AAT membership terms and conditions

Membership Levels

• AAT offers three (3) Membership Levels: AATQB, MAAT and FMAAT. Information relating to these levels and any subcategories of membership of the Association are contained on the Membership page.
• All Members must satisfy AAT’s prescribed membership criteria, as set out in the Membership policy (PDF).
• Members may upgrade their membership on satisfying the prescribed membership criteria for a higher Membership Level. Downgrades are not permissible.

Admission to membership

• Admission to membership is at AAT's sole discretion and subject to meeting the relevant qualification and experience requirements for each Membership Level.
• Applications for membership must be made on the prescribed form and accompanied by the required documentation and fees.
• AAT reserves the right to reject any application for membership without providing reasons. However, where membership is rejected for suitability reasons, Members have the right to appeal in accordance with the Appeals Regulations (PDF). 
• By applying for membership, applicants agree to be bound by the Standards and Requirements. 

Membership rights and benefits

• Members of AAT are entitled to the Benefits. 
• Licensed Members who are granted a licence to practise must comply with additional professional requirements and standards as prescribed in the Standards and Requirements.
• Voting Members shall receive notice of General Meetings and may exercise the right to vote at a General Meeting. AAT may, at its discretion, permit other Members to attend General Meetings and, with permission of the chair of the meeting, to speak, but not vote.

Member obligations

• All Members must comply with the professional standards and other requirements listed in Standards and requirements of AAT, and must uphold and promote the principles set out in the Code of Professional Ethics and its supporting procedures. 
• Members must complete and submit an annual return to AAT each year and ensure all information provided is accurate and up to date.
• Members must notify AAT within 30 days if they become subject to any insolvency event, disciplinary or regulatory sanction by another body, civil penalty, or criminal charge, caution or conviction (other than minor fixed penalty traffic offences).
• Members must declare to AAT if they provide, or intend to provide, bookkeeping, accountancy, or related services to the public, and must comply with all applicable AAT practice requirements.
• Membership of a Branch shall be open to Members of AAT to join. Members participating in Branch activities must adhere to the guidance set out on the Branches page.
• Membership entitles Members, where applicable, the use of Designatory Letters as recognition of the Membership Level attained and remains subject to the terms detailed in the Standards and Requirements.
• All Members are responsible for maintaining their continuous professional development (CPD) to uphold the professional standards required by AAT. All Members are required to keep a record of CPD activities they undertake and comply with AAT’s CPD policy (PDF). AAT may at any time request evidence from any Member of CPD records during membership for audit and monitoring purposes.

Subscription fees and payment

• All Members must pay an annual Subscription as determined by AAT from time to time and on the terms and conditions set out on the Membership fees and payment information page.
• Subscription is payable in advance and is non-refundable except as provided under "Cancellation and termination of membership".
• AAT may increase Subscription by giving not less than thirty (30) days' notice to Members.
• Members will be served with notice allowing them at least twenty-eight (28) days from the due date and up to 90 days after the due date to make the necessary Subscription payment (the "Grace Period"). During the Grace Period, Members remain subject to the Code of Professional Ethics and AAT reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withdraw or suspend access to any Benefits.
• Upon expiry of the Grace Period, AAT shall terminate any membership for which the full Subscription payment has not been received, subject to the "Cancellation and termination of membership" section of these terms and conditions.
• Members may pay Subscription by direct debit, debit or credit card, bank transfer, invoice or payment code. More information on the ways to pay Subscription is set out on the Membership fees and payment information page.
• If Members are required to pay Subscription by instalments, AAT shall provide the following disclosures:
  • the total amount payable
  • the number and frequency of instalments
  • the amount of each instalment
  • any charges for late payment. 
• Members have the right to pay their Subscription early without penalty and to receive clear statements of account.
• AAT will not charge interest on overdue Subscription payments but may charge reasonable administrative costs for payment processing and debt recovery.
• Members experiencing financial difficulty should contact AAT as soon as possible to discuss payment arrangements.

Cancellation and termination of membership

• Members shall have a right to cancel their membership within One (1) Month of receiving their joining or renewal confirmation from AAT. Upon such cancellation, the Member shall receive a full refund of their Subscription.
• A Member may terminate their membership by providing 28 days' notice to AAT of its intention to resign, subject to the clauses in this section. However, a Member may not terminate their membership while they are the subject of any complaint, investigation, or allegation of misconduct under the Disciplinary Regulations. In this circumstance, resignation will not take effect until the relevant disciplinary process has concluded, and all outstanding sums have been paid.
• A Member shall cease to be a Member:
  • upon cancellation of membership in accordance with these clauses
  • on the expiry of 28 days' notice to AAT of their resignation as Member
  • if any Subscription or other sum payable by the Member to AAT is not paid in accordance with the clauses under "Subscription fees and payment"
  • if the Disciplinary Tribunal makes a finding of misconduct and resolves that the Member be expelled, and the Member is given 28 days’ notice specifying the misconduct or circumstances alleged to justify expulsion or termination
  • if a member is required, or has agreed, to pay any fine or costs under AAT’s Disciplinary Regulations and fails to make such payment by the specified deadline.
• Any Member who ceases to be a Member in accordance with the clauses above shall remain liable for any outstanding sums due from the Member prior to such date of cancellation or termination. 
• The membership term shall be 12 months from the first day of the month in which the Member’s registration was approved by AAT or the last Subscription payment was made, whichever is later.
• Upon cancellation or termination of membership, all Members shall immediately cease using any Materials, Designatory Letters, and shall lose access to all existing Benefits. Licensed Members who cease to be Members shall automatically lose their licence to practise.
• Former Members may apply for reinstatement, subject to meeting the current membership requirements and paying the applicable fees.

