No, you don't have to complete level 2 in order to sit level 3 exams. I asked the same question when I was enrolling and was told it's not compulsory but highly recommended. Hope this helps.
My training provider (HLC) says -"To enrol on the IAB Advanced Bookkeeping course you must already hold the IAB Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping and IAB Level 2 Award in Computerised Bookkeeping; or have two years? experience in bookkeeping," but the IAB website says otherwise.
It's good to know.
I'll finish level 2 in manual and computerised bookkeeping and move on to level 3 and then sit the level 3 exams and get certified, hopefully. That is if my IAB student number comes through as HLC says it can take up to 13-weeks to get it in which case I might have been done with the whole course by then and moved onto AAT.
All I can do is study and keep chasing the postman
HLC will say that just to get extra fees out of you, Im afraid! I would be tempted to contact IAB for your student number. OR why not start AAT at level 2 and cut out the middleman if you are aiming to do that anyway as you will probably end up covering some of the syllabus twice anyway? Try to skills test on their website.
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position