AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping

Awarded by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping will give you a solid introduction to bookkeeping and basic accounting practices to give you confidence in the workplace.

AAT qualifications are ideal if you are new to finance or looking to brush up on your knowledge and skills. You will learn a range of basic level 2 accounting practices and techniques including manual double entry bookkeeping and associated documents and processes, up to Trial Balance standard, providing a great starting point for anyone wishing to start a career in the accounting industry.

As a student on this programme you will need to register as a student member with the AAT. You can register online at www.aat.org.uk. Your AAT membership will give you access to extensive e-learning resources, forums, networking opportunities and practice assessments.

Key Facts

Attendance: Half-day classes or blended learning.
Duration: Six months.
Location: Huntingdon or blended learning.
Next start date: January 2024. Please note, blended learning students can start at any time.

Course delivery details:

Location	Attendance Options	Day	Time
Huntingdon	Half-day release (am)	Wednesdays	9:15am-12:30pm
Blended Learning	No college attendance required, start at any time	n/a	n/a

Entry Requirements

Whilst there are no formal academic entry requirements to undertake the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping, competency in basic maths and English is necessary.

Course Content

This bookkeeping qualification offers a combination of classroom or online lessons and regular tutorial support. It is suggested that students set aside additional time (approximately five hours per week) outside of lessons to support their classroom activities.

The following two units will be studied:

Introduction to Bookkeeping

This unit provides students with an understanding of manual and digital bookkeeping systems, including the associated documents and processes. Students will learn the basic principles that underpin the double-entry bookkeeping system and will learn that digital accounting systems are automating some of the stages in the process

Principles and procedures related to processing business transactions, financial documents and payments for customers and suppliers.
Developing skills in processing ledger transactions and preparing an initial trial balance.

Principles of Bookkeeping Controls

This unit builds on the knowledge and skills acquired from studying Introduction to Bookkeeping and explores control accounts, journals and reconciliations. It takes students through a number of processes used in bookkeeping that help verify and validate the entries made. These processes enable the student to understand the purpose of control accounts and associated reconciliations. Students will also understand the use of the journal to the stage of redrafting the trial balance, following initial adjustments.

Maintenance and reconciliation of a cash book by accurately entering receipts and payments, balancing and reconciling with bank statements.
Knowledge and understanding of the UK banking system and related organisational activities.
Petty cash transactions and the importance of the Journal as a primary accounting record.
Maintaining control over debtors and creditors, aided by preparation and use of debtor and creditor control accounts.
Non-standard bookkeeping transactions and double-entry bookkeeping records.

Assessment

Computer based exams or projects will be undertaken. As we are an AAT accredited exam centre these exams can be taken at College without the need to travel to an external exam centre.

Full Fee	Pay As You Learn
£482	£96 per month

Course Fees

Course fees can either be paid in full before the beginning of the course, on an annual basis, or via our ‘Pay As You Learn’ monthly payment scheme. A CAW Loans2Learn scheme is also available, details can be found below.

If you have not achieved your qualification by the planned end date detailed in your individual learning plan, continued support and course access is available by paying monthly direct debit payments until certification is achieved.

Full Fee	Pay As You Learn
£482	£96 per month

Awarding Body Fees*

Payment for AAT membership, exam fees (approximately £188*) and textbooks (approximately £33 per unit) will also be required.

* Awarding Body Fees are payable by all students or employers and recharged at cost and may be subject to change.

These are current figures and may be subject to change.

Funding Available to Residents of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire (Subject to Eligibility)

Check if you are eligible to undertake this course for free here.

The CAW Loans2Learn scheme is a personal loan that can help you to spread the cost of your course into manageable payments. The loan can be used to fully or partially cover your course fees (but does not cover any awarding body fees, such as enrolment and examination fees). Please contact us for more information.

Sources of financial help can be found on our student finance page. Before making any financial decision it is recommended that you seek advice from an independent source, for example the Money Advice Service.

What Next?

Fast track your learning to allow you to start on one of our Level 3 courses in September 2023!

After completing the AAT Level 2 Bookkeeping qualification, you may wish to continue your studies by applying for one of the following courses:

Your course tutor, or a member of our Customer Advice Team, will help you choose the most suitable progression course for you.

The Level 2 AAT Bookkeeping qualification will allow you to work in roles, such as:

Bookkeeper
Purchase Ledger Clerk
Accounts Payable Clerk

Testimonials

What our AAT students say…

We asked our students what aspects of their AAT course they have most enjoyed. Here are some of the things they had to say!

“Learning new skills, socialising with people within a similar field of work and with similar goals”
“I have really enjoyed the classes and follow up activities for homework. The resources are very good”
“Manageable sections. Broken down so not overloaded with information”
“Good tutor making a hard subject easy to understand with good examples”