AAT bookkeeping qualifications provide training for a huge range of bookkeeping roles and are recognised by employers worldwide. They can prepare students to become an AAT bookkeeping member and also open up the opportunity to be your own boss.
We offer five short bookkeeping qualifications, which take from six weeks to six months to complete.
Students can start with any qualification depending on their existing skills and experience. If they already have some accounting experience, they should use AAT Skillcheck to find out which qualification is right for them.
Typical bookkeeper job roles vary according to the level of bookkeeping qualification undertaken – take a look at each qualification to find out more.
Access qualifications explained
A great introduction for young people into the world of finance.
AAT Access qualifications are entry-level qualifications and take just 6–12 weeks to complete. They’re ideal if you’re at the start of your career and are interested in numbers. Learn more about whether our Access qualifications are right for you, then find out more about each qualification below.
Accounting Qualifications 2016 and Access qualifications (until 31 August 2022)
Our Accounting Qualifications 2016 (AQ2016) and Access suites, including all the qualifications listed below, are being withdrawn.
You can register on these as a new student until 31 August 2022 at 17.00 (UK time). You'll have until 30 September 2023 to complete your studies and sit all assessments.
You can instead choose to wait until 1 September 2022 and register on one of their replacements, listed below under "Qualifications 2022 (from 1 September 2022)". You'll be able to study and complete the assessments for the qualification's lifetime (usually around four years).
Access Award in Bookkeeping
How long it takes on average: 2–3 months, depending on the student and mode of study
Level 1
Access Award in Accounting Software
How long it takes on average: 2–3 months, depending on the student and mode of study
Level 1
Bookkeeping qualifications explained
Gain essential skills for a range of finance roles.
AAT bookkeeping qualifications take from six weeks to six months to complete and will give you the fundamental skills that underpin many roles in finance. See where each qualification can take you, then find out more about them below.
Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping
How long it takes on average: 3 months, depending on the student and mode of study
Level 2
Foundation Award in Accounting Software
How long it takes on average: 2 months, depending on the student and mode of study
Level 2
Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping
How long it takes on average: 6 months, depending on the student and mode of study
Level 3
This qualification can be used as a route to professional AAT bookkeeping member (AATQB) status.
Qualifications 2022 (from 1 September 2022)
Our Qualifications 2022 (Q2022) suite, listed below, will be available for registration from 1 September 2022. Once registered, you'll be able to study and complete the assessments for the qualification's lifetime (usually around four years).
You can instead choose to register on one of our current qualifications, listed above, until 31 August 2022 at 17.00 (UK time). You'll have until 30 September 2023 to complete your studies and sit all assessments.
| AQ2016 qualification, available for registration for new students until 31 August 2022 | Equivalent Q2022 qualification, available for registration from 1 September 2022 |
|---|---|
| Access Award in Bookkeeping | Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping |
| Access Award in Accounting Software | Not being replaced, but the Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping and Level 1 Award in Business Skills are similar |
| Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping | Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping |
| Foundation Award in Accounting Software | Not being replaced, but the Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping is similar |
| Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping | Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping |
What job will you discover?
Our access and bookkeeping qualifications help you gain essential skills and knowledge that can used in a variety of finance roles. But what’s it like to be a bookkeeper?
Once you complete the AAT Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping, you can apply to become an AAT bookkeeping member and use the letters AATQB after your name to demonstrate your knowledge.
Become self-employed: by studying AAT, you can progress to become an AAT licensed member and run your own practice as an accountant or bookkeeper.