About the Accountancy (AAT) Apprenticeship

Modules & Structure

Accountancy (AAT)

AAT (the Association of Accounting Technicians) is internationally recognised amongst thousands of employers worldwide. With over 100,000 members it is the largest body of accounting technicians in the UK today.

Why should you choose an Apprenticeship in Accountancy?
This Apprenticeship is ideal for those who like working with numbers and are interested in the financial side of business. All organisations have a finance function, whether they are a commercial enterprise, part of the government, a public body, or even a charity. Working in finance gives you a real insight into how the organisation operates and the chance to make a real difference to business performance.

What are the entry requirements?
There are no specific academic entry requirements, although a good standard of English and numeracy is recommended.

How long does the course take?
There are no time restrictions so you can study at your own pace. Any units that you pass will be held indefinitely (subject to AAT standard changes). As a guide most students take six months to complete the foundation/certificate level and a year to complete each remaining level.

How will the Apprenticeship be assessed?
Each of the 16 units of the qualification is made up from elements which are applicable to an accounts-based role. This also includes key skills such as application of number and communication. The units are assessed either through exams (these usually take place in June every year) or through work-based assessments, which is a collection of examples from your workplace which is used to demonstrate your performance.

What’s next
On successful completion of the AAT qualification, you will gain exemptions from certain units of the major professional accountancy qualifications, ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW and CIPFA making this an attractive and viable alternative to the university approach to becoming an Accountant. In fact, by studying an AAT qualification through an Apprenticeship, you will progress faster than someone who goes to university to study Accountancy.