AAT Level 2 Fast-track and Level 3 Accounting

• Course completion times 12 months for Level 2 and 15 months for Level 3 - Plenty of time to achieve relaxed stress free learning.

• You'll will learn to study the Gold Edge Training way and achieve the high pass marks that our students are renowned for – To increase your ability to learn, you'll receive one-to-one coaching support.

• Likewise, you have open access online tutor 7 days a week. Your online learning platform is available 24/7.

• There over 200 approved UK, AAT assessments centres around the UK - You should be more than a short distance from your local centre.

• When studying the AAT Level 2 fast-track and the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting you will have access to recorded classroom that are multi-viewable - live tutor led classroom sessions - key topic animation & interactive online learning – hardcopy Kaplan study textbooks books for manual learning and Kaplan exam kits to support your 4-staged revision programme. All books are included in the course price.

• Computer based exams fee and one off registration fee are additional costs. AAT registration is available for purchase at enrolment. It is not essential to buy at enrolment.

• If you are employer sponsored we can quote and then invoice you for all fees: course, exam and AAT registration. If you would like a quote please email coaching@goldedgetraining.co.uk

• Average completion time based on 6-8 hours of study a week is 16 weeks Level 2 and 34 weeks for Level 3. View these timeframes loosely all students learn differently and have varying hours available for study.

• Fast response – coaching and tutor support to ensure continuity of study.

• You can pay in full at enrolment or through an interest free payment plan.

• Enrolment 365 days a year.

A TOTUM PRO Student Discount Card

Benefit from TOTUM PRO membership (formerly known as NUS extra). You can get discount and deals in restaurants, fashion, tech to travel, and daily essentials. Make sure you have your card with you at all times to benefit. All Gold Edge Training students are entitled to apply for a TOTUM PRO Student Discount Card. Deals vary daily.

Gold Edge Training was founded in 2012. From the outset, it had a belief that all learners should have an equal opportunity to achieve success through studying in a way that is natural to them. From the beginning, its distance learning programmes were renowned for delivering the very highest of pass rates nationwide. Our unit and overall level assessments pass rates far exceed the AAT national average.

The Gold Edge unique coaching programme was designed and written by our head of faculty. Alongside teaching AAT and pioneering learning style online delivery, she has specialised in developing the learners skills and techniques to ensure success in AAT accountancy exams for over 24 years. 

With a collective pedigree of AAT experience spanning nearly 40 years, we’ve learnt to listen and understand how AAT students learn and have then developed online programmes that ensure success. Our team have successfully taught 1000's of AAT students who have gone on to become high-earning qualified accountants. Learning the Gold Edge way undoubtedly delivers the success you deserve.

You control when, how and where you learn and set your own pace of study – We support at the pace you set. Our courses are designed to be studied anywhere and at anytime. We help you to utilise 5 minutes of re-cap time as well as maximising your full study sessions through your personalises timetables. Five minute study bites as well as full learning sessions will increase your memory recall by keeping the new learning at the forefront of your mind.

Kaplan hard copy study textbooks & exam kit books

Optimum learning is balanced learning. With Gold Edge you benefit from learning in different ways to increase the depth of your understanding - How you absorb knowledge online is different to how you gain knowledge from a book. The more varied opportunities you have to absorb knowledge, the deeper the understanding gained.

Recorded & Live online classroom

We offer live classroom sessions day and evening for Levels 2, 3 and 4. You have the choice to watch the lectures live or recorded. Offering both is beneficial to different learning styles. Live is better for auditory learners. Whereas visual learners better suit recorded lectures because of the stop and start flexibility. The live sessions are also recorded to meet personal availability. Kinaesthetic and reflective learning styles also respond best to recorded sessions. Understanding your natural learning style will develop as you learn. Although from the outset, after answering a few coaching questions to build your personalised timetable, you'll begin to see the benefits of learning in the way that is natural to you.

Online interactive content

All resources will have benefits to all learning styles. The benefits gained however, will be dependent on the order in which you use each of resources. All students, based on their natural learning style, will prefer or lead with different online or manual resources. You will be guided on this at the start of your course. Overall, we offer a full online range of workbooks, animations, interactive questions and videos in addition to the recorded and live classroom and hardcopy books. Amongst the online resources you will find PowerPoint presentations, additional manual question banks and practice exams.

Four-stage revision programme

Our programmes are designed for your success. Being exam ready comes in two stages, firstly building your learning stage knowledge and secondly, transferring your learning knowledge into exam success ready knowledge. Our four-stage revision programme of: AAT green light testing to check depth of understanding – completing circa 200 practice questions in exam format - recorded exam preparation session and finally, exam practice papers. The four-stages of revision are designed to gradually transfer your stored learning knowledge into exam ready knowledge. This is achieved through building and testing your depth of understanding as well as testing your knowledge & understanding's flexibility

The Level 2 AAT qualification covers the daily activities of an accounts office. The AAT Level 3 broadens and raises the level of accountancy knowledge to begin a managerial approach to financial matters. Together, the Level 2 and 3 will give you the professional accounting knowledge to prepare accounting records and provide management accounting information. After completing the Level 3, your accounting career will be well advanced.

The AAT qualifications are the industry recognised qualifications that delivers the skills and accounting principles necessary for all accounting roles whether employed and self employed.

