AAT Bookkeeping Qualifications

1. Course structures

We offer three different short qualifications.

Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 2, FCIB), comprises of two units (also known as subjects).

Foundation Award in Accounting Software (Level 2, AIAS) is made up of one unit (subject).

Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 3, ACIB) comprises of three units (subjects).

If you take and pass all three qualifications, you can become a Professional AAT Bookkeeper (AATQB).

Entry requirements

You don’t need any previous accounting experience or qualifications to start studying the AAT short qualification, just a willingness to learn. It’s ideal if you’re a school or university leaver, or thinking of changing career, and want to try AAT without making a commitment to the full qualification.

Course structures

Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 2)
£358.20 - £691.20 (inc. VAT) Buy now

Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping (CIB) students must study Bookkeeping Transactions first, before starting Bookkeeping Controls.

Foundation Award in Accounting Software (Level 2)
- £249.00 - £419.00 (inc. VAT) Buy now

Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 3)
- £672.30 - £1,248.30 (inc. VAT) Buy now

Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping (CIB) students must study Advanced Bookkeeping prior to studying Final Accounts Preparation. Indirect Tax can be taken at any point within this qualification.

2. Study methods

Do you prefer face-to-face learning or studying online in your own time? Do you have family or work commitments that you need to fit your studies around? With four different study methods, we have a course that will meet your needs.

Study methods available for this qualification

Whatever study method you choose, you’ll benefit from high quality learning materials, practical learning methods, hundreds of practice questions, marked mock exams and expert support even on evenings and weekends. You can be confident with Kaplan.

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Timetables - Classroom and Live Online

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3. Exams and sittings

How long does it take to pass?

• Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping takes around 12 weeks to complete.
• Foundation Award in Accounting Software takes around 6 weeks to complete.
• Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping takes around 6 months to complete.

Exams

You must pass all unit assessments in the qualification you are taking. All assessments are computer-based exams and have a time restriction.

Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 2)

• Bookkeeping Transactions - 2 hour computer-based exam
• Bookkeeping Controls - 2 hour computer-based exam

Foundation Award in Accounting Software (Level 2)

• Using Accounting Software - 2 hour computer-based exam

Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping (Level 3)

• Advanced Bookkeeping - 2 hour computer-based exam
• Final Accounts Preparation - 2 hour computer-based exam
• Indirect Tax - 90 minute computer-based exam

4. Study materials and delivery costs

Study materials

The following materials are included in each course:

• Study text

  A textbook covering the full subject syllabus with worked examples and activities.

• Pocket notes

  Our AAT pocket notes are pocket-sized, brief revision notes that highlight and prioritise the essential topics you need to understand to pass your AAT exams.

• Exam kit

  The exam kit gives you plenty of exam style questions and answers to test your knowledge and practice.

• Learning and assessment plan / study programme

  Outlines the course structure.

• Online syllabus coverage

  Covers key topics for Distance Learning and full coverage for other methods.

• Integrated workbook (Classroom, OnDemand, Live Online)

  The integrated workbook helps you work through the syllabus, with room to write your notes. It helps you keep everything in one place to make it easy to study and revise from.

Classroom, Live Online and OnDemand students will receive printed and online study materials, while Distance Learning students have the option of printed and online, or online only.

To buy the materials separately...

You can buy AAT books for each unit on these qualifications from Kaplan Publishing.

Buy AAT bookslaunch

Delivery costs

5. MyKaplan: online learning environment

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MyKaplan is an online learning portal with practical resources to help you prepare for your exams.

Online features

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  View your detailed study programme and online materials in one place and access your content in a few clicks
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  Contact a tutor directly using live chat. You can also email or request a callback
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  Complete practice tests and get instant feedback (Objective Tests)
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  Track your performance by topic and easily identify where you need to improve; you can even compare yourself with others in your class
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  Take part in forum discussions with students and tutors and find answers to common questions
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  See instantly when your assessments have been marked (Case Study)
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  Use the mobile app to study on the move and access your study materials offline
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  Access to VideoBank - hundreds of tutor-led videos to help you get the most out of your course.

Access duration

Your chosen study method determines how long you can access your content for.

Classroom
Six months from last course date, with one free extension if requested, then £50 for a further three months.

Live Online
Six months from last course date, with one free extension if requested, then £50 for a further three months.

OnDemand
15 months from enrolment date, with one free extension if requested, then £50 for a further three months.

Distance Learning
18 months from enrolment date, with an extension for £50 if requested.

computerMinimum system requirements for MyKaplan

6. Tutor support

We'll support you every step of the way throughout your AAT learning experience with us. You can contact a tutor and get the help you need quickly and easily.

Provided by our Academic Support team (our dedicated team of expert tutors):

• Live chat (instant response via online messenger system)
• Email (we'll get back to you within 4 hrs)
• Discussion forum (we’ll get back to you within 4 hrs)
• Request a callback so you can speak to a tutor (we’ll arrange a call with you within 24 hours). Please note request a callback is only available to UK based students.

7. Testing and mocks

We have a wealth of materials to help you revise for and pass your exams. All study options come with the following:

Knowledge checks
As you go along, knowledge checks help assess your understanding of a topic before you move onto the next one.

Progress tests
These are short tests based on key topics to get you ready for sitting the mock exams.

Mock exam
Practice your exam technique with mock exams with the look and the feel of the real exam, so you can continually check your progress.

Additional video learning resources
If you’re studying Classroom, Live Online or OnDemand, you’ll get access to the full OnDemand learning modules, found on MyKaplan.

8. Pricing structure

Unit prices can differ depending on your study method, location and the time you choose to study (if you’re choosing Classroom). Go to our study methods page to learn more about each option.

Units are all priced individually, so you can purchase them altogether (for a discount), or separately as you need them. This also helps you split the cost to make it more affordable.

Funding options

Employer sponsored ›

Your employer may fund the costs of your studies if you're already working in a related field and want to develop your learning. You’ll need to speak to them to see if they’re willing to provide this support.