1. Course structures
We offer two different short qualifications.
Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping (CIB2), comprises of two units (also known as subjects).
Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping (CIB3), comprises of two units (subjects).
If you take and pass both 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 qualifications, 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
Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping
£540.00 - £1,008.00 (inc. VAT) Buy now
Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping students must study Introduction to Bookkeeping first, before starting Principles of Bookkeeping Controls.
Included
Introduction to Bookkeeping (ITBK)
You’ll be introduced to double-entry bookkeeping systems and ledger accounting. You will also learn how to record day-to-day financial transactions within the ledger accounts.
- Number of lessons:
- Classroom: 4 days/8 evenings
- Live Online: 4 days/8 sessions
- OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace
Subject assessment: computer-based exam
Included
Principles of Bookkeeping Controls (POBC)
You will build on your double-entry knowledge learnt in ITBK with more complex bookkeeping procedures. This includes control accounts, bank reconciliations, payroll, learning how to deal with errors, and the purpose of using the journal.
- Number of lessons:
- Classroom: 3 days/6 evenings
- Live Online: 3 days/6 sessions
- OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace
Subject assessment: computer-based exam
Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping
£612.00 - £1,219.50 (inc. VAT) Buy now
Included
Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements (FAPS)
You'll learn how to apply the principles of advanced double-entry bookkeeping and how to prepare period-end adjustments, having incomplete information, and including how to extend the trial balance. You will also learn how to manage non-current assets, from acquisition to disposal of them, and how to prepare Sole Traders and Partnerships financial accounts.
- Number of lessons:
- Classroom: 7 days/14 evenings
- Live Online: 7 days/14 sessions
- OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace
Subject assessment: computer-based exam
Included
Tax Processes for Businesses (TPFB)
You'll learn how to calculate VAT, review and verify Making Tax Digital (MTD) VAT returns, and apply VAT legislation requirements. You will also learn how to report VAT related information and study the implications of errors, late filing, and payments.
- Number of lessons:
- Classroom: 2 days/4 evenings
- Live Online: 2 days/4 sessions
- OnDemand/Distance Learning: study at your own pace
Subject assessment: computer-based exam
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.
Study method comparison table keyboard_arrow_down
| What |
Classroom |
Live Online - full day |
Live Online - afternoon/evening |
Award winning OnDemand |
Distance Learning |
| Live, tutor-led classes at set times |
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| Re-watch your lessons |
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| Learning materials available - including study text, pocket notes/revision cards and exam/revision packs |
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| Award winning online learning resources including bite-sized tutor-led videos |
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| Marked mock exams and lots of additional practice questions |
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| Access to Academic Support 7 days a week |
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| Learning Coaches offering advice, guidance and support to help keep your learning on track |
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| Interact with other students studying the same course |
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| Pass Guarantee available with full course |
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| Study at your own pace |
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| Classes capped at 40 students |
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Pass Guarantee Available
Award-winning structured online course with the flexibility to start anytime and study anywhere.
- Topic focused learning modules, containing tutor-led bite-sized videos.
- Engaging activities designed for effective online learning.
- Integrated programme to guide you efficiently through the whole syllabus.
View OnDemand 5 day free trial
Every module and topic has been through a detailed instructional design process, which means we‘ve considered how to best explain each area and cement your understanding of the subject. This includes a variety of concise learning formats such as bite-sized tutor-led lectures, and activities to help link topics together. Every module is scripted and links on screen animations with graphics found within your integrated workbook. This provides a high quality online learning experience, which is so much more than a live recorded tutor session or even a tutor narrating highlighted text book visuals.
In addition to Academic Support, our team of Learning Coaches offer advice, guidance and support, on how to best learn and progress through your course. They use data to identify if you need extra support and will help you get back on track if you need it.
Pass Guarantee
OnDemand is a complete course, which includes tuition, revision and exam preparation, and comes with a Pass Guarantee. If you are unsuccessful, the Pass Guarantee will give you FREE ongoing tutor support until you do pass. MyKaplan can also be extended on request to help you get back on track.
Pass Guarantee Available
A traditional scheduled programme with face to face tutor-led classes.
- Classes with your peers at set times of day
- Centrally located in most major cities: View all classroom locations
- Access to our award winning OnDemand online learning resources
Please note to book a Classroom course, please refer to the Level 2 Certificate in Accounting (ITBK and POBC courses) and Level 3 Diploma in Accounting timetables (FAPS and TPFB courses).
View Classroom demo
Classroom is a complete course, which includes tuition, revision and exam preparation, and comes with a Pass Guarantee. If you are unsuccessful, the Pass Guarantee will give you FREE ongoing tutor support until you do pass. MyKaplan can also be extended on request to help you get back on track.
Pass Guarantee Available
The same as classroom, but live interactive online classes at a set time.
