Just joined the forum although I've been following for a while now.
Currently working as an in-house book keeper for a medium buidling firm. Looking to start the IAB as from what I've read this would give me some expetions from possibly AAT or ACCA going forward. Not sure if I want to go through the accountancy exams but would like to keep my options open, and the IAB seems to offer this.
I can dedicate approx 2 hours a night to studying so just wondering at this pace if anyone knows on average how long it will take to complete the IAB from scratch?
Not done IAB myself but there is great similarity between IAB and other bodies studies.
You are not coming to this from scratch but rather have experience working as a bookkeeper which will make matters much easier for you by being able to relate your studies to the real world.
At a dedicated average 14 hours per week combined with your experience you will be through the qualification in no time (With that sort of dedication there is no reason that you could not have completed everything inside 12 months).
Which modules are you doing? Are you including Payroll? Have you taken any entry level exemptions for prior experience?
Are you distance learning or going it alone?
As for further study... It becomes addictive. You may only aspire to ACCA now but after a year (possibly less) of intense study up to producing basic accounts I would have money on it that you do not want to stop there.
IAB is a sound choice for those aspirations and also opens the door to moving to IFA which is a seriously upcoming accountancy qualification since they gained recognition by IFAC a couple of years back.
The good thing about IFA is that you are an accountant and you don't suffer with ACCA's regulation 8 that restricts what you can do until you have three years of the right sort of supervised experience.
Hope that helps and look forwards to chatting,
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.
Thanks for your post. 12 months would be magic, but happy for it to take a couple of years if needed - not in a major rush.
I'll be going it alone initially, starting with IAB level 1 in bookkeeping and payroll. I've not taken any relevant qualifications before so no exemptions for me, but I'm happy to start from the bottom and work my way up. Hopefully this way it will give me a good grounding in the basics.
Hadn't come across the IFA before so thanks for the info. Looks interesting and will keep in mind once I have the IAB letters after my name!
Hope to chat again going forward, will definitely hang around as this seems like a great resource.
