# Hi everyone , I am new in the bookkeeping world so please if you can help me understand some things.
I read some of the topisc here and I understood that AAT qualifications are preffered by employers rather than IAB qualifications for example. DO you know why is that ?
Yesterday I enquired at a college about a course AAT L3 . I did IAB L1&2 but they didnt offer IAB qualifications . A lady told me that before AAT L3 I must do AAT L2 , when I told her that I already studied most things from AAT L2 because I did IAB L2 she said thats different, that AAT are profesional qualificatios , SO IAB ARE NOT ? whats wrong with IAB qualifications ?
I know I am probably supposed to continue with IAB but now I am worried that I might have problems when looking for a job . I am thinking that maybie I should switch to AAT qualifications tho that will mean spending more money(and time) on something I have studied already . Any ideas ?
There is some issue with the ICB qualification in that it doesn't fit with the recognised syllabus that all of the bodies work with so it is not so widely recognosed for exemptions. (but doesn't mean that there is anything wromng with that qualification either).
Even if you had no formal qualifications at all the lady at the college should have told you that you can do the AAT skills test which will show you the level that you should start AAT studies at.
The employers preference for the AAT is more historical than anything else although employers do tend to feel that it gives more of an all around basis in general accountancy knowledge than the bookkeeping qualifications. CAT is an exact equivalent to AAT but many employers also disgregard that one and simply request either AAT or PQ (implying ACCA, CIMA or ACA).
AAT is an excellent qualification to have and personally I would opt for that one but don't let some qualifications snob at the local college make you feel that there is anything wrong with the IAB qualification that will have quite rightly given you great pride in achieving.
Have a read of the attachment and then go and wave it in the face of the Lady at the college.
All the best,
Shaun.
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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.
I wonder which college you spoke to? My local college does IAB L1 & L2 and advertise them for progression onto L3 AAT because they don't have any teachers who can teach L3 IAB, they only can teach L3 AAT!
AAT is more of a Accountancy rather than Bookkeeping qualification. Although the IAB have now launch a number of L4 qualifications, so there is the possibility to progress with the IAB if you want. Too many people do not consider Bookkeepers professionals simply because there are too many bookkeepers that do not belong to any professional body. Membership of a professional body (IAB or ICB) is allowable for tax relief if you are an employee as a bookkeeper. But I think the majority of bookkeepers don't realise this and they don't know how to claim the tax relief!
Thanks Shaun for the Link
-- Edited by YLB-HO on Thursday 2nd of June 2011 07:33:55 PM
What you have to remember is that Colleges these days are businesses and they are there to sell you the goods (courses) they offer. Like all sales people they will rubbish what they see as the competition in order to sell you their product.
I gave up teaching in colleges in 2004 after becoming disillusioned with having to teach people what the college needed to achieve its funding rather than what the student wanted/needed to learn.
The L3 IAB Cert in Bookkeeping is now accepted for apprenticeships, the colleges can get funding for it from the Skills Funding Agency! So you'd think they'd be happy to teach this.
You would, but colleges are nothing if not archaic despite all quals changing every 3 years!!! I used to teach RSA/OCR and was also an examiner/moderator for them. Gave that up 2 years ago because I found it difficult marking computerised reports due to the small print in Sage which was the programme most colleges/training centres used. I now do freelance training as well as book-keeping, payroll and admin.
Must admit I also had issues with the marking schemes for exams as I believed some of the criteria was irrelevant in the real world, whilst more important criteria was not examined to the degree I would have wished.
