Hello, my names Richard and I'm just starting my bookkeeping journey.
I had my own business but a nasty accident left having to close the company in 2019. After subsequent events during 2020 and the start of this year, I find myself starting again from scratch. I'm 45 so very keen to learn as much as possible. My aim, at this stage anyway, is to be a self employed bookkeeper that works from home.
I recently bought a course book by BPP Learning Media on Amazon. It's the Level 2 foundation certificate in Accounting: Bookkeeping Transactions. I've been studying this and find it interesting and enjoyable. I'm basically torn between doing the full AAT bookkeeping modules or the full AAT Accounting Modules. I was initially going to just go with bookkeeping but I'm thinking I'd be better off doing the full accountancy courses.
Another issue is who to learn with. I'm looking at BPP and also Premier Training. I also now realise from a few threads I've seen here that ACCA X has some free training. If you could recommend any training providers I'd be very grateful.
My other question was if I went down the full accountancy route, would I be able to practice bookkeeping when those modules are complete or will I wait until I fully complete the course? Conversely, can I do the full bookeeping courses and then go in at a certain level with the accounting course at a later date? This may be better for me though I realise Shamus said in another thread to do either or but there are more opportunities obviously with the full accounting route.
Anyway my apologies for rambling. And I hope I make sense .
My apologies for such a newbie intro but it is new to me. I've been poking around the forum today though and I saw this post and the measured responses.
Hello, my names Richard and I'm just starting my bookkeeping journey.
I had my own business but a nasty accident left having to close the company in 2019. After subsequent events during 2020 and the start of this year, I find myself starting again from scratch. I'm 45 so very keen to learn as much as possible. My aim, at this stage anyway, is to be a self employed bookkeeper that works from home.
I recently bought a course book by BPP Learning Media on Amazon. It's the Level 2 foundation certificate in Accounting: Bookkeeping Transactions. I've been studying this and find it interesting and enjoyable. I'm basically torn between doing the full AAT bookkeeping modules or the full AAT Accounting Modules. I was initially going to just go with bookkeeping but I'm thinking I'd be better off doing the full accountancy courses.
Another issue is who to learn with. I'm looking at BPP and also Premier Training. I also now realise from a few threads I've seen here that ACCA X has some free training. If you could recommend any training providers I'd be very grateful.
My other question was if I went down the full accountancy route, would I be able to practice bookkeeping when those modules are complete or will I wait until I fully complete the course? Conversely, can I do the full bookeeping courses and then go in at a certain level with the accounting course at a later date? This may be better for me though I realise Shamus said in another thread to do either or but there are more opportunities obviously with the full accounting route.
Anyway my apologies for rambling. And I hope I make sense .
Many thanks.
Hi Richard, welcome to the forum.
Suggestion for training on AAT is first tuition.
With AAT you can do still do bookkeeping providing you don't mention AAT until you're qualified. Definitely go for accountancy rather than just bookkeeping. Small traders prefer a one stop shop where one person does the lot.
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John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
With AAT you can do still do bookkeeping providing you don't mention AAT until you're qualified. Definitely go for accountancy rather than just bookkeeping. Small traders prefer a one stop shop where one person does the lot.
Thank you John for the welcome and reply. I hadn't considered First Tuition so I'll have a look at them today.
Originally I had just planned to do the bookkeeping but I'm definitely going to do the full AAT accountancy now.
I was a bit disheartened reading a couple of posts here regarding accountants being laid off, becoming bookkeepers and the market being saturated so it's a bad time to get involved etc. That said, it's an excellent skill to learn, one I wished I'd learned before I undertook my previous business and as all low points tend to be followed by a high, by the time I'm qualified and had some real time experience, be it a job or volunteering, it'll be a while from now so I hope things have changed... or are in the process of changing.
A wise person once told me, or I read somewhere anyway..."It doesn't matter how good something is in life or how bad something is in life, the one thing you can guarantee is that it will change."
Many thanks for your advice John and have a good weekend.
I'd definitely recommend you going for the full accountancy route. My suggestion would be to opt for basic to advanced Accounting modules provided by Osborne Training, which is an AAT approved training provider.
https://www.osbornetraining.org/
And yes you can practice bookkeeping but would be excellent if you qualify AAT ultimately.
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