I am using the Sage workbooks to study levels 1,2 and 3. Could anyone advise whether it is worth doing the accreditation exam at every level, or could I get away with just taking the level 3 exam (in other words, does anyone care about levels 1 and 2 if you have the level 3 certificate)? I intend to work through all the workbooks and learn the content, just not do the exam at the end of the first 2 levels.
The reason I am asking is I intend to sell the workbooks on afterwards and obviously I would get a better price if I haven't used 2 of the included exam entries which would be worth £110 alone. I called Sage to ask but they said to do all 3 levels but wasn't sure if this is just from their profits point of view.
Personally I would do all three levels, but remember they only last 2 years before they expire.
Why not do level 1, then in a couple of years do level 2 and then in another couple of years do level 3.
Therefore get 6 years SAGE accreditation for your money before you need to sit again.
Never had anyone ask "what level of accredition you have" and is really just a marketing point to say that you are SAGE accredited and more important you actually know how to use it.
Thanks very much for the advice. You've hit the nail on the head when you mention marketing tools. I'm changing career in my late 30's so am doing the accreditation purely to beef up my CV to try and compensate for my current lack of experience until I get that first job.
You've made an interesting point about employers not asking about the level of accreditation, so I might do as you suggest regarding spacing the exams out. Interestingly though, I called Sage prior to ordering the workbooks, and asked about the 2 year accreditation and he said that once you are accredited, you stay accredited and he was not aware of anyone who retakes exams after 2 years.
The accreditation only lasts for 2 years. You will see this when you get your first certificate when you pass the exam.
I did the SAGE instant one a couple of years ago and only recently did the SAGE accounts 1, I have SAGE accounts 2 and 3 and will do them in 2 and 4 years respectively when the accreditation runs out.
As said it is just really a marketing ploy that I use it for and I can say without worry to any client that I am SAGE accounts accredited.
Will be doing the SAGE payroll 1 shortly in order can say am SAGE payroll accredited.
I have had all the SAGE accounts and payroll workbooks since 2009 so you can see that despite the changes in versions in the intervening period the accreditation exam hasnt changed.
But working for yourself Mark why would you need to take the accreditations at all?
Surely such is only something to show to potential employers and at the level of Job that you would be looking at if you did want employment they are not going to be interested in whether you have a bit of paper from Sage or not.
Certainly clients have no interest in one's accreditation. The assumption is that if you perform the job then you know what you are doing. (sadly not always a relevant assumption by clients).
Also, that you can get accreditation now in five year old software but there is no difference in the resultant accreditation just seems wrong.
Personally even if I liked the software (no secrets there that I don't) if I did ever take accreditation in it I certainly would not take it more than once.
On the original question of whether one would take all three levels.
If I wanted accreditation I would say that all three levels basically equate to one accreditation as they are three parts of the same. Each level is completely different with no one level covering the whole of the software so to my mind it should be all or nothing (as knowing part of the software is not the same as knowing the whole).
Can't help but think that the concept of doing one and claiming that one is accredited is like taking a qualification in Personal Tax and saying that one can do tax without consideration for the bits that have been missed.
That was not saying that the people who take one do not know the software inside out. What it is saying is that the accreditation of part of the software devalues the accreditation itself (not the knowledge of the person taking the accreditation).
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 said in my earlier posts it a marketing pitch to potential clients that if appropriate can say I am SAGE accredited, similar way that will be able to say I am a xero accredited partner in a few weeks time.
Also as I teach SAGE courses comes in handy for that.
