Accounting | AAT Level 4 (Professional) Diploma in Accounting

The AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting is the most advanced AAT accounting qualification. It's ideal if you have a lot of accounting experience and are looking to become a financial team leader or set up your own practice. It's also the next step from the Advanced Diploma in Accounting.

At this advanced level, you'll cover complex and advanced finance processes and topics. You'll be able to draft financial statements for limited companies, recommend strategy for accounting systems, and build and present complex management accounting reports.

Once you've passed, you'll automatically become an affiliate AAT member. You'll also be able to achieve internationally-recognised professional MAAT status if you have the right work experience.

• 97% would recommend AAT to family, friends and colleagues.
  
  
• 7/10 say that their earning potential has increased since completing their AAT qualification.

The AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting (AQ2016 Syllabus) is worth 56 UCAS credits. It sits on the Qualifications and Credit Framework at Level 4, or Level 8 in the Scottish system.

It'll take you around 560 hours to complete.

It's highly flexible - live online classrooms during lunchtimes, evenings, and weekends make it easy to fit learning around life and work commitments. They're also recorded so if you can't make it, you can watch them back and re-watch them as many times as you need.

In total, you'll study six units. This includes the four core units, plus two out of the four optional units.

Core Units

• Management Accounting: Budgeting
• Management Accounting: Decision and Control
• Financial Statements of Limited Companies
• Accounting Systems and Controls

Optional Units (choose two):

• Business Tax
• Personal Tax
• Cash and Treasury Management
• Credit Management

Additional Fees

In order to sit your exams and receive your qualification, you'll need to pay:

• AAT Registration Fees
• AAT Annual Student Membership Fees
• AAT Exam Fees
• Exam Centre Administration Fees

ICS Learn's course advisors can fill you in on the latest AAT fee information, and advise you on how to pay them. Exam centre fees will vary depending on the centre you choose.

A year's AAT student membership can be included on your payment plan. Please note that AAT requires you to activate your membership within four weeks of enrolment.

Employer-funded courses can be enrolled as an all-inclusive package including course, exam centre fees, and AAT Membership fees.

This course is perfect if you aspire to run your own accounting practice or hold a senior, well-paying technical accounting role.

If you're looking to become a Chartered Accountant, your AAT qualification will allow you to take a fast-track route with all the major Chartered Accountancy bodies.

In order to enrol, you'll need significant practical accounting experience or the Advanced Diploma in Accounting (or the Level 3 Diploma, as it was previously known). Our course advisors will be happy to talk your experience over with you to make sure you're choosing the right course.

You must be over 19, and if English isn't your first language, you'll need an IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent.

Once you've completed the AAT Professional Diploma you'll be a fully qualified Accounting Technician. You'll automatically become an affiliate member of AAT, and if you have the relevant work experience you can apply for internationally-recognised professional MAAT status.

You could set up your own practice, or begin further study to become a Chartered Accountant.