AAT Level 4 apprenticeship Professional Accounting Technician standard v1.2
Professional accounting technicians may work in the accounts or finance department of an organisation or a professional accountancy firm.
The broad purpose of the professional accounting technician is to prepare, coordinate and implement accounting tasks that support the creation of financial statements.
The previous version was Professional Accounting Technician standard v1.1. No new starts have been accepted for that apprenticeship since 8 June 2025.
Support resources
The below resources have been designed to assist with the delivery and completion of the Professional Accounting Technician apprenticeship.
Funding
The Professional Accounting Technician apprenticeship standard v1.2 caps the amount of funding available at £12,000.
Funding for this apprenticeship will be administered and managed by the employer and spent with the chosen training providers.
Delivery options
The AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting can be used as the on-programme learning element of the apprenticeship. This will enable the tracking of the student's progress throughout the term of the programme.
The Professional Accounting Technician apprenticeship is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
End Point Assessment (EPA)
The End Point Assessment for this apprenticeship will consist of two parts, which should be completed within a period lasting typically three months.
- In the role scenario assessment, the apprentice answers questions in a controlled and invigilated environment. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills mapped to this assessment method.
- In the professional discussion, an Independent Assessor (IA) appointed by AAT will conduct a one-hour discussion with the apprentice, using a minimum of 10 questions selected from a closed bank of questions.
Apprentices who use the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting as part of their on-programme learning will be eligible to apply for full AAT membership, meaning they will gain their apprenticeship and also the use of the designatory letters MAAT.
Apprentices who only complete the EPA for the Professional Accounting Technician apprenticeship, not using the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting as part of their on-programme learning, are not eligible to apply for full AAT membership.
Professional Accounting Technician apprenticeship EPA pathway
The graphic demonstrates how the Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting units can be used as the on-programme learning. On completion of these the apprentice can move through the Gateway, and is ready to undertake both elements of the EPA.
Once they've completed the synoptic assessment they will be awarded the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting certificate. Once they've completed both EPA elements, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate.
