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Do you aspire to have a career in accountancy?
Then the Association of Accounting Technicians and the Chartered Global Management Accountants programmes are perfect to both open the opportunity and deliver the career of your dreams.
It is the UK's leading professional body offering accountancy and bookkeeping qualifications. These programmes equip you with the core understanding necessary to undertake a successful career in commerce and industry.
The three-level programme gives you the essential work-based skills sought after by employers in the UK and worldwide.
The AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting is the entry-level programme.
It delivers the fundamental understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, basic costing, and organisational concepts. There are four units to study at this level:
Units 1 - 3 are assessed via computer-based assessments (CBAs). The 4th module is examined by a Synoptic Assessments.
Units 1 - 3 assessments only cover the content within the unit being examined. The Synoptic assessment is a summary assessment of the whole level and can cover content from any of the 4 units.
Units 1 - 3 assessments take 90 minutes each. The synoptic assessment takes 2 hours.
AAT Level 3 is a progression on from Level 2. It is essential to have the understanding of the Level 2 content, particularly double-entry, before commencing Level 3.
AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting moves from daily, operational level accounts into supervisory roles including month-end and year-end procedures in financial accounts, management accounts, indirect taxation and business understanding. You will also learn about IFRS and GAAPs legal standards under which all accounts are prepared. The 4 units covered at Level 3 are:
Units 1 & 3 assessments both take 2.5 hours.
Units 2 & 4 results are received same day. unit 2 assessment takes 2.5 hours and Unit 4 takes 1.5 hours.
After passing units 2 and 4 at this level you can apply to become a Qualified Bookkeeper with the designatory letters AATQB after your name.
You can also become a licensed bookkeeper.
AAT Level 4 is the final level that builds on the expertise gained in Level 3.
AAT Level 4, the Diploma in Professional Accounting broadens your understanding and moves it to senior strategic level understanding in all of the following: consolidated financial statements, budgeting, applied decision-making, internal systems.
At Level 4 you are also required to pass two of five optional units below:
In total you will sit 5 assessments at the Level 4.
The exam length for the optional units are as follows:
You receive an interim result for the assessment before you leave the assessment centre. If you are not offered it automatically, ask your invigilator or assessment coordinator for the result which is simply printed through their access to the assessment platform.
Your official result, which should be the same as the interim result, will appear in your MyAAT account within 24 hours.
There is a possibility that the final and interim results are different if:
The above difference is very rare.
The Synoptic assessment is partly hand-marked so the results cannot be given on the day. Synoptic results are usually received 6 weeks after sitting the paper.
Level 3 unit 1 and 3 assessments are partly hand-marked meaning you will receive your results approximately 6 weeks after sitting the paper.
Units 2 and 4 are CBA exams meaning they are computer marked. You should receive an interim result before leaving the assessment centre and your final result, provided everything went smoothly, will appear in your MyAAT account within 24 hours.
At level 4 all unit assessments are hand-marked, which means you will not receive your results until six weeks after the assessment was sat.
In most instances, no you don't have to wait.
Where you have sat a CBA type exam, you are going to know the result same or next day so not a problem. However, if you instinctively think you have done badly in the paper then you should focus on a re-sit rather than moving on to the next subjects.
Fails needing re-sits are not as common as you may think, but we are all human and for many reasons could have an off day. As long as you use common sense and don't sit the paper until you are ready, there is a strong probability that you will always pass.
The final paper at Level 2 is the Synoptic Assessment, which takes 6 weeks to be marked. As long as you think you have passed, move on to Level 3, don't wait for the result.
You are always better to move on and keep your study continuity going than to loose momentum waiting 6 weeks for a result.
In fact whenever you are nearing the end of a Level or course, enrol on to the next level before finishing the level you are on. Psychologically this means the transition between levels is barely noticed because you are follow existing patterns of just moving from unit to unit.
At Level 3 the final unit is a CBA's so the result will be known immediately. Again, try to enrol on the next level before finishing level 3 so you maintain that unit to unit continuity.
All Level 4 papers are hand-marked so you will always progress without knowing the previous paper results.
Sorry to be a bit negative briefly, but everyone will experience an assessment fail at some point in their studies.
The good news is you'll learn a lot from that fail experience because you'll realise, other than the annoying extra cost of the resit, that it was no big deal. You just had a bad day provided you were ready to sit the exam. If you weren't ready, an even bigger lesson is learnt.
I can't explain why, but having experienced and learnt from a fail means you are unlikely to ever fail again.
When you fail, you usually know where you went wrong. So it's a quick bit of revision and straight in for a resit. The really good news is, it's extremely rare to fail the exam a second time.
