How to use B190 as an exemption to AAT - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Rumi · Member

How to use B190 as an exemption to AAT

rachel_mclean · Guru

Hi if you look up the OU course on their website it tells you at the bottom of the page the exemptions each OU course gets you, you could email the OU or call them. Everytime I have emailed the OU a question they have got back to me in the same day and they are pretty quick on the phone too.
I am not defenatly sure but I think the 2 OU courses that make up the OU certificate in accounting are pretty much equal to the AAT.
Rachel

Rosalind · Member

RE: OU course B190

Rosalind · Member

RE: How to use B190 as an exemption to AAT

Rumi · Member

Hi Rosalind and Rachel
Thanks you very much for your comments. I know that after obtaining the Professional Certificate of Accountancy from the OU we will be exempt from some of the ACCA qualifications, but seems they do not say anything about aat, so It is a good idea to contact the OU, as I feel that B190 covers at least Level 2 and 3 from the AAT qualifications.

Yes, it is true that initially the B190 course Introduction of Bookkeeping and Accounting from the OU had many errors and we had to go through the material again and again to correct them, but this was last February and as far as I know all the problems have been sorted now. I am glad I did B190- despite of the difficulties it gave me a very good starting point for the next level 2 course B291 (Financial Accounting).

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Rosalind wrote:
I have been looking at doing the B190 course for a while now but notice that many of the reviews for it mention that it had a lot of technical teething problems and errors in the coursebook. Did you notice this? Was the course comprehensive??
Thanks in advance for any reply.

Rosalind

Hi

Did the B190 course a short while back,   seemed to take forever to get the Results.

I honestly think there is no better value for money around.
Granted there are no tutors, but the course forum gives plenty of help.

It's been around for a while, so I don't think there are any more "teething problems";   they may have been referring to personal pressures.
It is quite intensive, like all OU short courses, but this has an option of doing the course in either 12 or 24 weeks; you just have to decide before attempting the Exam.

It does give an exemption to IAB Membership at Level 3.

There was no mention of AAT, but could there be exemption by way of Level-3 IAB membership ?

cheers

Bob

Kaz82 · Veteran Member

Hi Rumi
I studied B190. There were some teething problems in that the textbook had some errors that needed amending. The CD rom had errors. But they just sent a new one out.

I did enjoy the course though. I passed the course. And now have full membership of the IAB.

I dont think that it will exempt you from the AAT. Probably level 2 of the AAT. But learning providers usually say that you need AAT level 3 or an accounting degree to study AAT level 4.

So if you started at level 3. You have missed level 2 out!!

Best Wishes, and good luck.

Karen

Rumi · Member

Hi Karen
Thanks for your message. I am continuing to study with the Open University (B291, and hopefully followed by B292). Have you also decided to do level 2 OU courses in Accounting?
I haven't applyied for IAB membership yet, as I don't have any work experience, but do we really need work experience for that? How long did it take you to become a member of IAB, and did you need any work experience?
I think that B190 was good course, but a small disadvantage I think was that we didn't studied very much the computerised account system, which most employers are asking for, so I am still not feeling very confident that I can use the Sage account software with confidence.
Best wishes
Rumi

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Don't despare.
If you can understand the concept of a Chart Of Accounts, I reckon you are half way there.
Not sure that you actually need SAGE. The basics of one car engine is the same as another. smile

It's not actually part of B190, they leave it to the last week (after the exam) for you to "study at leisure".
I always promised myself I would, but have been waiting to see if I could actually start a business.

Now I will have to find time between searching for clients.

-- Edited by ProBowlUK on Sunday 14th of November 2010 01:07:56 PM

Kaz82 · Veteran Member

Rumi wrote:

Hi Karen
Thanks for your message. I am continuing to study with the Open University (B291, and hopefully followed by B292). Have you also decided to do level 2 OU courses in Accounting?
I haven't applyied for IAB membership yet, as I don't have any work experience, but do we really need work experience for that? How long did it take you to become a member of IAB, and did you need any work experience?
I think that B190 was good course, but a small disadvantage I think was that we didn't studied very much the computerised account system, which most employers are asking for, so I am still not feeling very confident that I can use the Sage account software with confidence.
Best wishes
Rumi

Hi Rumi
Sorry I didnt get back to you sooner.

