook and the practice book. Wouldn’t bother with the notes.

I prefer the Osborne books to the Kaplan ones.

Take full advantage of the resources on the aat website and read the examiners report to take notes on the strengths and weaknesses people had when taking their exams previously

Definitely get the two books but I barely used my pocket notes - I think they’re more for if you’d be studying out and about. I think I only ever looked at the train on the way to the exam!

As a PP mentioned the examiners notes are really helpful.

Yes, I did just that. Bought the textbooks off eBay & did the exams at a Kaplan centre (this was a few years ago though, so don’t know if requirements have changed).
If you want to know if it’s worth it type AAT into the search engine of indeed.com and see how many jobs list it in their specifications.

ACCA
CIMA
CIPFA
CTA
ICAEW
ICAS
ICAI
Lots of options, all comparable
but AAT is a perfectly good stand alone qualification

@Mumcandoit you had 9 exemptions from university.

For someone with absolutely no finance or accountancy experience or knowledge, starting with ACCA is setting yourself up to fail or struggle down a very difficult path.

In the OPs circumstances of having the junior accounts assistant and bookkeeping roles, AAT is the best place to start and to possibly build up to ACCA.

I work for an accountancy firm and we have employed a fair few people who have self studied AAT up to various stages. Many have gone on to achieve ACA/ACCA (which has been funded by the firm).

It is a great qualification to start off with and fits in well with what we'd want a junior/semi-senior accountant to be doing in the office.

Yes, more senior roles will perhaps want you to be chartered/certified, but realistically you wouldn't be going for them at this stage because you don't have the experience. AAT can be an excellent way of getting the foot in the door to get that experience, if that's the route you want to go down.

For my situation too, AAT is definitely the way to go. I am reaching middle age, have children and want to work in accounting/ finance part time. I have no wish to work 60 hour weeks for one of the big four. For the moment, I just want a nice career with good work life balance. And I have been looking at job opportunities locally, they all want AAT.

Thanks to the OP starting this post and the great advice in it, I have have started studying towards level 2. Very exciting and loving it so far!

Yay to this thread!!!

Love knowing other mums are studying AAT too

it's just not the best IMO
For what the OP and many others on this thread want, AAT is better than any of the CCAB qualifications.

For those of us who took the big exams, its a different path.

From most of the posts on this thread people are interested in bookkeeping/accounts assistant type roles. Do you really think you need ACCA for that?

I agree with what you’re saying about ACCA @Mumcandoit and I’m going to be moving onto ACCA as soon as I finish my final AAT exam. For the OP, and many other posters circumstances, along with their expectations- ACCA is too much.

AAT level 3 is the equivalent of study for A levels A-C.

AAT level 4 is the equivalent of completing the first year of a university degree.

ACCA is the equivalent of a masters

So yes, whilst it is very prestigious, is it an incredibly large commitment.

AAT level 4 exempts you from the first 3 exams of the ACCA. if you start at the beginning (level 2) then in order to complete level 4. You’re completing 18 exams; So what you’re studying over the course of 18 exams, ACCA cover in 3- I think that shows the sheer scale of the work involved in the ACCA examinations.

I originally tried to jump straight into CIMA, and it was so difficult that I stepped right back and studied the most basic bookkeeping and built up from there. The small wins kept me going. I believe that if I had continued to try with CIMA as a first step, I would have given up a long time ago

that is correct I had 9 exemptions only because my university was ACCA accredited which means they run exact same structure of exams as ACCA themselves

I would also like to point out that the OP and other posters are looking to self study. Gaining 9 exemptions through university studies (with I am assuming a heavy amount of tutor support, lectures and resources), is in no way comparable to self studying the equivalent of a masters degree. I think it is amazing that you have achieved what you have done, and I hope to be in a similar position in a few years (only will be exempt from 3 ACCA exams though) but I think it’s important to be realistic.

I’m extremely experienced and self disciplined when it comes to self study and even I will be going through a learning provider for ACCA!

I’m another one doing my aat level 2, I have no finance experience whatsoever, so it takes a little getting used to.

I went with premier training, their material is good and my tutor is on hand when I need him, because I didn’t have any previous accounts experience I decided to go through an institution rather than self studying. , I am on the aat independent students Facebook group, which is really helpful.

Currently doing AAT L2 with a provider and dont think its necessary at all. You will need AAT Membership and there's practice assessments and learning docs on there.

In fact I'd go so far as to say my Provider is worse than not having one. Their website is littered with errors and the books are crap.

AAT L2 has 5 exams:-
Bookkeeping Transactions (this is the most difficult unit imo)
Bookkeeping Controls
Elements of Costing
Using Accounting Software
A final synoptic assessment covering the 4 above.

I'm considering this; I have vast experience but no qualifications. Plan to start with level 2 to ease me in. If I'm looking for a course exam centre, which exam do I need to take for L2? The options are L2 or L2 Synoptic?

Thanks!

Hi all!
I know this thread is a few months old but I just thought I'd update with how I'm doing! Obviously there was a bit of an annoying hiatus with lockdown, as I couldn't sit any of the exams for a while, but in the last 2 weeks I've successfully taken Bookkeeping Transactions and Bookkeeping Controls. Now I'm getting cracking with Elements of Costing. I have completely self-studied and I'm loving it! Thank you SO MUCH @chillichutneysarnie who pointed out self-studying was an option as I'd never have considered it! You've saved me a bomb and I'd say to anyone else thinking of going this route - try it!
Best wishes to all and thanks for all the info xxx

This thread has inspired me, another SAHM, to self study for AAT Level 2. Well done @fierydormouse for sitting the first two exams. I’m trying to figure out how the exams work. Am I right in thinking that after sitting exams in the first two units (Bookkeeping Transactions and Bookkeeping Controls), you can achieve a Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping? Is that worth doing or is it better to do all five units and get the Foundation Certificate of Accounting or whatever it is called?

Also, is it a separate exam for each unit? The provider I looked at online just seemed to offer one exam for the whole AAT Level 2. I don’t want to turn up and find I’ve only covered a fraction of the work!