I've been looking into bookkeeping and accounting courses and notice that completion of The Open University B190 course (Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting) entitles you to become an IAB Member and exempts you from IAB Level 2 Certificate in Book-keeping and also their Level 3 Diploma in Accounting and Advanced Book-keeping.
I've asked this question to both the OU and AAT but haven't got a straight response yet, so does anyone here happen to know whether studying the B190 is sufficient preparation to enter onto the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting?
The OU course is half the price of the AAT Level 2 course, which I would otherwise have to start with, and can be completed in just 3 months - so if it is the case that I could do B190 then go straight onto Level 3 it would be fantastic! Plus, the OU route seems also to be the quickest and cheapest route to IAB membership as far as I can tell. I recently completed a biology degree with The OU so I am familiar with the set up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I would like to register for the course ASAP!
B190 is a very good course. It's actually more or less the same course as the AAT ABC bookkeeping as both started out from the same origins (EQL).
On completion the OU course gives more exemptions than the AAT ABC but I think thats more down to the negotiating skills of the OU than it being a genuinely better course.
I do disagree with the IAB giving as much exemption as it does in relation to B190 (as was discussed in this thread http://www.book-keepers.org.uk/t43696632/how-much-training/) however, on the AAT question personally I think that you should be ok starting at level III.
I did the forerunner to B190 myself as my first steps into accountancy and it was an excellent introduction. I also do old AAT questions the way "normal" people do crossword puzzles or suduku's so I know the knowledge that you will have by the end of B190.
Even if OU and AAT cannot answer you (shame on the AAT there as the person you spoke to should have offered you the advice I'm about to) the AAT has a skills check that you can sit only once to check your level of knowledge. You can then take that along to a training provider as evidence that you can start at a higher level of study.
Best that you do B190 first, then buy and complete the AAT revision companion for units 1-4, then sit the skills test (unless the OU or AAT have decided by then that you are actually exempt).
Good luck in your studies Lisa. B190 is an excellent starting point on which to build your studies.
kind regards,
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.
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. Your advice, both here and elsewhere on the forum, has been most helpful. It seems that neither the OU nor the AAT wanted to take responsiblity for giving a straight answer to my query - I have since also asked the IAB and they said I should be ok but advised me to check with the AAT! Anyway, it appears that B190 is my best option at the moment - with no previous experience in the area - so I'm off to sign up.
B190 is the probably your best option. I did it, passed with distinction, and when i enquired to AAT learners (as the AAT body couldn't give me a solid reply either) they told me B190 will exempt you from doing AAT level 2 and I would able to go straight to level 3 with the skills I have already learnt.
However, as Shaun and I have discussed at depth, (which resulted in me throwing my toys outa the pram, sorry about all that mate.. Water under the bridge? ) that B190 is far from the be all and end all of quaifications you will need to do more. and as you have said you will be doing AAT so you shold be ok.
no problems at all and it was already forgoten about from my side (really must do something about my memory!). Anyway, I think that it was just a misunderstanding as I wasn't actually having a go at the qualification which is a really good one or yourself who has made the effort to start along this path when so many take one look over the precipiece then back away when they realise the amount of learning that this actually entails.
Glad it's all sorted anyway and we can get on with disagreeing about more complex matters such as tax rules and the finer points of accounting standards.
Have a good one matey and talk later,
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.
Water under the bridge? 
) that B190 is far from the be all and end all of quaifications you will need to do more. and as you have said you will be doing AAT so you shold be ok.
