The advanced bookkeeping qualification for anyone looking to develop existing skills, gain formal recognition and progress to a career in bookkeeping or further AAT study. Study online at your own pace with personal tutor support, printed books and access to the MyPTA learning portal.
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This qualification is ideal for anyone who has completed Level 2 bookkeeping (or has equivalent experience) and wants to develop advanced skills, gain formal recognition, or progress to employment or further AAT study.
Build on your Level 2 Bookkeeping skills with advanced financial statements and tax processes to gain a more valuable, nationally recognised qualification.
If you are already working in a bookkeeping role, this qualification formally recognises your advanced skills and supports progression to senior positions.
Use the Level 3 Bookkeeping certificate as a stepping stone before progressing to the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting and the full AAT pathway.
Everything you need to succeed
We have been helping AAT students succeed for over 30 years. Here is what you get when you study with us.
Study through structured e-learning videos and interactive activities via MyPTA, covering the complete AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping syllabus available to you at any time.
Set your own study plan and complete your course at a pace that suits your lifestyle, whether you are working full-time, part-time or fitting study around family.
A qualified accountancy tutor is available by email, phone or Microsoft Teams throughout your studies - not just when you first enrol.
Receive your textbooks delivered to your home next working day. Full online resources are also available through the MyPTA learning portal at any time.
Spread the cost with 0% interest-free monthly payment options. We also offer a Price Match Guarantee so you always get great value for your training.
Distance learning should not mean studying alone. You will receive constructive feedback, clear guidance and genuine support from enrolment through to assessment.
Course content
This qualification comprises two mandatory units (210 guided learning hours in total), covering advanced bookkeeping and tax processes for businesses.
Produce statements of profit or loss and financial position for sole traders and partnerships. Covers advanced double-entry, depreciation, accruals, prepayments, allowances for doubtful receivables, error correction and accounting ratios.
Understand VAT registration, Making Tax Digital (MTD), specialist VAT schemes and how to prepare and submit VAT returns to HMRC. Also covers payroll processes, deductions and reporting timescales.
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Try before you enrol
Get a feel for exactly how our AAT Q2022 course materials work before committing. Browse interactive e-learning videos, quizzes, study chapters and a mock assessment - the same structured format you will use throughout your Level 3 Bookkeeping studies.
Start the free demo →There are two computer-based end-of-unit assessments, one for each unit, sat at an approved AAT assessment centre near you. Exam fees (approximately £100 – 120 each) are not included in your course fee and are paid separately to your assessment centre.
Each unit is assessed individually once you have completed it. These are set and marked by AAT, giving you an objective, nationally recognised result for each of the two units.
Your tutor will work through mock assessments and practice papers with you for each unit, making sure you are fully prepared before you book your exam at a local assessment centre.
Distance learning should not mean learning on your own. You will have access to structured online resources and personal tutor support to help you stay on track from enrolment through to assessment.
Access your learning materials, activities and support resources in one place, with clear guidance on what to study next and progress tracking built in.
Ask questions when you are unsure. Your tutor helps you understand the course content rather than simply memorise answers - available by email, phone or Teams.
When you are ready, we can advise whether the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting is the right next step, or whether moving into employment as a qualified bookkeeper better suits your career goals.
What’s included
When you enrol with Premier Training you get everything you need to study and succeed - no hidden extras.
Both qualifications are at Level 3, but they serve different purposes. The Certificate in Bookkeeping focuses purely on advanced bookkeeping skills, while the Diploma in Accounting is broader and is the stepping stone to AAT Level 4.
| Choose Level 3 Bookkeeping if… | Choose Level 3 Diploma in Accounting if… |
|---|---|
| You want to focus solely on advanced bookkeeping and prepare for employment as a bookkeeper. | You want a broader accounting qualification covering management accounting, business awareness and ethics. |
| You want to complete a shorter qualification (two units) and progress to work quickly. | You plan to continue to AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting. |
| You want to gain formal recognition of bookkeeping skills you have already developed through work. | You are aiming for roles such as Assistant Accountant, Finance Officer or Payroll Supervisor. |
Take our free AAT Skills Check
If you have work experience or qualifications within manual bookkeeping, there may be an option to start at the AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping rather than Level 2.
Our free skills check has questions designed to help our tutors assess the most suitable level for you. Once submitted, the quiz is automatically emailed to a Premier Training tutor for prompt marking and one of our course advisors will contact you with your result.
