What Are The ACCA Exemptions With AAT Qualification?
Last Update On 2nd December 2024
Duration: 4 Mins Read
ACCA and AAT are leading global accountancy certifications for aspiring Accountants. With these qualifications, Accountants gain the expertise and proficiency to accelerate their careers in finance and accounting. Completing the AAT course first proves beneficial if you plan to pursue ACCA. You become eligible for ACCA exemptions, with which you can obtain the ACCA qualification quickly. Exemptions imply that you will not need to take specific exams out of the fourteen ACCA exams.
You gain basic accounting knowledge and enhance your accounting skills with AAT. On the other hand, ACCA covers detailed accounting and finance concepts like Corporate and Business Law, Financial Accounting and Performance Management.
Read on to learn more about the criteria for ACCA exemptions and ACCA exemption benefits.
You can also check out our blog: ACCA Exemptions: Paper Exemption Info (2024), for the latest information on exemptions.
The Progression From AAT to ACCA
The progression from AAT to ACCA is smooth, and candidates need not have prior knowledge of the subject matter for AAT certification. With the certification, you will learn basic accounting skills like bookkeeping and financial planning.
ACCA’s highly-advanced curriculum is for candidates aspiring to become Chartered Certified Accountants. Moving to ACCA after completing AAT offers better subject-matter expertise. In addition, this progression improves candidates’ employment prospects in the finance and accounts industry.
Looking for the best ACCA books to ace your preparations? Check out the Best Books for ACCA: Which Books Should You Refer?
What are the ACCA Exemptions After AAT?
AAT has many levels where students learn the nitty-gritty of financial planning. On completing AAT level 4, your progression towards ACCA qualification becomes smoother. You become eligible for ACCA exemptions in three of the fourteen ACCA papers under the ‘Applied Knowledge’ module.
With exemptions in the “Applied Knowledge” module, you can move directly to the “Applied Learning” module. You do not need to pay ACCA exemption fees. Moreover, you can complete the ACCA qualification in a shorter period.
Read our blog, Can You Finish ACCA in 2 Years? Top Tips from CEO’s Desk to fast track your ACCA preparations.
AAT-qualified candidates can get exemptions from the following three ACCA papers:
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Accountant in Business (AB or F1)
This paper covers various topics related to business and technology. Formerly known as ACCA F1, this paper covers the role of Accountants within a business. An Accountant must ensure that the business runs efficiently, effectively and ethically.
The syllabus of Accountant in Business includes topics like
- Business structure
- Leadership and teamwork
- External environment and business stakeholders
- Communication and personal effectiveness
- Controls and compliance and accounting and reporting systems
- Business and accounting ethics
The F1 exam helps assess the candidates’ understanding of business operations. It also defines the role of professionals in the business arena.
The AB paper has two sections – section A and section B. Section A has sixteen one-mark questions and twenty two-mark questions. Section B has six multiple-task questions, each having four marks.
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Management Accounting (MA or F2)
This ACCA paper assesses a candidate’s understanding and knowledge of leading cost accounting and management techniques. During the course, you learn to prepare and analyse basic quantitative data. With the data, you can monitor performance and plan for increased revenue.
The syllabus of this paper covers topics like
- Budgeting
- Management information
- Standard costing
- Performance measurement
- Cost accounting techniques
The Management Accounting examination comprises two sections. Section A has thirty-five objective questions, each of two marks. This section covers the whole ACCA F2 syllabus.
Section B contains three multitask questions. Each question is of ten marks. This paper tests your knowledge of standard costing, budgeting and performance measurement.
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Financial Accounting (FA or F3)
The purpose of the ACCA F3 examination is to test candidates’ capacity to use double-entry accounting techniques. This financial accounting paper covers basic financial regulations and principles. Candidates learn how to prepare and interpret basic consolidated financial statements.
The paper covers the following topics:
- Double-entry and accounting systems
- Financial reporting
- Preparing basic financial statements
- Qualitative characteristics of financial information
- Trial balance
- Interpreting financial statements
- Preparing simple consolidated financial statements
- Recording transactions
A two-hour computer-based examination, the ACCA F3 tests your knowledge of the F3 syllabus. The examination has two sections – section A and section B.
Section A has thirty-five objective questions, each of two marks. The questions cover the entire F3 syllabus. Section B contains two multi-task questions, each of fifteen marks. While one question is on account preparation, the other is on account consolidation.
Using the ACCA Exemptions Calculator to Check Exemption Eligibility
All are not eligible for ACCA exemptions despite having the AAT qualification. Based on prior learning, ACCA offers exemptions right from the Foundation levels. Therefore, you can start at the level that is just right for you.
You can use the ACCA exemptions calculator to check your eligibility for exemptions like ACCA exemption for CA. Here are the steps:
- You have to enter the name of your institution, select the country/region from the dropdown menu and click ‘Search’.
- Next, enter your graduation year or last year of study and click ‘Next’.
- Choose your course from the available list on the page.
- You will see the complete list of ACCA qualification exemptions you are eligible for.
- You can send an email with the complete list of exemptions.
Conclusion
The progression from AAT to ACCA becomes easy with ACCA exemptions. The exemptions reduce preparation pressure for the three ACCA papers and help complete the ACCA course quickly. Use an ACCA exemptions calculator to check your eligibility for various exemptions and fast-track your route to attain an ACCA chartered status with an AAT qualification.
Learn more about ‘Steps to Become an ACCA? Career Prospects, Eligibility and Salary’
Zell Education offers a comprehensive ACCA course for aspiring Certified Chartered Accountants. ACCAs are in high demand worldwide for their cutting-edge and technologically-sound skill sets. Zell Education offers this course via classroom and online mode. You can also get 1:1 mentorship support and 100% placement assistance. Visit Zell Education for details.
FAQs
How long do ACCA exemptions last?
Experts say it is best to use the ACCA exemptions as early as possible. This will help complete the ACCA course in a shorter period.
How many exemptions are in ACCA after CA Inter?
If you clear CA Inter, you can enjoy exemptions from five to six ACCA exam papers out of the 14 papers. However, you must appear for the remaining eight to nine papers.
How many exemptions are in ACCA after B.Com?
After becoming a B.Com graduate, you are eligible for up to four exemptions in the ACCA course. The number of exemptions depends upon your graduation subjects.
Is AAT a fully qualified accountant?
No, AAT is not a fully qualified Accountant. After completing level 4 in AAT, you must get the ACCA qualification to become a qualified Chartered Accountant. However, the AAT qualification will give you internationally-accredited professional status in finance and accounting.