Data protection and privacy

• By accepting these terms and conditions, you agree to the use of your information as set out in our Privacy policy.

Intellectual Property Rights

• All intellectual property which exists in the Materials provided to Members is owned by AAT and/or its content providers.
• Membership does not confer any right, title or interest in or to any Intellectual Property Rights of AAT, including the AAT name, brand, logo, and trademarks.
• Members shall not:
  • license, sell, rent, lease, transfer, assign or otherwise commercially exploit any Materials, including passwords or access credentials, provided by AAT, or
  • license, sell, rent, lease, transfer, assign, commercially exploit, or otherwise make any Benefits available to any third party.
• Members may use AAT Intellectual Property Rights only:
  • for their own professional development and professional practice
  • in accordance with AAT’s published guidance and requirements
  • with appropriate acknowledgement of AAT’s ownership where required by AAT.
• Unless expressly permitted by AAT in writing, Members must not reproduce, distribute, publish, adapt, modify, create derivative works from, or commercially exploit any Materials or AAT Intellectual Property Rights.

Variation

• AAT may amend these terms and conditions and may alter, modify, replace, suspend or withdraw any part of the membership offering or any Benefits from time to time.
• Where a material change adversely affects Members, AAT shall provide reasonable advance notice and details of any rights available to Members.
• A Member's continued membership following the effective date of any change shall constitute acceptance of the revised terms and conditions.

General provisions

• These terms and conditions are governed by English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
• If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.
• AAT may assign its rights and obligations under these terms and conditions to any successor organisation.
• AAT may provide notices to Members by email, post, or through the AAT website, and such notices shall be deemed received within forty-eight (48) hours of sending same, unless evidence demonstrates that the notice was not successfully delivered.

Force majeure

• In the event of Force Majeure, AAT shall not be deemed to be in breach of these terms and conditions and shall not be liable for a delay or for non-performance of any of its obligations under these terms and conditions or for any loss or damage occasioned thereby. To the maximum extent permitted by law, all losses arising for this reason shall not be recoverable by a Member.

Definitions and interpretation

• In these terms and conditions, the following definitions apply:
  • AAT: the Association of Accounting Technicians is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales.
  • AATQB: a Member of AAT who specialises in bookkeeping or is working towards gaining the requirements for full membership.
  • Benefits: the Benefits made available by AAT to Members from time to time as set out on the member benefits page.
  • Branch: the local networks run for Members and whose primary purpose is to act as a channel for Member and potential member engagement at a local and national level and in accordance with AAT’s strategic priorities.
  • Code of Professional Ethics: AAT's Code of Professional Ethics (PDF) as amended from time to time.
  • Designatory Letters: post-nominal letters and designations (in any format including digital badges) which may be used by Members such as AATQB, MAAT, FMAAT, AAT Licensed Bookkeeper and AAT Licensed Accountant.
  • Disciplinary Tribunal: a panel with a quorum of three consisting of two lay and one professional panellist drawn from the pool of the Disciplinary and Conduct panel to hear cases brought under the Disciplinary Regulations.
  • FMAAT: the highest level of professional membership within AAT. It is held by Members who have met all eligibility criteria for fellow membership and have been formally registered as fellows.
  • Force Majeure: any event or occurrence which is outside the control of the party affected and which is not attributable to any act or failure to take preventive action by the party affected but shall not include any industrial action occurring within AAT.
  • General Meeting: a meeting of the Voting Members of AAT which is held annually.
  • Intellectual Property Rights: all intellectual property rights of any nature anywhere in the world, whether registered or unregistered, including copyright and related rights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, business names, logos, domain names, database rights, design rights, patents, inventions, know-how, confidential information and all applications for, and rights to apply for, any of the foregoing.
  • Licensed Member: a Member holding a licence issued by AAT that allows such a Member to provide self-employed bookkeeping or accountancy services.
  • MAAT/Full Member: a Professional Member of AAT who has achieved AAT’s accounting qualifications and has met all eligibility criteria to be admitted in this Membership Level.
  • Materials: materials include digital badges and certifications, written content, course materials, newsletters, CPD and conference materials, advertising, brochures, publicity material, invitations, website, branding, logos and other AAT materials used by or for or relating to AAT, its qualifications, courses or membership.
  • Member: any person admitted to the membership of AAT in any Membership Level.
  • Membership Level: the level of membership held by a Member which is dependent on satisfying the membership criteria for the specified grade; these shall include Members (AATQB, MAAT, FMAAT).
  • Professional Member: means any member admitted by AAT as either a MAAT or FMAAT.
  • Subscription: the annual membership fee payable by Members in any Membership Level. This excludes the admissions and reinstatement fees.
  • Standards and Requirements: All standards and requirements set out in the Code of Professional Ethics as well as the regulations, polices, bye-laws and guidance as set out on the Standards and requirements page.
  • Voting Member: the MAAT, FMAAT or Licensed Member who is entitled to attend and vote at general meetings.