The Level 2 programme is so respected and sought after by employers that your career can begin much sooner than you think.
It is always beneficial, but not necessity, to be employed as soon after your studies begin as possible. This has a number of benefits:
Employers will be interested in employing you for an entry-level position after you have passed your first assessment at Level 2. This means you could be applying for jobs as soon as 12 weeks after starting the programme.
The assessments can be sat either through a local approved assessment centre or you can sit them via remote invigilation either at home or at work.
Consensus is split over which method is better and it really comes down to personal preference as to which method suits you.
Remote invigilation is very good if you live in a remote area or travelling is costly.
It's also very good if you have childcare issue. You can choose the day and time of day when you start the paper. You can begin any when after 1 minute passed midnight on the day of the assessment, up to 1 minute before midnight on the same day.
Once the remote assessment is started, it must be finished within the specified time with no breaks and no leaving the room.
For more details see the remote invigilation information on the awarding body website.
Remote invigilation is also good if assessment centres make you feel nervous, sitting the paper at home has a natural calmness.
Having said all of the above many people still prefer to sit their assessments at an assessment centre for the following simple reasons:
The above demonstrates why the exam choice will always be down to the individuals and their personal preference.
When you have passed all of the assessments at Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 you are qualified as an AAT Accountant.
The qualification, which is yours for life is only part of the journey to building your career. The remainder is gained through work-experience.
To become a full member or a member in practice you have to have a minimum of appropriate work-experience as well as the qualification.
Over time, your experience will become more varied and rise in level to supervisory and then senior levels.
Your primary aim is always to pass the assessments at all levels to really kick-start your career to gain the experience. Membership whilst important is secondary and comes in time.
When you've finish your AAT Level 4 professional qualification and aspire to chartered accountancy, getting a CIMA qualification should be your next move.
This progression marks the beginning of your CIMA journey, where you can leverage your Level 4 background to accelerate your path through CIMA’s different entry routes.
Moving on to Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA) shouldn't make a difference when waiting for your final Level 4 assessment result, but please check with CGMA.
If you are as confident as is possible that the unknown result is a pass then it is okay to begin your CGMA studies at the Operational Level.
The full Level 4 AAT programme will mean you're exempt from the 4 papers of CGMA Certificate in Business Accounting meaning you start at the Operational Level.
As said previously, study continuity is important so it's good to try to keep the study flow going.
Having said this, be honest with yourself, if there is a question mark over the success of your last paper wait for the result.
I say wait, not because you are not ready for CGMA, but because you don't want to waste your access time to the CGMA course having to revise for a resit.
If you are unsure speak to the CGMA. However, the decision to start is ultimately yours and what you are comfortable with. Any other opinions are subjective and personal to the advisor.
If you have completed the AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting, you can start at the CIMA Professional Qualification directly without taking the Certificate in Business Accounting.
CIMA exemptions are credits you gain if you’ve passed financial courses with other awarding bodies.
You can be exempt from particular CIMA (CGMA) exams, meaning you do not need to sit those exempt exams if you have already passed the equivalent with other awarding bodies.
Eligible for exemptions can also apply to specific exempt cima exams, based on your previous experience relevant to the subject matter.
Exemptions are possible because CIMA acknowledges qualifications as proof that you have proven you have already mastered those skills in previous studies.
Being eligible for exemptions can also allow you to bypass some of the qualification's exams, accelerating your progress toward full CGMA certification. With the obvious perk of reducing overall course, membership and exam fees.
Holding an accounts degree will also qualify you for exemptions from certain CIMA exams. Different degrees offer different exemptions so it's always best to check.
CIMA does not charge for exemptions, saving students money and time in their qualification journey.
To apply for CIMA exemptions, candidates must submit their qualifications and transcripts to CIMA for evaluation.
Students can check their eligibility for CIMA exemptions using the CIMA exemptions calculator available on their website.
To help you determine your entitlement to exemptions, AAT members benefit from a fast-track exemptions service that processes applications in just 4 days.
It is recommended to review the CIMA Certificate syllabus while holding exemptions to ensure required knowledge for the Operational Level is held.
CIMA exemptions are valid for five years, and students must complete remaining exams within that timeframe.
CIMA offers a structured qualification process that begins with the Certificate in Business Accounting.
CGMA Professional is the natural progression after AAT. It is a higher education programme seen to be equal to post graduate studies.
CIMA is significantly harder than AAT because it requires more knowledge and experience at higher levels.
CIMA recognises a range of relevant qualifications, such as AAT enabling you to start at a more advanced level, thus streamlining your route to the CGMA designation. The programme helps to cultivate your understanding in analysing financial data, developing strategic insights, and assisting decision-making processes.
