AAT Levels 1, 2, & 3 Bookkeeping
Learning Hours: 235-270
Duration: Up to 19 Months
Exams: 5
All three AAT Bookkeeping qualifications — at a discounted rate.
Start from the very beginning and progress all the way to advanced bookkeeping with this complete three-level package.
From the fundamentals of the bookkeeper’s role at Level 1, through to double-entry bookkeeping at Level 2, and on to financial statements and VAT at Level 3 — you’ll gain the full range of skills needed to work confidently as a professional bookkeeper.
Our unique and highly effective learning materials and resources ensure you are able to progress smoothly and quickly and lead to a higher rate of success. No other training provider includes as many materials, lessons, examples and activities.
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Exceptional AAT pass rates |
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Winner! AAT Training Provider Awards 2026 |
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Study whenever you want - at your own pace |
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Award-winning tutor support |
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Dedicated accounting and bookkeeping training provider |
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Interest-free payment plans to spread the cost |
Ben Campbell
Your AAT tutor · 17 years in education
Training Link's award-winning AAT tutor and PQ Magazine's Tutor of the Year 2026. Ben also runs free revision sessions open to every AAT student.
Read more about BenSpecial offer
Enrol this month to get £110 worth of question banks included — free!
Training Link focuses on three subjects: Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Payroll.
This keeps us focused on delivering the best student experience. And that’s why over the last 30 years we’ve won over 30 awards – from AAT’S Best New Training Provider in 2018 to ICB’s Large Training Provider of the Year on 13 occasions. And several of our tutors have been awarded ‘Tutor of the Year’ by the ICB.
And in the last three years we have scored two wins from five shortlistings at the AAT Training Provider Awards.
2024
- Distance Learning Provider of the Year
- Tutor of the Year
- Distance Learner of the Year – Winner! Katie Robinson
2026
- Community Focus Training Provider of the Year
- Distance Learner of the Year – Winner! Michaela Howes
Training Link has created all of the study material in this course package. The printed study manuals, online resources, videos, tests, and mock exams – are exclusive to Training Link and are not available from any other distance learning provider.
And because we control this material, we continually improve it based on student feedback and results. This is what helps Training Link students achieve a 95.2% pass rate on this Level 1 based on all Computer-Based Assessments completed between 1 January and 31 December 2025 and on the Q2022 standards.
The tutor of our Level 1, 2, and 3 bookkeeping courses is Ben Campbell who won ‘Tutor of the Year’ at the 2026 PQ Magazine Awards.
- Training Link’s bespoke printed AND online materials containing lessons, examples, activities and assessments
- On-demand tutorials and explainer videos available 24/7
- Online resources to significantly reduce the amount of time taken to complete the course
- Award-winning Personal Tutor available via e-mail and telephone
- Extensive Exam Preparation including in-house mock exams
- Student Services Department operational 7 days a week
- Course Administration Department
- Training Link’s Student Street community is yours to engage in 24/7
- Entitlement to apply for a TOTUM card
AAT was established in 1980 and is the world’s leading professional body for accounting technicians with over 130,000 members.
AAT’s qualifications are internationally-recognised, OfQual regulated, and the syllabus has been developed after feedback from businesses so students develop real-world skills which improve their employability. They award 80% of all vocational qualifications in accounting.
Organisations such as Sainsbury’s, P&G, Morgan Stanley, the Ministry of Defence and many more continue to hire AAT qualified members for their knowledge, skills, and diligence.
Studying for an AAT qualification is a much more cost-effective option for school-leavers. It offers the promise of a career in a well-respected profession and doesn’t lead to the eye-watering levels of debt associated with a typical university education.
80% of AAT members that have completed an AAT accounting qualification agree that it has increased their earning potential.*
* – source – AAT’s salary survey 2021
You can complete this combined course in 19 months or less.
Unit 1: Bookkeeping Fundamentals (BKFN)
Youll learn to:
- Understand the role of the bookkeeper.
- Understand financial transactions.
- Process customer and supplier transactions.
- Process receipts and payments.