You will learn to process transactions using advanced double-entry bookkeeping skills whilst also learning compliance with bookkeeping controls. Your study will include business awareness of external and internal environments. You'll look at the legal framework of accountancy and be able to implement procedures that produce financial statements and interpret financial statements for all business types. Underpinning all of your studies is understanding the need for data security.

Your course will include the financial and management accounting techniques expected of an accounting technician. You'll learn to record depreciation calculations for non-current assets as part of the period end adjustments plus accruals and prepayments and provision for bad debt. Throughout your studies you will learn to apply professional ethics, gain a good understanding of spreadsheet techniques, profitability ratios and tax processes for businesses.

Your studies of the Association of Accounting Technicians will cover how to calculate VAT at AAT Level 2 through to being able to successfully complete and verify VAT returns at AAT Level 3 plus many other accounting processes for businesses.

Management accounting techniques will be studied to ensure cash management by preparing financial statements. You'll understand how to apportion and attribute costs by understanding the principles of business. As your studies progress you will develop a strong sense of business awareness.

Entering supplier transactions into the purchase and sales ledger control (accounts payable and accounts receivable) will be part of your studies. At regular times in an accounting period, you'll learn to check that the control accounts reconcile and all customer transactions and supplier payments have been completed and entered correctly into the system.

Your distance learning accounting qualification in Bookkeeping and Accounting, will ensure, moving forward, that your accounting skills for preparing accounts comply with all legal aspects and that you understand principles of both financial and cost accounting.

On completion of both Level 2 bookkeeping and Level 3 accounting qualifications, you will achieve professional bookkeeping status including "AATQB" letters after your name.

The accounts preparation within your Level 3 studies will include how to record period end adjustments, advanced bookkeeping, hot to produce a trial balance to the preparation of final accounts for sole traders, partnerships and small limited companies.

Your AAT Assessment Schedule Level 2

• Introduction to Bookkeeping - 1 exam  (90 mins)

• Principles of Bookkeeping Controls - 1 exam (90 mins)

• Plus the computerised Sage Certification qualification

Your AAT Assessment Schedule Level 3

• Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements - 1 exam

• Management Accounting Techniques - 1 exam

• Tax Processes for Businesses - 1 exam

• Business Awareness - 1 exam

Book your computer based assessments when you begin the 4-stages of revision. Revision takes 2-3 weeks to complete. Booking at the start of revision gives you a target to progress towards.

You can sit your computer based assessments at an exam centre close to where you live. There are no set times when exam should be sat, you sit them when you are ready. 

If you want to begin an accountancy or bookkeeping career, the AAT Level 2 Fast-track followed by the AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting gives the perfect start and intermediate to your future career.

We enrol students from the age 14 years upwards. 

There are no entry requirements to study AAT Level 2 we expect that you have good basic maths skills and a good command of the English language.

To study you will require access to a PC or Laptop. The learning platforms are both Windows and Mac compatible.

Whilst the lectures, e-books and interactive e-learning are delivered online. We also supply a combination of hardcopy Kaplan books and or downloadable workbooks and question banks for balanced learning.

AAT accounting employment is a job for life - anywhere in the world. The AAT studies are underpinned by international accountancy standards, which is why they are transferrable worldwide.

Employers target AAT studiers and AAT qualified people because of the practical, workplace ready skills meaning you hit the ground running in any new position. The demand in the UK and abroad has made AAT the leading national and international accountancy qualification. Show employers your determination by self-financing your Level 2 and 3 studies. If you would like no obligation advice please ring 023 9400 3559 to speak to our AAT experts. Alternatively, please complete a free course advice form on our website. Your expert answer will be written personally by one of our teachers or coaches

Below are average salaries for Level 2 achievers: 

• Accounts and clerical assistant work in finance administration- £23,000 

• Purchase/Sales Ledger Clerk - £23,000 

• Accounts Payable Clerk - £24,000

For Level 3 achievers

• Accountancy and Finance roles - £27,000

• Team Leader/Supervisor - £28,000

• Middle Manager - £36,000

• Director/Senior Manager - £46,000

* Please note the salaries above are the median mid-point from survey participants only. These salaries will vary with level of experience, position held, company size and geographic location.

 Q. Should I study the AAT Bookkeeping course or the AAT Accounting course?

A. Both routes will deliver a good career. Starting with bookkeeping Level 2 and then moving to the accounting route gives you optimum career opportunities using the most cost effective route.

Q. Will studying the fast-track route at Level 2 affect me becoming an AAT Accountant at Level 4?

A. No.  Level 2 is an optional level that supplies the skills required for Level 3 and then Level 4. Some students with a lot of prior accounting experience will get a pass through Level 2 completely. The important achievement gained from Level 2 is to have a full and conversant knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping. This requirement is fully covered in the fast-track

Q.  At what point in my studies can I start to apply for accounting employment?

A. The ideal time is after you have passed your first exam at Level 2. You have proven to the employer that you have passed the hardest exam at Level 2. From the employers perspective they know you are work ready for an accounting entry role position.

Q. Do I have to gain work experience as I study?

A. No, you can study the full qualification without gaining any work experience. However, building a career is about study and work experience. Until you begin to develop the work experience, you will not fully develop in your career. Try to start your work experience during your level 2 studies. There are other benefits too, your employer is likely to help sponsor your studies.