CGMA-qualified professionals, generally command higher salaries and more senior leadership opportunities across various industries. Completing the CIMA programme can lead to roles such as Finance Director, which typically come with increased responsibilities and higher salaries.
AAT is a Level 4 assessment and CIMA is a Level 7 assessment, indicating that CIMA is examined at a higher level.
When registering, you will become a CGMA candidate member, which is the first step toward achieving the CGMA designation. AAT Level 4 graduates can start the CIMA Professional Qualification straight away due to their exemptions.
To access all CIMA student benefits, it is important to complete full registration. You can start your registration, save your progress, and return later to complete it fully if needed.
Earning your CGMA designation proves your management accounting mastery and opens many career opportunities.
But before applying and being a chartered accountant, you must sit and pass your assessments first. Here is some additional information to help you prepare to study CGMA.
The CIMA certification, is internationally recognised and can help you progress to be a senior management professional such as Finance Director or follow CIMA's CFO programme to become a Chief Financial Officer.
With the CIMA certification, you can become a CGMA Accountant, a designation that signals your expertise in management accounting and your commitment to professional excellence.
Both CIMA and the AAT programmes demonstrate your professional accounting skills and make you eligible for more advanced positions in finance and managerial roles. To achieve the CGMA designation, you’ll need to finish the CIMA qualification and gain relevant professional experience, showcasing your ability to apply accounting knowledge in real-world industrial environments.
There are multiple routes to achieving your accounting career goals, with both the CIMA qualification and AAT programmes offering structured pathways.
The CIMA qualification is divided into three progressive levels: Operational, Management, and Strategic. Each level includes three Objective Tests and case study exam/s, allowing you to build your expertise step by step.
Completing the AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting (Level 4) make you eligible for exemptions from the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting.
Most importantly, studying up to Level 4 gives you an unequalled knowledge base that doubles your chances of passing the CIMA Professional Qualification and taking fewer exams.
You will need more than just reading and passively absorbing information to get you far in taking CIMA exams.
It is strongly recommended by CIMA that you enrol with a CIMA accredited training provider like e-Careers where you are guaranteed to have access to the CIMA recommended resources and tutor support.
Studying with a training provider will help you to achieve higher pass rates sooner.
Make sure you use all of the resources at your disposal on the training providers platform.
Leave nothing to chance. If you don't understand something ask your tutor whilst the misunderstanding is small. Don't let an understanding issue fester into a big problem.
If you want to progress on from AAT, a CIMA qualification is a great option because it expands on your prior management accounting knowledge.
The CGMA management level is a key stage, offering significant advantages such as exemptions and faster progression. Each level includes three Objective Tests followed by case study exam/s, with the strategic case study exam serving as the final assessment for the qualification.
Some candidates with relevant prior qualifications, such as AAT Level 4, are eligible for exemptions from four exams, accelerating their journey. Make sure you cover any missing skills from those exemptions.
For those with advanced qualifications like an MBA, the gateway exam provides an entry point, allowing them to skip multiple exams and directly attempt the managerial case study exam. Your years work experience can also impact your entry level into the CIMA pathway.
CIMA is a globally recognised qualification that can enhance your career opportunities and earning potential.
CIMA students and members can work in a wide range of roles, from finance to consultancy and business partnering. CIMA graduates are sought after by employers in various sectors, and completing the qualification can lead to senior roles, which come with increased responsibilities and higher salaries.
Achieving CIMA membership involves passing all required exams, including the strategic case study exam, and meeting practical experience requirements, ultimately granting you the CGMA designation and access to a global professional network.
The CIMA qualification helps develop skills in financial analysis, strategic decision-making, and project strategy, all highly valued in the business environment.
To check your entitlement for CIMA exemptions, you can use the CIMA exemptions calculator available on their website. During registration, you can simply log out and return at a later date to complete your application without losing progress.
At e-Careers we help with your accounting journey by providing comprehensive courses and resources at an affordable price. Contact us at +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 to speak with our career advisors or visit our Accounting page for more information about our AAT and CIMA courses.
In summary, accounting certifications such as the CIMA qualification and the AAT qualification are powerful tools for advancing your career in finance and strategic planning. With a range of study options and support services available, you can choose the path that best fits your goals and learning style.
To begin your journey, visit the AAT website and if eligible, the CIMA website or connect with us an AAT and CIMA training provider to learn more about the registration process and available exemptions.
Using the CIMA exemption calculator, you can quickly determine your eligibility for exemptions and plan your route to becoming a Chartered Accountant (CGMA) or an AAT Qualified Accountant.
By taking the first step towards a professional accounting qualification, you’ll unlock new opportunities, enhance your skills, and set yourself apart in the competitive world of finance and accounting.
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