- Interactive live lectures delivered online by our expert tutors
- Full weekday, weekend, afternoon or evening classes available
- Re-watch and replay lessons through recordings
- Access to our award winning OnDemand online learning resources
View Live Online 5 day free trial
Live Online is a complete course, which includes tuition, revision and exam preparation, and comes with a Pass Guarantee. If you are unsuccessful, the Pass Guarantee will give you FREE ongoing tutor support until you do pass. MyKaplan can also be extended on request to help you get back on track.
Self-study materials and online resources for you to work through at your own pace.
- Study remotely with printed and online materials
- Study programme guide to provide direction
View Distance Learning 5 day free trial
Distance Learning is a complete course, which includes tuition, application and exam preparation resources in MyKaplan. The study programme guides you through the study text chapters and you’ll complete knowledge checks along the way to test your understanding.
You then attempt assessments online to help you understand how the real exam will look and feel.
Timetables - Classroom and Live Online
date_rangeView timetables
3. Exams
How long does it take to pass?
- Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping takes around 12 weeks to complete.
- Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping takes around 6 months to complete.
Timings and working towards an exam
You can take your exams at any time as they are on demand. It is important you book your exam as soon as you intend to finish your course. We recommend you book early to avoid disappointment as this could disrupt your study plans. Please note, you’ll still need to book your exams separately. All assessments on this level are computer-based exams (CBE).
You’ll be awarded a grade (pass, merit, or distinction) based on how you perform across the qualification. Individual units are not awarded grades, but the marks achieved in all assessments contribute to your overall grade for the qualification.
Exams
You must pass all unit assessments in the qualification you are taking. All assessments are computer-based exams and have a time restriction.
info
Please note that the Q2022 assessments will be released the week commencing 5th September.
Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping
- Introduction to Bookkeeping - 90 minutes computer-based exam
- Principles of Bookkeeping Controls - 90 minutes computer-based exam
Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping
- Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements - 2.5 hours computer-based exam
- Tax Processes for Businesses - 90 minutes computer-based exam
4. Study materials and delivery costs
Study materials
The following materials are included in each course:
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Study text
A textbook covering the full subject syllabus with worked examples and activities.
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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.
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Exam kit
The exam kit gives you plenty of exam style questions and answers to test your knowledge and practice.
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Study programme
Outlines the course structure.
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Online syllabus coverage
Covers key topics for Distance Learning and full coverage for other methods.
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Integrated workbook (Classroom, OnDemand, Live Online)
The integrated workbook helps you work through the syllabus, with room to write your notes. It allows you keep everything in one place to make it easy to study and revise from.
Classroom, Live Online, OnDemand and Distance Learning students will receive printed and online study materials.
To buy the materials separately...
You can buy AAT books for each subject on this level from Kaplan Publishing.
Buy AAT bookslaunch
Delivery costs
subscriptions
How much it costs to deliver your study materials and how long it takes depends on where in the world you live.
Delivery fees are as follows:
- UK and NI - £7 for the first package, £7 for subsequent packages
- EU - £35 for the first package, £30 for subsequent packages
- Rest of the World - £50 for the first package, £50 for subsequent packages
Please note that due to varying interpretations of the post-Brexit EU/UK trading agreement, some EU countries are imposing import duty on the value of the goods received from the UK. It is payable by the end consumer via the delivery company and your delivery may be withheld until paid. This may vary from country to country and be up to a value of 20% of the value of the study material.
Our standard delivery times for Live Online, OnDemand, Online and Distance Learning are:
- UK – 3 to 5 working days
- EU – 5 to 7 working days
- Rest of the World – 7 to 10 working days subject to availability.
Our standard delivery deadline for UK classroom courses is one week prior to the first course date.
Delivery charges apply to Classroom, Distance Learning, OnDemand, Online and Live Online courses which include printed materials. If delivery charges are applicable for your course, they will be shown during the online checkout process, before you complete your payment details.
5. MyKaplan: online learning environment
MyKaplan is an online learning portal with practical resources to help you prepare for your exams.
Online features
- View your detailed study programme and online materials in one place and access your content in a few clicks
- Contact a tutor directly using live chat. You can also email or request a callback
- Complete practice tests and get instant feedback
- Take part in subject-level discussion forums with students and tutors and find answers to common questions
- Track your performance by topic and easily identify where you need to improve; you can even compare yourself with others in your class
- Use the mobile app to study on the move and access your study materials offline
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
Nine months from enrolment date, with one free extension if requested, then £50 for a further three months.
Distance Learning
18 months from the start date, with one free extension if requested, then £50 for a further three months.
computer Minimum 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.
Academic Support opening times
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 8pm
Friday: 8am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 9am - 1pm
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:
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.
| Scheduled |
Flexible |
| Live Online |
OnDemand |
Distance Learning |
| from £515 (inc. VAT) |
from £430 (inc. VAT) |
from £300 (inc. VAT) |
Funding options
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 you're eligible and whether they would be willing to fund the cost.
The AAT Level 2 and Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping is covered with our interest-free payment plan. The plan lets you spread the cost of your studies over 12 months, with no extra costs. To be eligible for the payment plan you need to spend a minimum of £500.