Take the free AAT Skills Check →AAT does not set mandatory entry requirements for the Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping. However, for the best chance of success we recommend students have completed the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping or have equivalent bookkeeping knowledge. If you are unsure whether this is the right level for you, our free skills check can help our tutors advise you.
On average 6 – 12 months, depending on your study hours and prior knowledge. Students typically dedicate 6 – 8 hours per week to their studies. You have up to 18 months’ access to the learning resources and tutor support.
There are two computer-based end-of-unit assessments, one for each unit. These are sat at an AAT assessment centre near you and are not included in your course fee. They generally cost around £100 – 120 each.
Yes. You can spread your course fee across up to 12 interest-free monthly instalments. The first instalment gets you started immediately (UK students only).
Most students either move into employment as a Professional Bookkeeper, Senior Bookkeeper, Accounts Manager or Ledger Manager, or progress to the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting. Completing the Diploma opens the pathway to AAT Level 4 and ultimately CIMA or ICAEW exemptions.
The Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping covers two units - financial statements preparation and tax processes for businesses. The Level 3 Diploma in Accounting is broader, covering those topics alongside business awareness, management accounting costing and ethics, making it the natural stepping stone to AAT Level 4.
Your course fee includes access to the MyPTA online learning platform with e-books, video tutorials, quizzes and your online timetable, hard copy study books and manuals for each unit (with the printed materials option), and unlimited tutor support by phone or email throughout your studies.
Student reviews
Premier Training has helped thousands of learners achieve their AAT qualifications through flexible online study.
“I have come back to studying 20 years after leaving school and the flexibility of distance learning is really working in with family life, especially the school holidays!””
“I’m very happy with the support on offer via Premier Training. With the resources provided and the feedback and guidance received I was able to earn my desired mark.””
“I particularly like the fact I can sit exams at the Premier Training offices and meet some of the staff at the same time. I am now well on the way to being a self-employed qualified bookkeeper!””
Why choose us
We have specialised in AAT distance learning for over 30 years. Here is what sets us apart from other online providers.
We only deliver AAT training and qualifications, making us true experts in both the course content and in guiding students all the way to assessment success.
Named AAT Distance Learning Provider of the Year 2024 & 2025. Our tutors are qualified accountants with real-world experience - available by email, phone or Teams.
Pay in full or spread the cost with 0% interest-free monthly instalments. Every course includes our Price Match Guarantee, so you always get outstanding value.
★ Provider of the Year 2024 & 2025
A word from our director
Operations Director - Premier Training
We are best known for our personal touch and putting our students’ success first. We are always there to guide, teach and support learners through their journey, because we believe that with the right help, anyone can succeed in AAT.
Premier Training was established in 1998 and has grown into one of the UK’s leading AAT distance learning providers. We have been recognised as AAT Distance Learning Provider of the Year 2024 and 2025, and our team of qualified tutors and course advisors is dedicated to making sure every learner gets the support they need - from their first question through to their final assessment.
See it for yourself
See what studying with Premier Training looks like from your learning materials and MyPTA portal through to tutor support and assessment preparation.
After completing the AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping, most students progress to the Level 3 Diploma in Accounting or move into employment. If you are new to bookkeeping, the Level 2 Certificate is the recommended starting point.
The broader Level 3 qualification covering management accounting, business awareness and ethics. The stepping stone to AAT Level 4 and a full accounting career.
View course → Level 2New to bookkeeping? Start here. Covers double-entry bookkeeping and bookkeeping controls — the ideal foundation before progressing to Level 3.
View course →You can enrol in whichever way suits you best. Our team is available Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm and Saturday 9am - 12pm.
For employer-funded enrolments we can issue an invoice directly to your employer.
Career outcomes
AAT qualifications open doors at every level. Here is what you can expect to earn and the roles available to you, starting with Level 1 and progressing all the way to senior finance positions.
* Salary data sourced from Glassdoor. Figures represent approximate UK averages and will vary by region, employer and experience level.
Enrol online today or speak to our course advisors if you are unsure whether the Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping or the Level 3 Diploma in Accounting is the right choice for you.
AAT Distance Learning Provider of the Year 2024 & 2025 · Personal tutor support included · Interest-free payment options · Price Match Guaranteed
