I am looking to start training as a bookkeeper. I would like to train home-based study as I have a small child so it would be hard for me to get away to attend classroom courses. I have no previous experience in bookkeeping so this is all new to me. I don't think I would want to start as being self-employed, I would prefer to work for a company for a few years after my training completes.
These forums are great but I have found myself confused on which route to take (i.e. IAB, ICB, AAT, etc). Can anyone recommend?
Also, I know that most employers are looking to hire bookkeepers with experience, any recommendations on what I can do while training?
Lastly, has anyone had any good experiences with any online/homebased training schools? I have looked into Training Link, IDEAL schools, and Home Learning.
before investing your money you need to ask yourself what you will get out of the excercise.
Bookkeeping is not the most expensive of subject matters to study (or shouldn't be. There is one distance learning company to be avoided!) so it suffers from a lot of people starting out down this path to chase a few positions where employers are more interested in previous experience than qualifications.
A lot of people want to be employed but end up with no option but to become self employed due to the experience trap.
If you want to stand any chance of employment that AAT is the only one of the above that is generally recognised by employers. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with the ICB or IAB qualifications. It's just that historically people have come up through AAT and those now employing are either AAT themselves or may have come through that route before moving onto higher qulifications.
For distance learning training providers I would restrict my list to the following three (all very good and reasonably priced).
Training Link
Ideal Schools
Premier Training
We have representatives of all three on the site and besides that there are also many others always willing to help out if you get stuck on anything. Just worth noting though that the contributors on here are unpaid members in practice so sometimes (espechially in January, March and April) questions may take more than a day to receieve a response.
However, the site has a general mantra of leave no bookkeeper behind so even when responses are slow there will be someone along to help as soon as they get a chance.
Back to the question of what you want from this? Try and describe now what doors you expect this qualification to open, how it will help you and how you believe it will prove financially beneficial to you.
Take your time over the answer and we'll have a longer chat when I get back from the office this afternoon.
When you are sure of th route that you want to take we'll help you along trying to get there.
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.
As Shaun rightly says if you are wanting employment the AAT is definitely the way to go. There is nothing wrong with either the IAB and ICB but employers have far more awarenes of the AAT.
The AAT will take you longer to study, but it will open more doors. You can get some exemptions for further study with the IAB, but you will get more with the AAT. Other awarding bodies do not seem to recognise the ICB.
Whilst you are training you can only do what your (future) employer allows you to do you cant get a practice licence and do some work on your own untill you qualify, or register with HMRC for money laundering.
As regards, training providers, I would recomend you ring around and ask to speak to the tutors. Obviously I recomend Premier Training but the others also get good reviews on this site. Speak to them all, you do not have to make a decision whilst on the phone. It is a big commitment so you want to be sure you have the right training provider for you. I would also speak to other students on this site as they will give you the best idea.
There is one training provider who gets terrible reviews on this site, you will notice Shaun has omitted one from your original list, this will not have been an accident............
All th best on what ever you plan to do, but if you elaborate on your circumstances i am sure there will be plenty of friendly people on this site willing to help you.
kind regards
Nick
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Nick
Nick Craggs FMAAT ACA AAT Distance Learning Manager
Hello, Thank you both very much for your reply, you are very helpful. From the sound of it, it seems that the AAT would be the best route for me to go at the moment. After reading your helpful replies and other forums, it seems it is the more intense route but in the end it would pay off more if I ever wanted to continue studies.
Saying that, would you recommend the classroom study over the online/home study programs? I am not completely new to the accounting principles as far as studying goes, I did graduate with a BA in Business Admin (which slightly touched accounting, think I took 1-2 courses but was many years ago) and I did a Principles of Accounting course last autumn as well (which I did not finish for personal reasons but still I think I may have gained something from it). I just don't want to set myself up for failure by taking the wrong course and not getting help if needed as I know in the beginning it is a lot of information to take in.
Nick, I think that is a great idea and I will call around to different tutors.
Thats all the questions I have at the moment as I am still gathering all the information (bit overwhelming!) but I will definitely ask if I have any more.
