I am currently doing my level 2 AAT and enjoying it a lot.
Ive just found out I can actually get help paying for my Level 3 and 4 and was wondering if it was worth it going up to level 4 and what that qualification means in the real world terms or jobs I can do etc
So glad you went down the AAT route and more so that you are enjoying it.
Ive not read the last post back, far too busy, but the question most would want to know is what you would like to do with your qualification when you get it. An idea of the end game helps answer the Q. Although it might well be a case of you have no idea of what is out there and what is possible and need to know this to help you decide.
The world is your lobster with the full Level 4 and can open up a LOT of opportunities and doing the whole lot can often make the decisions whilst you decide what parts of the course you prefer over others (eg management accountancy v financial accountancy for eg)
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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
Ive not been on this site before I've only just found it :)
I want to have a job for life that I can earn well in and there are plenty of opportunities for me to build and extend my knowledge.
Joanne- That's good, would I be classed as an accountant then with a level 4? I didn't go into to much detail with the training provider I wanted to get peoples opionis on weather its all worth the money and weather there is work for me out there once I have completed it :)
Level 4 gives you a Professional Diploma in Accounting so yes you can call yourself an Accountant once you have gained the experience to AAT acceptable levels. You may hear people call the role an Accounts Technician.
If you havent got one already, you can start to look for jobs now in the Accounting arena, be it in practice or for a company that has a medium/large accounting function. You may be required to start at entry level even with level 4 if you have no related experience so the sooner you start applying the better, plus its not so easy to get in to in large chunks of the country as there is so much competition for roles. Depends what else you can bring to the roll and differentiate yourself from the rest. I would suggest that such a qualification could take you to junior maybe middle management within industry.
To practice on your own you need some knd of experience to show to the AAT before they will give you a practice licence so the exams on their own do not allow you to practice, but once you have the practice lice you will become a MAAT MIP (Member of...., Member in practice) You become FMAAT MIP when you have been a member for 5years +.
If you are looking for senior management type roles in industry (big fat pay cheques) or to go on to become a Chartered in practice (again more £££ earning potential) then you can move on and use some of your AAT exams to bypass some of the lower stages of the Chartered Quals, although its always been suggested on here that you do the full Chartered exams as they are in quite a different format to the AAT and you will be better prepared for the higher exams. www.aat.org.uk/aat-qualifications-and-courses/get-chartered
Another option is to go and do the specialist tax exams.
What is it you do now? You mentioned help for the next two levels - have you managed to get a training contract or an Apprenticeship?
Edited for no reason whatsoever, shut up Doug!! ;-P
-- Edited by Cheshire on Wednesday 8th of November 2017 08:55:50 PM
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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
Thank you that was a lot of helpful information.
I am not currently working I have been diagnosed with an illness that makes me house bound and will be a few years until I will be ok again so I want to use this time to study up as much as possible.
There are a few charities around my area that I can go and work for to gain experience when I need it. I was told I donât have to do that until I start my level 4 and hopefully by the time that comes I will have made a recovery
I can get an advanced learners loan to pay for them both so that makes it a lot easier for me to do
Thank you for your help
with the full Level 4 and can open up a LOT of opportunities and doing the whole lot can often make the decisions whilst you decide what parts of the course you prefer over others (eg management accountancy v financial accountancy for eg) 
