How Much Does an AAT Qualification Cost?

One of the key factors that you’re going to need to consider when choosing a professional qualification is (groan) its cost.

After all, if you’re going to be putting that much time, effort and money into something, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re getting the best possible deal.

We decided to have a closer look into how much AAT qualifications cost, and the factors that influence that, so that you can save money when you’re choosing your study. Let’s go.

AAT qualifications

The Association of Accounting Technicians is the world’s leading professional body for vocational accountancy, with over 150,000 members across the world. They issue a range of qualifications at entry-level, intermediate and advanced skill levels.

These qualifications are globally recognised by employers, meaning your AAT qualification will be recognised by employers around the world.

What affects the cost of an AAT qualification?

There are a lot of factors that affect that price of AAT qualifications. The most common ones are:

The provider

You might be surprised to learn that AAT prices aren’t set in stone by the association itself: they actually vary from learning provider to provider. In effect, learning providers set the prices of the qualification, based on guidelines from the AAT.

The study format you choose

You’ll be able to study AAT courses in three formats: either in a classroom, online, or a mixture of the two (known as ‘blended learning’).

If you choose to study in a classroom, you’ll have to attend a physical class in person every week. This will normally be in an educational setting, like a school or college. The sessions will be led by a tutor and you’ll learn with other students at the same time.

Classes like this are usually run according to a strict schedule and are designed to be completed within a certain number of months. These types of courses are usually the most expensive study option.

If you study online, you’ll have digital access to all of the course lectures, materials and activities and you’ll work through them either at your own pace or on a set schedule alongside other students. The only time you’ll need to go to a school, college or university is to sit your exams.

Online AAT courses often offer a much more flexible schedule than classroom courses, with some providers (like us!) giving you the freedom to choose where, where and how often you study. This makes it great for people juggling the demands of a full-time job or a family.

Online AAT courses are also usually a lot cheaper than classroom courses.

The qualification itself

How advanced the qualification is will also have an effect on how much it costs to study.

You’ll usually find that entry-level AAT qualifications, like the AAT Level 2 Certificate are cheaper to study than more advanced qualifications like the AAT Level 4 Diploma.

This reflects the length of study, complexity of information covered in the course, and the long-term value that the qualification will give you.

Packages

Many providers offer packages that include some of the costs associated with AAT qualifications too, like exam centre fees and AAT membership. These packages range from all-inclusive ones that cover the cost of everything, to targeted packages that cover particular costs.

So, how much do AAT qualifications actually cost?

As you read above, the price of AAT qualifications will vary according to the qualification, learning provider and the format that you choose.

AAT Level 2 course cost

The AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting is designed for people at the very start of their finance careers. It's designed to give you a solid base of knowledge for you to build on throughout your career in the industry. 

AAT Level 2 cost:  On average, according to the AAT, training provider fees range from £600 to £2,000 for this course. At ICS Learn, the qualification costs £699. AAT registration fees cost £175 for UK students and the fee for international students varies, depending on where you live in the world. 

Best for: People approaching accountancy with no prior knowledge or experience, or those who have some accounting experience but haven’t mastered essential skills like double-entry bookkeeping.

AAT Level 3 course cost

The AAT Level 3 Diploma is an intermediate qualification, best suited to people who have some experience of accountancy already and are comfortable with double-entry bookkeeping. It’s a useful way to develop the skills and theoretical knowledge you’ll need in more intermediate accountancy roles.

AAT Level 3 cost: It will usually cost between £900 to £2,000 to study this qualification. At ICS Learn, the qualification costs £699. AAT registration fees cost £228 for UK students (reduced to £96 for AAT bookkeeping members) and the fee for international students varies, depending on where you live in the world. 

Best for: People in a junior accountancy role looking to progress their career, or those who have already completed an AAT Level 2 qualification

AAT Level 4 course cost

This is the highest level qualification that AAT offer. The AAT Level 4 Diploma is designed for people with a significant amount of accountancy experience and expertise, who are looking to master the complex skills to thrive in a senior role.

AAT Level 4 cost: Usually, the AAT Level 4 Diploma costs about £1,000 to £3,000. At ICS Learn, the qualification costs £815. AAT registration fees cost £244 for UK students (reduced to £112 for AAT bookkeeping members) and the fee for international students varies, depending on where you live in the world. 

Best for: Accountancy professionals in intermediate roles, looking to advance to more senior positions, or those who have completed the AAT Level 3 Diploma.

AAT Level 2 and 3 Combined course cost

As well as offering individual courses, AAT also offer combined courses. These allow you to study two qualifications in one, helping you progress your career development in one place and saving you money overall. If you're looking at studying an AAT Level 2 and plan on continuing to study the AAT Level 3, this option makes sense in terms of cost and logistics. The AAT Level 2 Certificate and 3 Diploma in Accounting is designed for people who are looking to progress quickly in their accountancy career and who are serious about their career development.

AAT Level 2 and 3 cost: Usually, the AAT Level 2 and 3 Combined qualification costs about £1,000 to £3,000. At ICS Learn, the qualification costs £1,149. AAT registration fees cost £244 for UK students and the fee for international students varies, depending on where you live in the world. 

Best for: People who looking to break into an accountancy career, people who are working in entry-level accountancy roles. 

AAT Level 3 and 4 Combined course cost

The AAT Level 3 and Level 4 Diplomas in Accounting is a combined accountancy course that's aimed at professionals with some prior accountancy-based knowledge or work experience, who are looking to progress their career to a more intermediate level. In some cases, it might be suitable to people transitioning to the field from another area. 

AAT Level 2 and 3 cost: Usually, the AAT Level 3 and 4 Combined qualification costs about £1,000 to £3,000. At ICS Learn, the qualification costs £1,149. AAT registration fees cost £244 for UK students and the fee for international students varies, depending on where you live in the world. 

Best for: People who looking to break into an accountancy career, people who are working in entry-level accountancy roles. 

Develop your accountancy career today!

Has reading this blog given you a better idea of what AAT qualifications exist, how much they cost and whether they might be a good investment for your career development? We hope so! We wish you the best of luck on your quest for a career in accountancy!

Discover how an AAT qualification can transform your career prospects and be completed 100% online.