Accounting Technicians are qualified accounting professionals and as such must complete a professional qualification.

The Diploma for Accounting Technicians consists of two elements, which can be completed simultaneously or at different stages:

• Two year programme of study
• Two year work based learning

Depending on your circumstances, the qualification can be studied full-time, part-time or on a correspondence basis, allowing students to study at a pace that fits their lives.

Entry requirements:

To gain entry to the qualification students who are under 21 must meet certain academic requirements in their Leaving Certificate, though these requirements are less restrictive than most third level courses. For those 21 or over, they can gain entry as a mature student and are not required to provide any academic qualifications.

Locations:

Accounting Technicians Ireland courses are available at over 70 colleges throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. These currently include VECs and Institutes of Technology, and leading private and community colleges. Our programme is also delivered in the Republic of Ireland through FÁS in a number of their training centres and is free to the unemployed.

Work Experience:

In addition to passing exams, students must also have two years relevant work experience to complete the qualification. This gives potential employers the reassurance that graduates have the “on-the-job” skills to be effective as qualified Accounting Technicians and can apply practical experience to the theory they have learned in the classroom. Work experience requirements are based on two years full-time employment (or the equivalent part-time) and can be gained at any time from before, during or after you have completed your exams.

Accreditation:

The Diploma for Accounting Technicians is fully approved as a Level 5 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This equates to a Level 6/7 on the National Framework of Qualifications in the Republic of Ireland.

Further Studies:

The course is structured to maximise exemptions with leading professional accountancy bodies such as Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA, CIMA, CPA, and IIPA.

Those entering the profession come from all walks of life. For example, they may already be working or going to college, or perhaps they are a mature student who wants to get back into the workforce. They could even be currently working in an accounting related area, and although experienced, wish to pursue a formal qualification. Here’s a rundown of some of the different entry routes into the sector:

School Leaver route – there are range of different ways that you can get started in accounting and finance directly from school. Some students choose to study a qualification such as Accounting Technicians Ireland full time and then look for work on completion. Others may find a job directly out of school and study this qualification part time.

Graduate route – Those who have completed a degree would typically be working full time in a relevant area and study to become an Accounting Technician part time. Degree holders are often eligible for exemptions from exams.

Mature Learner route – Many individuals often find themselves working in a finance or accounts role without having any formal qualifications in this area. An Accounting Technician qualification allows them to obtain professional recognition in the field. In these cases students will have usually completed the work experience element of the qualification.

Career Change route – Those seeking to change career tend to find an Accounting Technicians qualification very attractive as it gives a high level of accounting knowledge as well as a business qualification. For those who have been working in other sectors e.g. construction, it can help them make a smooth transition.