I am in the process of studying for ICB Manual Bookkeeping Levels 2 and 3 and Computerised Bookkeeping Level 2. I hadn't thought about accounting qualifications up until now. But if I am successful with the ICB I may give the AAT qualifications a shot. But to gain their qualifications you need a years work experince - and to get employment you need AAT qualification.
What can I achieve with the AAT without being employed by anyone? Anything? I realise that my ICB qualifications will probably have been a waste of time if I go for AAT.
Are there things I won't be able to do if/when I start studying for AAT that I would be allowed to do if I just stuck with ICB? Or am I getting AAT mixed up with another organisation?
__________________
Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
Best approach is just to talk directly with someone at the AAT. They're quite friendly and surprisingly don't actually try to sell AAT membership to you... Then again, that one's a qualification that sells itself.
From other posts it seems that providing that you don't use the AAT letters then they are a lot more accommodating than the ACCA about what you are allowed to do.
For that matter, so are CIMA. Why not go the whole hog and work towards the CIMA qualification which you can self study rather than having to go through a training provider?
Its the next step higher than AAT / CAT.
I don't know if CIMA recognise the ICB for exemptions? I know that ACCA don't.
If you want exemptions you could use your ICB qualifications to join the IAB who are definitely recognised by the higher bodies. However, for all the expense of going across to the IAB you might as well just take the exams again rather than applying for two lots of exemptions (IAB and CIMA (or AAT))
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Hi im doing aat and have had my work experience signed off. If you email them and ask what kind of experience is required they will send you a whole list of accounting duties but you only need to be signed off for 3 or 4 duties. I personally done purchase ledger processing and sales ledger processing, job costing, bank reconciliation (i think that was it), and i have had it confirmed by the AAT, so all i need to do now is finish my last 3 units and im complete. By the way this experience is just to have MAAT after your name, but you become a member in practice you also need to demonstrate you have experience in the services you are wishing to offer, so for me as i dont have any public practice experience only industry i cant really apply for a practice license (MIP) as i dont have the practical experience in prepareing accounts etc... This has also lead to think about doing CIMA instead of ACCA in the next year (if i pass aat,lol).
does anyone know if you get you pass with a aat without the one year work experience would you be able to go self employed or do you need the maat satus. thanks.
I have phoned the AAT today, as was getting worried about the one year experience needed for Tech. Anyway explained that I was self-employed etc and he said as long as I can get an Accountant to sign off my work, my work that I do now will aready count as the 1 year experience. This apparently can start from when you become a student with AAT.
All of my clients have got different accountants and a couple I know really well so he said the the books I prepare at the moment they can verify these and count this as my work experience, so thats a sigh of releif!
Also kept saying about a training provider so it looks like we will have to have one! Mind you I would probably need one for Tech as some have said to me its quite difficult some of the stuff, mid you with the syllabus changing who knows.
