Apprenticeships changed in 2017 and are now open to anyone regardless of their previous education – so you can get an apprenticeship if you have a degree.

The only exception is that you cannot undertake an apprenticeship in a field you are already qualified within that field.

AAT qualifications that can be incorporated into an Accounting apprenticeship are:

• AAT Advanced (Level 3) Diploma in Accounting
• AAT Professional (Level 4) Diploma in Accounting

Please note that the Foundation (Level2) Certificate in Accounting cannot be incorporated into an Accounting Apprenticeship.

A bachelor’s degree is a Level 6 qualification. If you have a degree in accounting or finance, then you would not be able to undertake an accounting apprenticeship (as you are already more qualified than the apprenticeship level). However, if you have a degree in an unrelated subject then you will be eligible (as you have not already achieved qualifications in that sector).

As apprenticeships are government-funded, this rule ensures that public money is not being spent on training people who are already qualified to work within a particular field.

You can find more information about government apprenticeships here.