With regards to work experience needed for membership to the IAB you dont need any. I used two personal references for the IAB and gained membership within about 2 weeks.

What you have to remember is the course is called an 'introduction' to bookkeeping and accounting. So many people such as me will have no qualifications or work experience.

So remember the IAB do except personal references. Or your present employer. Prephaps a family friend etc.

I am not continuing with the OU as I have started my AAT with Kaplan financial.

Best Wishes

Karen

Cabby · Member

Hi all,
Does the B190 give you any exemption to the ICB?
Dave

Rumi · Member

Hi Karen
Thank you so much for your reply. It really helped me to decide which way to continue. It will be advantage to become a member of IAB, even without having any AAT qualifications. I think that the Open University courses in accounting including the Professional Certificate of Accounting are not very well known yet, comparatevely with the AAT. I have no work experience but believe with the further studies there would be more opportunities. Best wishes
Rumi

ICBUK · Guru

RE: B190 to ICB

ICBUK · Guru

RE: How to use B190 as an exemption to AAT

Rumi · Member

Hello, I am suprised that AAT doesn't give any exemption for the B190, as the course covers all the topics from at least AAT level 3 and at the end of the B190 there is an ECA (End of Course Assessment), which was scored. I had compared the material with the Home Learning College study plan and the Open University Course was, I would say, much more intensive and at a high level too. Regards

ICBUK · Guru

Hi,

The Open University said the ECA is a quick Excel test which is online, but didn't say anything about a bookkeeping test.

Do you have more information?

Rich · Veteran Member

Hi James,

Thought I should just jump in when I read your last post here, because anybody considering this course might be badly mislead. I completed B190 a couple of months ago and can assure you you have been misinformed here.
The intoduction to the book states that the course "will enable you to operate a double-entry bookkeeping and accounting system, from recording transactions in books of prime entry to producing P&L accounts and balance sheets for sole traders, companies and non-profit organisations".
Although this statement made little if any sence to me when I first read it I can assure you it is correct.
As for a quick excel test,general consensus on the course was that the end of course assignment needed far more than the eight or so hours recommended for it, and involved pretty much everything mentioned in the introduction.
For anybody considering this course who like myself had very little expierience of bookkeeping I would strongly recommend it,but only if you are prepaired for a challenge. I feel it was well worth it in my case as I can now do all the bookkeeping upto balance sheet stage for my wifes business!
A quick PS here.There were no online excel tests to my knowledge,maybe they may have been refering you to a course taster?(although parts of the assignments did contain a collection of excel sheets)

-- Edited by Rich on Friday 19th of November 2010 02:02:21 PM

Rumi · Member

Hello,
I totally agree with James. The ECA for the B190 was a very detailed double-entry bookkeeping analysis and preparing of a Sole trador's and Limited Company's end of Year P&L account and Balance sheet, as well as answering a text question. I have compared some examples from the Home learning College's lessons (the HLC awards with AAT Certificates) and found for myself that the Open University course was as much as complete as the one supplied by the HLC. The B190 is a very good start for bookkeeping and accounting and I also would recommend it.

Haylz90 · Newbie

Just on the off chance, as I know I am two years late, do any of you have the CD ROMS that come with the B190 available to buy?
Can you please email me on Haylzh_90@hotmail.com if you have.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Hayley,

welcome to the forum.

the OU B190 course was the EQL bookkeeping course which also formed the basis of the AAT ABC bookkeeping course.

If you have no luck finding one of the above you might also try the I-Learn course for ACCA paper F3 on financial accounting. (You need to buy an original uninstaled copy as BPPs licencing restrict instalations).

On that matter if you fancied watching some lectures there is the Open tuition lectures for paper F3 which can be found here :

http://opentuition.com/acca/f3/acca-f3-lectures/

The lectures are free. You need to sign up for the associated course notes but there are no charges.

HTH if you can't get the CD that you are looking for.

kind regards,

Shaun.