How much does the course cost? All Fees £633*
Are concessions available? If you are 19-23 or receiving benefits, please refer to our Fee Concessions Information.
Examining Body AAT
Is an interview required? No
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Finance is the most required hard skill by employers in the UK followed by auditing and accounting, according to the Skills Gap Trend Report 2021. With gaps in the sector job market, there has never been a better time to learn accounting to help move your career forward.
This qualification is the first step to a successful career in accounting and finance. It combines the theoretical knowledge required for accountancy with practical skills and it is this emphasis on skills that makes AAT highly valued and respected in the workplace.
In addition, the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) is an established and well-respected international accountancy body with a growing membership totalling 120,000.
The level 2 certificate will give you a broad and thorough introduction to the accounting function. This introductory level is where you’ll get to develop your skills in finance administration, eg double-entry bookkeeping, basic costing principles, and purchase, sales and general ledgers.
You will be required to reach competence in four units:
Please note this is a course for adults (19+). Click here for courses for 16-18 year olds.
How much does the course cost? All Fees £633*
Are concessions available? If you are 19-23 or receiving benefits, please refer to our Fee Concessions Information.
Examining Body AAT
Is an interview required? No
Instalment options are available – contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*If you meet the criteria for co-funding (most do), then you may be entitled to pay £633. Co-funded courses are courses that are paid for entirely or in part by the government. If you do not qualify then you would pay the full cost which is £1,265.
If this is your first time studying a full Level 2 qualification and you are aged 19-23, then you may qualify to get the course for free.
You will need to buy the relevant course books to use within the sessions and for revision at home; you should also have pen/pencil, paper and a calculator.
The course does require commitment (both inside and outside the College) and it is essential that you attend all teaching sessions. We expect you to take the exams as per the Scheme of Work provided by the lecturer.
The level 2 certificate is open to all regardless of educational background and has no minimum entry requirement. However you will need to be reasonably competent in basic maths and the English language and we will do a basic skills/competency check before you start the course.
If you already have relevant work experience or qualifications you may want to start at the level 3 diploma. The AAT has developed an online Skillcheck to test your accounting knowledge and, depending on your score, it will guide you towards the appropriate entry level. Visit Skillcheck on the AAT website.
You do not need any particular experience to join the AAT course although you may recently have started working in an accounts function within a company, or be aiming to start your career in accountancy, or wish to start expanding your knowledge in a general administrative role.
The teaching on this course will involve lectures, discussions and lots of worked examples. You will also spend time practising using a PC for various modules, eg computerised accounting. Students will be expected to match the hours taught in the classroom with private study and to complete any homework set. There will be regular testing of knowledge in the classroom.
All modules are assessed through computerized exams. Throughout the course your lecturer will record your progress and provide informal, regular feedback.
Once you’ve completed the introductory level and are recognised as competent in all five modules, you’ll be awarded the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting.
You will learn bookkeeping skills such as preparing invoices, credit notes, and recording cash, cheque and card transactions, basic double-entry bookkeeping and costing principals.
On completion of level 2, you would qualify to work as an accounts assistant, in accounts payable, as an accounts receivable clerk, or as a cashier assistant dealing with petty cash and expenses. You would also qualify for many bookkeeping positions. If you are self-employed, you should be able to keep your own accounting records. If you wish to continue your study, you should move on to the AAT Accounting Level 3 Diploma.