Skip to main content

AAT Bookkeeping Qualifications (Short courses)

These entry-level qualifications give you the skills to become a bookkeeper, and you’ll gain an industry-recognised qualification. Plus, you’ll have the option to move onto the full AAT qualification with exemptions when you finish.

Course price excluding exams: help_outline

local_offer Save 10% on unit prices

OnDemand

from £794.4 (inc. VAT)

Distance Learning

from £554.4 (inc. VAT)

or

Spread the cost up to 12 months: help_outline

Exam price:

£109 per subject (inc. VAT)


Save 10% when you buy CIB2 or CIB3 packages, compared to buying the units from the full qualification separately

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).

We want you to pass your exams and succeed in the next steps of your career. If you don’t get the results you were expecting and have enrolled on an eligible course, you can take advantage of our Pass Guarantee. Get extended course access, tutor support, a new mock exam, and guidance for FREE until you pass your exam.

For more information, view out our dedicated Pass Guarantee page.


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

£630.00 - £1,174.50 (inc. VAT)

Buy now

Price breakdown

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

£720.00 - £1,363.50 (inc. VAT)

Buy now

Price breakdown

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

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.

What Classroom Live Online - full day Live Online - afternoon/evening Award winning OnDemand Distance Learning
Live, tutor-led classes at set times    
Re-watch your lessons    
Learning materials available - including study text, pocket notes/revision cards and exam/revision packs
Award winning online learning resources including bite-sized tutor-led videos  
Marked mock exams and lots of additional practice questions
Access to Academic Support 7 days a week
Progression Advisors (previously Learning Coach) offering advice, guidance and support to help keep your learning on track  
Interact with other students studying the same course    
Pass Guarantee available with full course  
Study at your own pace      
Classes capped at 40 students      
Pass Guarantee available
OnDemand

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 Progression Advisors 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 5 day free trial

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 - Live Online

View timetables

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.

Book an exam

AAT Q2022 exams

In the week leading up to your exam you will be sent an email to complete the registration for the AAT assessment software. In order to sit your scheduled AAT assessment, you must complete your registration at least 48 hours prior to your assessment start time.

Exams

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

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

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.
  • 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 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 books

Delivery costs

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, subject to publication dates.
  • EU – 5 to 7 working days, subject to publication dates.
  • Rest of the World – 7 to 10 working days subject to availability and publication dates.

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.

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 start 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.

Minimum system requirements for MyKaplan

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

Testing and Mocks

Pass Guarantee

If you don't get the results you were expecting and have enrolled on an eligible course, you can take advantage of our Pass Guarantee. Get extended course access, tutor support, a new mock exam, and guidance for FREE until you pass your exam.

Learn more about our Pass Guarantee

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.
  • Consolidation test

    This is a test based on the topics you have studied so far in your course.
  • Progress test

    This is a test based on key topics to get you ready for the revision phase of your studies.
  • Two mock exams

    Practice your exam technique with mock exams with 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.

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.

Study method Price
Live Online from £1,174.50 (inc. VAT) View price breakdown
OnDemand from £909.00 (inc. VAT) View price breakdown
Distance Learning from £630.00 (inc. VAT) View price breakdown

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 you're eligible and whether they would be willing to fund the cost.

Payment plans

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.

Why study AAT Bookkeeping with Kaplan?

  • Top 10

    The top 10 UK accountancy firms use Kaplan.
  • Expertise

    Over 6,000 students study with us.
  • Above average pass rates

    We always have exceptional pass rates that consistently exceed the national average, so you can be confident of success when you choose us
  • 4 ways to study

    Whether you prefer online study, or learning in a classroom, you’ll find 4 study options to suit your lifestyle.
  • 7 days

    Contact a tutor 7 days a week. Get an instant response by Live Chat, or within 4 working hours by email, or you can request a callback.
  • Award winning provider

    Kaplan is consistently recognised for its commitment and innovation to develop courses that achieve results and prepare accountants of the future.

Don't just take our word for it

Picture of Alex Calliman

"I chose Kaplan because it offered me the resources and flexibility I needed to study. Having the study materials online was extremely helpful because I travel a lot for work and it meant I could study anywhere."

Picture of Julie Dove

"Being able to study at home gives me so much more flexibility around my job. When it’s really busy at work I generally don’t get time to study during the week, so I make it up at the weekend"


Lady smiling while looking at mobile phone

Want more insight into AAT?

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

  • AAT specific insights
  • Success stories
  • Relevant podcasts and events

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Related courses

Save 20%
Lady sat at a desk holding a pen
AAT Level 2 Certificate

Full level (all subjects):

£1,120 - £2,180 (inc. VAT)

Save 20%
A woman sitting at a table writing
AAT Level 3 Diploma

Full level (all subjects):

£1,280 - £2,688 (inc. VAT)

Save 20%
A woman sitting outside using a laptop
AAT Level 4 Diploma

Full level (all subjects):

£1,780 - £3,792 (inc. VAT)