- Understand the benefits and risks of using accounting software to complete bookkeeping tasks
You can complete this combined course in 15 months or less.
Unit 2 – Introduction to Bookkeeping
You will learn about manual and digital bookkeeping systems, including the associated documents and processes. You will learn the basic principles that underpin the double-entry system and see how some processes are being automated.
- Understand how to set up bookkeeping systems
- Process customer transactions
- Process supplier transactions
- Process receipts and payments
- Process transactions into the ledger accounts
Unit 3 – Principles of Bookkeeping Controls
Builds on your knowledge and skills from Introduction to Bookkeeping, and explore control accounts, journals and reconciliations. You will go through the processes used in bookkeeping that verify and validate the entries. These processes help you understand the purpose of control accounts and associated reconciliations. You will also understand the use of the journal to the point of redrafting the trial balance, following initial adjustments.
- Use control accounts
- Reconcile a bank statement with the cash book
- Use the journal
- Produce trial balances
Unit 4 – Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements
You will gain the skills to produce statements of profit or loss, statements of financial position for sole traders, and partnerships using a trial balance. In your job, you may be required to prepare the final accounts and this unit will give you the theoretical knowledge needed to do this.
It will also allow you to understand how final accounts are produced, either manually or by using accounting software.
- Understand the accounting principles underlying final accounts preparation
- Understand the principles of advanced double-entry bookkeeping
- Implement procedures for the acquisition and disposal of non-current assets
- Prepare and record depreciation calculations
- Record period end adjustments
- Produce and extend the trial balance
- Produce financial statements for sole traders and partnerships
- Interpret financial statements using profitability ratios
- Prepare accounting records from incomplete information
Unit 5 – Tax Processes for Businesses
This unit explores tax processes that influence the daily operations of businesses. It helps you develop skills in understanding, preparing, and submitting value-added tax (VAT) returns to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
You will gain the knowledge and skills to keep businesses compliant with laws and practices that apply to VAT and payroll. You will learn about legislation and the importance of maintaining technical knowledge by monitoring updates.
- Understand legislation requirements relating to VAT
- Calculate VAT
- Complete VAT returns
- Understand principles of payroll
- Report information within the organisation
No formal entry requirements are set by AAT for this course. However, a good level of English and maths is recommended for the best learning experience.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Skills developed through this qualification could lead to employment as:
- a Professional Bookkeeper
- a Senior Bookkeeper
- an Accounts Manager
- a Ledger Manager
Q: Is registration included?
You can choose to include your AAT registration by checking the box before you add the course to your shopping basket.
Q: Are assessment fees (exams) included?
No. You’ll book and pay for your assessment at an approved AAT centre.
Q: What is the average completion time for these courses?
Anywhere from 12 to 19 months. You set the pace that works for you.
You’ll sit one Computer-Based Assessment either at an approved AAT centre or via remote invigilation. Upon passing, you’ll receive a formal certificate.
To find a venue, use AAT’s Assessment Venue Search tool and arrange a suitable date directly.
To book your remotely invigilated exam directly with us, please use our online booking form: Training Link AAT Exam Booking
Want more flexibility?
Our tutor support timeframes are deliberately generous and far exceed what most students need.
Most of our students finish well in advance of the course duration. But what happens if you do need a little longer?
This is where our course extension options come into play. We offer one-month, three-month, and six-month extensions so you can feel reassured by knowing that if you do need extra time you have that option.
Spread payments over 3 years
Our finance option is provided in partnership with Omni Capital. For your finance application to be considered you must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a personal application, not a business application
- Be over 18 years of age
- Be employed for at least 16 hours per week or retired and in receipt of a private or company pension. Certain state benefit schemes may be considered.
- Be a permanent UK resident with a 3 year address history
- Have a good credit history with no late payments, debt relief orders or bankruptcies
- Have a valid email address and can access it
Please note that meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee finance acceptance.
If you want to enrol on a course and you have questions about your Omni Capital application or want to discuss other payment options please call us on 0800 594 2822.
