Association of Accounting Technicians - Qualifications

Qualifications

The AAT Intermediate qualification (S/NVQ 3 level) has become the first vocational qualification to be approved for the university entrance points system with a value higher than an A grade at A-level. The NVQ is credited at 160 UCAS points (40 more than an "A" in A-Level). The final AAT qualification, AAT Technician, is equivalent to S/NVQ level 4.

Accounting Technicians, when certified as being experienced and competently qualified, can perform exactly the same tasks in a financial environment as most qualified Chartered Accountants. The main differences being that in the UK Accounting Technicians can not sign off companies audit reports and until very recently needed Reporting Accountant status in order to examine and sign off, the financial accounts for audit exempt charities. The 'old' Reporting Accountant status quickly became obsolete due to changes first in the Companies Act,and finally and most recently the Charities Act 2006. Due to the latter legislation, certain AAT Members In Practice, (not all but a great deal more than before Reporting Accountant standard) are recognised by the DTI to sign off the Independent Review of charity accounts. An Independent Review is similar in status to that work which an AAT member could undertake under the old Reporting Accountant standard. The obsoletion of Reporting Accountant has instigated calls from senior members of the Association, for their body to recognise these more senior members' qualifications and work experience with some new distinguishing status. The matter was taken up by the AAT in early 2007,but to date nothing new has been announced by the AAT.

If an AAT member is also a qualified Chartered Accountant then they are not automatically licenced as an AAT Member In Practice. It is up to such members to choose their preferred regulator and apply for an appropriate practising licence/certificate etc. CA does not supersede AAT in respect of a practising certificate. AAT is a recognised professional qualification, separate from, but working together, for the furthering of the accounting profession, with colleagues, from all the main chartered accountancy AAT sponsoring bodies,and others such as the ACCA.