| p>AAT courses allow you to get a valuable | | | | As it is in many employers' interests to have |
| qualification in Accountancy, without having to get | | | | certified staff, some will sponsor you to study |
| a degree in the traditional way. With University | | | | one of the AAT courses. Other funding options |
| costs continuing to soar and some experts calling | | | | include Government funding in the form of loans |
| for annual fees of up to £20,000, some | | | | and grants which should be available if you are in |
| feel the financial cost is outweighing the benefits | | | | employment or not. |
| of further education. However, Government | | | | According to one recruitment expert although the |
| statistics clearly show that those with further | | | | Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) |
| qualifications stand a better chance of | | | | qualification is considered the 'gold standard' in the |
| employment and are on average paid far more. | | | | industry, AAT qualified candidates may often |
| As one of the ways to sidestep the traditional | | | | have the advantage over inexperienced ACA |
| University route and gain a valuable qualification, | | | | candidates because of their on-the-job experience. |
| the Association of Accountancy Technicians | | | | AAT courses can be studied over the length of |
| (AAT) offer courses that allow you to gain an | | | | time which best suits the student. The suggested |
| Accountancy qualification in your own time - | | | | time commitment varies with the length of the |
| meaning you can earn whilst you learn. | | | | course: 7 hours per week studied over 6 months, |
| AAT courses are a recognised alternative to a | | | | 3 hours over 12 months or 2 hours over 24 |
| degree (although you can study an AAT course | | | | months. |
| even if you are University level-educated) and can | | | | Distance learning specialists, such as Home |
| offer an ideal route into the Accounting Industry. | | | | Learning College, offer the AAT Level 2 |
| Typical roles you can expect to get when qualified | | | | Certificate for Accounting Technicians, with the |
| on an AAT course include AAT Accounts | | | | option of taking the Sage Certificate of |
| Technician and Finance Administrator. Salaries vary | | | | Competency as a complimentary certification. |
| according to position, but the maximum someone | | | | Successful students can then move on to Level 3 |
| with experience and an AAT course under their | | | | Diploma for Accounting Technicians as the next |
| belt could earn is £30,000 - £40,000. | | | | step in being fully AAT qualified. |