hi my name is james i am 21, i want to study a career in accounting but dont know where to start. i know there is three ways of getting to level 3 nvq in AAT accounting technician:

1. do level 2 in AAT accounting technician

2. study advance level practical bookkeeping (ICB)

3. study advance level in computised bookkeeping (SAGE)

i hope to study one of these at home in my own time in the summer, so i can go on to study level three AAT accounting technician at college in september. Which pathway is the best? what are the advantages of each pathway? how do i decide which pathway to choose?

Also which would be the best home study provoider for this subject? do i need work experience for level 3?

Welcome to the forums.

My advice (having been through the AAT myself) is to do level 2 in AAT.  My reasoning is that it will give you a real foundation to carry on to level 3.  There is only a bit of costing or management accounting in level 2 but it is more than you will get on ICB (also an excellent qualification),

The Sage course is something to do in addition, not instead of as it will teach you to use a computerised system but if you know how a manual system works you would pick up a computerised system fairly quickly.

The problem you may have is that AAT exams are sat in June and December but you could look into the availability of the exam as a CBE which will mean you can take it anytime.  Alongside the exams are skills test which have to be taken too, you will need to investigate how many depending on the route that you choose.  NVQ pathway is best if you already have an accounting position, diploma if not.  The AAT will have more information on their website to help you decide.

As to home study provider, several reputable ones are bpp, kaplan, eagle and premier - all relatively good reputations.

Work experience is a real bonus but not necessarily vital at level 3 however you don’t want to get so far down the line that you then become over qualified and under experienced.

Good luck.

Hi again,

i was wondering if it would be possible to start with a diploma pathway due to not having a accountacy job at the moment. then when i have a job that i can gain experience from, change my pathway to a NVQ? or is it if i start one pathway i have to finish it?

also would syudying bookkeeping (ICB) or (SAGE) help my CV aswell as AAT? or are they both the same?

Also do you think it would be possible to study for level 3 even if i have only half way through studying level 2 for example. start studying level 2 June 2010 and take my exam in December 2010 and start studying level 3 at college in September 2010 and take my exam in June 2011, so studying will overlap each level?

Also i have a criminal conviction for drink driving, is it still possible to get a membership with the AAT? I know this would make it harder to get accepted for jobs but im willing to search far to find a employer that hold this against me. i just hope that my career isnt doomed before it has started

Many Thanks for your previous reply

You can change pathways as far as I know but I think you have to complete each level in the same pathway.

I wouldn’t bother studying bookkeeping as well as AAT level 2 but the Sage course might work well if you have the time.

If you want to take level 2 exams the only things you can leave and cover with level 3 is the health and safety project.  Other than that the level 3 papers lead on from the level 2 units so it wouldn’t be in your interest to leave one halfway through.

As for the drink driving conviction, I think the AAT are more interested in fraud type convictions but it is definitely worth checking with them before you start, no point starting if you can’t become a member.