AAT Exam Fees: Everything You Need to Know

If you consider an AAT qualification, exam fees can play an important role in your decision. Is AAT affordable? How much is it? How are fees broken down? In this blog, we look at the fees for all levels of AAT, from membership to assessment, exemptions and funding options. But first, let’s look at who AAT are and what they do…

What is AAT?

The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) is a leading professional body with over 130,000 members across 100 countries. They provide a range of foundation, advanced and professional qualifications such as accounting, bookkeeping and business skills.

AAT Student Registration Fees

To enrol for AAT exams, you must become a member first. Becoming a student member will allow you to study for an AAT qualification, sit assessments and access resources and supports to help you study and progress your career.

To become a member, you pay an initial fee, and there are different levels:

• Student Admission (one-time payment) – £56
• Annual Student Membership – £184

If you’re an AAT member and bookkeeping member (AATQB), you only need to pay the annual fee for AATQB, which is £132.

Reinstatement fees (one-time payment) – £56

You can pay this one-off reinstatement cost if you have let your AAT membership lapse and want to re-enact it. Costs for annual membership are calculated on a 12-month rolling basis from the month your registration is approved.

AAT Professional Membership Benefits

As a professional member such as affiliate, MAAT, and life membership (outlined below), you can access a wide range of benefits and services to support and progress your career. These include free events and training, discussion forums, career resources, networking events, technical resources, lobbying and much more.

AAT Affiliate Membership Fees

AAT are no longer offering affiliate membership.

AAT Full Membership (MAAT) Fees

To become a full AAT member, you will need to pay a one-time payment of £57 plus annual membership of £187. You can get a reduced membership of £136 if you’re studying and £116 if you’re retired or on a low income. To reinstate full membership, you need to pay a one-time fee of £56.

AAT Life Membership

There is the option of purchasing a lifetime membership to AAT. To be eligible, you need to be retired, in paid employment or volunteering with yearly earnings of up to £1,000 a year.

The one-time cost depends on the length of time you’ve been a member:

• 30+ years: £187
• 20–29 years: £374
• 10–19 years: £468
• 0–9 years: £561

How much are the AAT Exam Fees?

Once you’re a member of AAT, you can enrol for any of their qualifications. These are divided into different levels and categories for accounting and bookkeeping. There are also assessment fees for sitting the exam.

AAT Accounting Qualifications

• Level 2 Certificate in Accounting – £175 for UK students and for international students (covers the AAT admission and annual membership fees).

The assessment fee for this level of accounting qualification is between £61-66.

• Level 3 Diploma in Accounting – £228 for UK students and for international students (covers the AAT admission and annual membership fees).

The assessment fee for this level of accounting qualification is between £61.

• Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting – £244 for UK students and for international students (covers the AAT admission and annual membership fees).

The assessment fee for this level of accounting qualification is between £61.

AAT Bookkeeping Qualifications

• Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping – The AAT subscription fee for this qualification is £66. This includes the qualification and assessments for 12 months, along with access to study resources. The assessment fee for this level of bookkeeping qualification is between £61.
• Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping – The AAT subscription fee for this qualification is £91, which includes the qualification and assessments for 12 months along with access to study resources. The assessment fee for this qualification is between £61.

AAT Funding Options

AAT also offers funding options for all their courses if you qualify for financial support. This funding will depend on your individual circumstances, such as location, age and finances. You can find out more AAT Funding Options.

AAT Exemption Fees

You may also be eligible for an exemption from AAT assessments. This could be due to already holding an accounting qualification and are not required to sit the exam. You need to contact AAT in regard to exemptions and provide proof. You will then pay a fee for each exemption you apply for. This fee is the same as the assessment fee, which in many cases for AAT is between £70-80. This can be accessed on AAT’s skills checker.

How do you pay AAT fees?

There are a number of ways to pay AAT fees which include:

• Credit or debit card
• Cheque
• Bank transfer or invoice
• Direct debit

You also may be able to claim tax relief on annual fees if you are based in the UK. This can be done by completing a P87 form online. We hope this guide provides you with all you need to know about the costs involved with an AAT qualification. Whichever option you choose, an AAT certification will open doors and provide you with career options that were not previously available.