Well it looks like training providers have used the new standards as an excuse to hike their prices up, Premier training has gone up £200 , I daren't even ring up the rest.
I suppose my question is in light of the fact that costs have greatly increased has anyone found out if the AAT are allowing study without a training provider?
Have you got a local college that does it, we have one here that you can either go to college or do Long dist learning, if you have one locally they might be cheaper.
Have you got a local college that does it, we have one here that you can either go to college or do Long dist learning, if you have one locally they might be cheaper.
Haven't phoned AAT yet!
Amanda
My local college don't do distance learning options and I have commitments that prevent going into college, however I did ask if I can sign up and just use them for tutor support but the computer said nah.
Don't think the new standards have come in yet, so they could not have changed their fees. Below is a link of their fees. I don't think you will get it cheaper elsewhere.
I called them and asked for their fees for the new standards which for level 3 should be £579, however I have learnt to wait and see what they come up with as things tend to change and that link just adds to the confusion
Does this price include Sage and Unit 31? It does sound like a big hike in the price. They will have to justify their prices when the new syllabus comes out.
Just spoke to Premier Training and they have given the follwing prices:
Certificate stage - £529 (new syllabus has added Sage)
Advanced Certificate - £579
Diploma Stage - £649
There has been a big jump in their prices. They said if I can find better prices elsewhere, let them know and they can speak to the relevant people to make their prices more competitive. The good thing is there are no simulations, so we don't have to pay these additional prices. Another thing to take into consideration is how long a training privider would allow to complete a level. Premier Training offers up to 2 years per level which is more than enough time to complete it. I know some training providers don't allow as long to complete a level. I will shop around for better prices, so premier can possible bring their prices down.
I also spoke to the AAT and they confirmed we will have to go through a training provider as there are units that needs to be assessed by a tutor and all exams are booked though training providers or colleges.
-- Edited by louis on Tuesday 8th of June 2010 04:15:38 PM
Does this price include Sage and Unit 31? It does sound like a big hike in the price. They will have to justify their prices when the new syllabus comes out.
I really don't know boo hoo. I'm going to call them again in August and see what they come up with.
Just spoke to Premier Training and they have given the follwing prices:
Certificate stage - £529 (new syllabus has added Sage)
Advanced Certificate - £579
Diploma Stage - £649
There has been a big jump in their prices. They said if I can find better prices elsewhere, let them know and they can speak to the relevant people to make their prices more competitive. The good thing is there are no simulations, so we don't have to pay these additional prices. Another think to take into consideration is how long would a training privider allow you to complete a level. Premier offers up to 2 years per level which is more than enough time to complete it. I know some traing providers don't allow as long to complete a level. I will shop around for better prices, so premier can possible bring their prices down.
I also spoke to the AAT and they confirmed we will have to go through a training provider as there are units that needs to be assessed by a tutors and you also have t be registered with a training provider to be able to take exams.
The lack of simulations isn't a good thing it means there are 6 exams at around £60 a pop on top of the £579 to pay for.
The AATs decision to insist on a providor will be the main reason behind the hike, it's looking more and more like a con to me, because they are the most recognised body they are making you pay through your wotsit for the privelage.
Good idea on the shopping around, I noticed Kaplan and bpp haven't posted their new prices, it will be interesting to find out how much they are, at this rate it's going to cost more than my local college.
Totally agree Steve, the AAT are becoming very suspecious. They seem to be very interested in money and may be in cahoots with the training providers.
Thought this for a while to be honest, I got told that because of the lack of simulations then according to their rulings it meant that yes you no longer required a training provider, now it seems they have changed this to include CBEs although the providor of the CBEs in this area claim you dont need a training provider you just need to be a member of the AAT, so I begin to wonder if when you ask the AAT they just promote learning providers, as the lady at the AAT stated you don't need one it's just highly advisable.
We will have to keep our ears and eyes opened. I have been given conflicting information in the past by the AAT, so it may well be the case that the course can be taken without a training provider. I will try to speak to someone from a different department at the AAT tomorrow.
-- Edited by louis on Tuesday 8th of June 2010 05:56:00 PM
My tutor at college said tonight that there will be computer based simulations for those taking the new AAT diploma next year, these will £35 each, this is quite an hike from the paper based simulations which cost £15.
all these costs are the reason i decided i might as well go for chartered accountancy. if i would go for aat after that i would go for ca anyway in long term so might as well not wasting more years and money...go for the big one.let's see how it goes. i still would do aat if no need for a college but if they don,t let me do self study i will have to skip aat.
Have spoken to the AAT again today and they have confirmed you definitely have to be registered with a college or distance learning provider to take the course. When I challenged them about this, they said there is no way round it as all assessments has to be marked by an AAT approved assessor which will either be a college assessor or distance learning provider assessor.
There are about 7 assessments on the first level at £41 each. Can't remember how many assessments on the intermediate level but they are £44 each and the final level exams are £46 each.
Premier training has confirmed they are still enrolling students on the old syllabus up to 30th June. If you enroll before new standards come in next month then you pay £399 for the level 2 as opposed to £529.
This will help cut costs but doesn't change the fact that the AAT is very expensive to study.
-- Edited by louis on Thursday 10th of June 2010 11:14:15 AM
-- Edited by louis on Thursday 10th of June 2010 11:15:06 AM
But if you register by the end of June 2010, don't you have to sit all the exams (old sylabus) by June 2011. I'm sure I read that somewhere or maybe I spoke to Premier about it can't quite remember.
I know for Technicians for me, I wouldn't be able to learn and sit everything in a year, thats an impossibility for me with work and family commitments.
Let us know if thats the case because if its not I may register before June.
This is correct. If you complete before June 2011, then you don't have to take the exams on the new syllabus. There is a transitional period and anyone who completes their current level before 2011, don't have to do the new syllabus.
Premier training also stated that the new standards have additional units, therefore more exams. You can give them a ring as some of this informtion may vary if you're on the NVQ route.
I think apart from all the updating one of the reasons the new syllabus is more expensive is the fact that it will be a bit better. I hope so as it's going to cost me somewhere near a £1000 for the next level. Bit upset I'm still not allowed to do it without a learning provider.
£836 to enrol for level 3 (intermediate) plus £231 for exams then you still need to buy books and AAT fees at my local college, kerr - ching. I think I'll stick to distance learning.
Hello Steve. Go to kaplan for the workbooks which have revision packs. You can use the kaplan centres for the exams and the ATT members area for exam simulations etc. The books will cost less than £100 and you wont need a tutor. I Have done support on these and the only questions I ever got asked were to do with what to do next and when.
If you get on ok with them they also specialise in CIMA and ACCA.
You still need a provider though, this has been looked into many times and if you do the aat there is no cheap route, you have to have a provider. I thought it might change as the provider was purely to assess simulations which the aat have now got rid of, but now you need a provider for the projects to be assessed so it will still cost good money, but worth it.
, I daren't even ring up the rest.
I really don't know boo hoo. I'm going to call them again in August and see what they come up with.
