AAT Level 2, 3 & 4 Accounting with Work Experience

Gold Edge are one of the leaders around the UK for exceptional AAT high pass rates. We achieve these pass rates, year on year, because of our commitment to students learning how they learn best.  We embrace individuality, which in turn allows students to excel in their studies.  In addition, your AAT qualification studies are supported by experts who are accountants with many years of industry and teaching experience.  We believe you deserve the right to expect success when you follow the Gold Edge courses.  You can see from our pass rates that we smash the AAT national and international pass rates.

Benefits of Our courses

Flexibility – You can study 24/7 with us. Live tutor support 7-days a week means there are equal benefits gained whether you study live classroom or recorded classroom.   

Variety of Resources - Our resources meet all learning styles equally. You have access to live classroom, recorded lectures, videos, animations, interactive e-learning, hardcopy Kaplan study textbooks, 4-stage revision programme including hard copy Kaplan Exam Kit question books. We offer personalised timetables based around the hours you have available to study. Plus a full set of coaching tutorials to help you to become the best learner you can be.  At level 4, you also have access to Kaplan On Demand lectures and their extensive interactive e-learning and tests your understanding.

Career Head Start is an exceptional learning pathwaythat removes the need for university and avoid the huge debts incurred by university study.   Career Head Start ticks every box taking you from no knowledge or experience, to becoming an AAT Accountant with experience.  In short, you go from the race start line to winning the career race way ahead of your rivals. 

Delivery Method Online courses studied through your personal learning portal.

Live classroom and recorded classroom. Hardcopy Kaplan study text books

& exam kit books and extensive interactive e-learning.

Sage Accounting Training including software access, exam fee & certification - Optional if not studied at level 2.

Sage Payroll Training optional - including software access, exam fee & certification - Optional if not studied at level 2

Exams can be sat at your local assessment centre or remotely from home - additional cost.  There is one exam at level 3 and one exam at level 4 that cannot be sat remotely.

AAT Membership available at an additional cost

Average completion time based on 6-8 hours of study a week is 30 weeks for level 2 and 34 weeks for level 3 and 34 weeks for level 4. We will support you for 12 months for level 2 and 15 months for level 3 plus 18 months for level 4.  You will also have 6 months for your Sage Payroll studies (optional).

Expert Support You will have 5 areas of expert support - 7-days a week tutor support - 5 days a week personal learning growth coach - work experience mentor - Professional CV writer -Your CV is added to our 13,000 strong employer database. 

• Level 2 has no entry requirements, but it is expected that you have a good standards of Maths skills and a good command of the English language.
• Level 3 requires that you have passed level 2 or, alternatively, you have at least 2-3 years previous experience and a very good working knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping.
• Level 4 assumes you have passed level 3 or have a full accountancy degree
• Have access to a PC or laptop - This course is both MAC and Windows compliant).

The AAT consists of 3-levels. All are studied via distance learning. Each level is a standalone qualification in its own right.  The studies are own paced learning to fit around personal commitments.   You can study from 3 hours a week through to full-time, which you determine. The courses can be financed through interest free instalments or paid in full.

The three levels which are the most popular accounting qualifications nationwide are: The Level 2 Certificate in Accountancy qualifications - The Level 3 Diploma in accounting qualifications and The Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting qualifications.

•        The Level 2 Certificate in Accounting - Is the perfect starting point if you have no prior accountancy experience. You will begin with the basics and then build your knowledge in height and depth as you progress through the levels.  You can choose to study our fast-track option at level 2. Roles at this AAT level are: expenses supervisor, finance assistant, sales ledger clerk, accounts administrator, finance officer, accounts payable clerk, accounts assistant, payroll administrator. On completion of level 2, you are ready for work experience in one of these positions. 
•        The Level 3 Diploma in Accounting- roles when studying the AAT courses are: senior bookkeeper, senior accounts assistant, tax assistant, audit trainee, trainee in financial management, management accounting officer, assistant credit controller and other assistant accountant and financial management roles. As you come close to completing level 3 you will begin to take over more responsibility and more complex accountancy tasks from the head accountant.

The Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting - roles when you're studying AAT courses online move into the management and away from daily accounts roles. Your career in accountancy will encompass the management of the finance function and its wider aspects of the business environment. You will have learnt the bookkeeper and accounting knowledge for preparing financial statements for large corporate companies. On completion of level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting you will become an AAT Accountant opening so many career opportunities. You can then decide if you want to study on to become a chartered accountant. 

There are 4 modules to complete at level 2.  At the end of each module you will sit an exam as follows:

• Introduction to Bookkeeping - 1 exam 
• Principles of Bookkeeping Controls - 1 exam
• Principles of Costing - 1 exam
• The Business Environment Synoptic Assessment- 1 exam

There are 4 modules to complete at level 3.  At the end of each module you will sit an exam as follows:

• Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements - 1 exam
• Management Accounting Techniques - 1 exam
• Tax Processes for Businesses - 1 exam
• Business Awareness - 1 exam

There are 5 modules to complete at level 4.  At the end of each module you will sit an exam as follows:

Mandatory Units:

• Applied Management Accounting - 1 exam

• Drafting and Interpreting Financial Statements - 1 exam

• Internal Accounting Systems and Control

Choose 2 of the 5 options listed below:

• Business Tax - 1 exam

• Personal Tax - 1 exam

• Audit and Assurance - 1 exam

• Cash and Financial Management - 1 exam

• Credit and Debt Management - 1 exam

Booking Exams

When to book your exams - It is time to think about booking your exam when you begin the revision stages of your studies. Revision on average takes 3 weeks to complete. Booking an exam at this stage gives you a focused end date for exam readiness.

You can sit your exams close to where you live. With the AAT qualification, there are no set exam dates for AAT, you sit them when you are ready.  We will advise you on how to book closer to when you are ready  for the first exam. 

When would you recommend that I request my work experience?

When you are ready to take up employment.  The employers insist that you must have at least completed the level 2 so you get maximum benefit from the experience and employers get the most benefit from you working for them

When do you recommend that I complete my employability training

Again you want this to be fresh in your mind ready for employment.  Most employability training are short courses that don’t interfere with your AAT studies