The highest level of AAT training, developing advanced technical skills in financial statements, management accounting, tax and specialist subjects. 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 the natural progression from Level 3 and is ideal for those ready to develop advanced accounting skills and achieve full AAT membership.
The natural next step after completing the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting. Develop advanced skills in financial statements, management accounting and specialist subjects.
If you are working in accounts or finance and hold Level 3 or equivalent, Level 4 leads to full AAT membership (MAAT) and significantly higher earning potential.
Completing Level 4 qualifies you to apply for full AAT membership, use the designatory letters MAAT after your name, and pursue chartered accountant status.
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.
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 4 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 three mandatory units plus two optional units chosen from five (390 guided learning hours in total), covering advanced management accounting, financial statements, internal controls and specialist subjects.
Mandatory units - all three required
Focus on planning, control and decision making. Cover budgetary processes, performance reporting, organisational evaluation and short- and long-term decision-making techniques.
Draft statutory financial statements for single limited companies and consolidated statements for groups of companies. Interpret financial statements using ratio analysis.
Evaluate internal control systems, identify weaknesses and recommend improvements. Understand fraud prevention, the impact of data analytics and AI on accounting systems.
Optional units - choose two from five
Compute taxes for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. Cover capital expenditure, profit adjustments, National Insurance, capital asset sales and tax planning opportunities.
Calculate income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax for UK taxpayers. Cover employment income, investment income, property income and tax minimisation strategies.
Understand audit principles, planning, risk assessment, evidence gathering and reporting. Cover professional ethics, independence and professional scepticism in a global marketplace.
Prepare cash budgets, identify shortfalls and surpluses, understand financing methods and comply with regulations governing organisational cash management.
Cover credit control systems, debt management, credit risk assessment, collection techniques, relevant legislation and performance measures including factoring and credit insurance.
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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 4 studies.
Start the free demo →There are five computer-based end-of-unit assessments - three for the mandatory units and two for your chosen optional units - all sat at an approved AAT assessment centre near you. Exam fees vary between approximately £100 and £120 per exam and are not included in your course fee.
Each unit is assessed individually through a computer-based assessment set and marked by AAT. Three assessments cover the mandatory units and two cover your chosen optional 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 complete Level 4, we can advise on applying for full AAT membership (MAAT) and the pathways available to chartered accountant status with ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA.
What’s included
When you enrol with Premier Training you get everything you need to study and succeed - no hidden extras.
If you have already completed AAT Level 3 or equivalent, Level 4 is the right next step. Once you complete Level 4 you can apply for full MAAT membership and may be eligible for exemptions toward chartered qualifications with ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA.
| Study Level 4 if… | Consider chartered study if… |
|---|---|
| You have completed the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting or hold an equivalent advanced qualification. | You have already completed Level 4 and hold full MAAT membership. |
| You are working in finance and want to advance into senior accounting or specialist roles. | You are aiming for Chartered Accountant status and want to progress with ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA. |
| You want to achieve full AAT membership (MAAT) and the career recognition that comes with it. | You want to maximise exam exemptions available to MAAT holders from the chartered bodies. |
Take our free AAT Skills Check
If you have work experience or qualifications within manual bookkeeping there may be an option to claim exemption from the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting and start directly at the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting.
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 formal entry requirements, but we recommend that students have completed the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting or hold equivalent prior knowledge. If you have relevant work experience or qualifications, you may be able to claim exemptions - our free skills check can help assess your starting point.
On average 12 – 18 months, depending on your study hours and choice of optional units. Students typically dedicate 6 – 8 hours per week. You have up to 18 months’ access to learning resources and tutor support.
There are five computer-based end-of-unit assessments - three for the mandatory units and two for your chosen optional units. These are sat at an AAT assessment centre near you and are not included in your course fee. Exam fees vary between approximately £100 and £120 per exam.
You choose two from: Business Tax, Personal Tax, Audit and Assurance, Cash and Financial Management, and Credit and Debt Management. Business Tax and Personal Tax are popular for those interested in tax roles. Audit and Assurance suits those heading into practice. Our course advisors are happy to help you decide based on your career goals.
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).
Once qualified and having met AAT’s criteria, you can apply for full AAT membership and use the designatory letters MAAT after your name. Level 4 also provides a pathway to chartered accountant status with ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA, with potential exam exemptions for MAAT holders.
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, 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.
Completing the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting is the pinnacle of the AAT pathway. You can also explore bundled course options to save on fees when studying Level 3 and Level 4 together.
The prerequisite for Level 4. Covers financial statements preparation, management accounting techniques, tax processes for businesses and business awareness.
View course → BundleStudy Level 3 and Level 4 together (or Levels 2, 3 and 4) and save on the total course fee. A popular choice for learners committed to completing the full AAT pathway.
View bundles →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.
Enrol online today or speak to our course advisors if you are unsure whether Level 3 or Level 4 is the right starting point for you.
AAT Distance Learning Provider of the Year 2024 & 2025 · Personal tutor support included · Interest-free payment options · Price Match Guaranteed
