AAT Sri Lanka is the Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka, set up in 1987 on the initiative of CA Sri Lanka. Its three-level qualification is one of the most popular routes into accounting work straight after the O/L. You can start with six O/L passes, and you can even register while you wait for your O/L results. This guide covers who can register, what it costs, the levels and subjects, and the closing dates you must not miss.
AAT Sri Lanka at a Glance
| Item | Official detail |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Three levels plus Business Communication (BC). Completing all of them makes you an AAT Passed Finalist (Diploma in Accounting & Business) |
| Recognition | TVEC has accredited the AAT qualification as equivalent to NVQ Level 5 (Diploma level) |
| Minimum entry | Any 6 O/L passes (Sri Lanka), among other options below |
| Age limit | None stated in the Students’ Guide |
| Registration fee | Rs. 4,500 (Rs. 4,000 for school students under 19) |
| Annual renewal | Rs. 2,750, due before 30 December each year |
| Exams | Twice a year, January and July |
| Medium | Sinhala, Tamil or English (BC is English only) |
AAT Sri Lanka Entry Requirements
You need one of these to register:
- 6 passes at the G.C.E. O/L (Sri Lanka), or
- 5 passes at the G.C.E. O/L (UK), or
- 2 passes at the G.C.E. A/L (Sri Lanka or UK), or
- 5 years’ experience as an Accounts Clerk, Audit Clerk, Book-keeper or Accounts Trainee in a recognised establishment, or
- Another equivalent qualification accepted by AAT’s Governing Council.
Waiting for O/L results? You can still apply. The Students’ Guide says you will be registered once you pass the O/L with at least six passes. Students who are currently doing their A/L can also register.
Levels and Subjects (New Curriculum from July 2026)
Every paper is three hours. Levels II and III get an extra 15 minutes of reading time. The pass mark for each subject is 50.
| Level | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Level I | Financial Accounting (FAC), Business Mathematics and Statistics (BMS), Economics (ECN), Business Environment (BEN) |
| Level II | Financial & Cost Accounting (FCA), Digital Transformation & Information Systems (DTI), Business Law (BLA), Business Management (BMA) |
| Level III | Financial Reporting (FAR), Management Accounting and Finance (MAF), Risk, Controls & Audit (RCA), Corporate & Personal Taxation (CPT) |
| Talent subject | Business Communication (BC), English medium only |
- You can sit Level I and Level II subjects together, or one by one.
- Level III opens only after Level I and Level II are complete, and all four Level III subjects must be taken together on the first attempt.
- BC can be taken once Level I is complete, on its own or alongside Level II or III.
Registration Closing Dates
You can register at any time of year, but to sit a particular exam you must register before:
- July examination: before 31 January
- January examination: before 31 July
So if you register now, you are aiming for the July 2027 exam, with registration due before 31 January 2027. Late applications are accepted for up to seven days after the closing date, at Rs. 4,950 (Rs. 4,400 for school students). AAT says these dates can change, so check its website and Facebook page.
How to Register, Step by Step
- Buy the registration application kit from the AAT Head Office in Narahenpita, an AAT branch, or an Accredited Education Centre (AEC). You can also start online at aatsl.lk.
- Pay the registration fee. Write the 8-digit application number (starting with “11”) on the slip or the online payment page exactly as printed. A wrong number sends your money to someone else’s account.
- Attach a photocopy of your birth certificate, a copy of your NIC (or another ID), certified copies of your educational certificates, the bank slip or online receipt, and two colour passport photos with your name and NIC number on the back.
- Hand it to AAT or send it by registered post to Head (Registration & Membership), AAT Sri Lanka, before the closing date.
- Once approved, you receive a Student Identity Card. You need it to apply for exams and on exam days.
Registration alone does not enter you for an exam. You must also send a separate examination application before its own closing date. Exam fees are paid at the Bank of Ceylon or online through AAT’s Apply Exam portal.
Check your payment instructions: the February 2026 Students’ Guide says the registration fee is paid at HNB or online, while the AAT website lists NSB or HNB. Follow the payment instructions printed in your own application kit.
A/L Subject Exemptions
Under the new curriculum, A/L passes in these subjects can exempt you from Level I papers:
- Accounting → Financial Accounting (FAC)
- Combined, Pure or Applied Mathematics, or Business Statistics → Business Mathematics and Statistics (BMS)
- Economics → Economics (ECN)
- Business Studies or Commerce and Finance → Business Environment (BEN)
Apply for exemptions straight after registering. The closing dates are 31 March (for the July exam) and 30 September (for the January exam). Exemption fees start at Rs. 2,000 per Level I subject.
Where AAT Can Take You
According to AAT, Passed Finalists get exemptions from all Business Level technical subjects at CA Sri Lanka, the full Certificate Level at CIMA (UK), several ACCA papers, and first-year entry to SLIATE’s HNDA. AAT also lists external degree registration at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Kelaniya. Some of these exemptions apply only if you sat the AAT exams yourself rather than earning AAT through exemptions, so read the conditions in the Students’ Guide.
BrightNook Tips Before You Start
- Register while you wait for O/L results. It can save you an exam season, which is the main reason so many students start AAT straight after the O/L.
- Put 30 December in your calendar every year. If your renewal lapses, you stop receiving exam forms. Renewing late adds Rs. 500.
- Two deadlines, not one. Registration and exam entry close on different dates. Missing the exam application wastes six months even if you are registered.
- Use the free papers. Pilot papers, suggested answers and examiners’ reports can be downloaded from aatsl.lk. They show you what the new July 2026 curriculum papers look like.
- Choose your medium carefully. You cannot change the medium or exam city after you apply, and BC is English only.
සිංහලෙන් කෙටියෙන්
AAT ශ්රී ලංකා (ගිණුම් තාක්ෂණවේදීන්ගේ සංගමය) සුදුසුකම සඳහා අ.පො.ස. (සා.පෙළ) විෂයයන් 6ක් සමත් වීම ප්රමාණවත්ය. සා.පෙළ ප්රතිඵල බලාපොරොත්තුවෙන් සිටින විට වුවද ලියාපදිංචි විය හැක. ලියාපදිංචි ගාස්තුව රු. 4,500 (පාසල් සිසුන්ට රු. 4,000). විභාග ජනවාරි සහ ජූලි මාසවල පැවැත්වේ. ජූලි විභාගය සඳහා ජනවාරි 31 ට පෙර ලියාපදිංචි විය යුතුය. සුදුසුකම NVQ 5 මට්ටමට සමාන ලෙස TVEC මගින් පිළිගෙන ඇත.
தமிழில் சுருக்கமாக
AAT இலங்கை (கணக்கியல் தொழில்நுட்பவியலாளர்கள் சங்கம்) தகைமைக்குப் பதிவு செய்ய க.பொ.த. (சா/த) இல் 6 பாடங்களில் சித்தி போதுமானது. சா/த பெறுபேறுகளுக்காகக் காத்திருக்கும் போதே பதிவு செய்யலாம். பதிவுக் கட்டணம் ரூ. 4,500 (பாடசாலை மாணவர்களுக்கு ரூ. 4,000). பரீட்சைகள் ஜனவரி மற்றும் ஜூலையில் நடைபெறும். ஜூலைப் பரீட்சைக்கு ஜனவரி 31 இற்கு முன் பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும். இத்தகைமை NVQ 5 மட்டத்திற்குச் சமனானது என TVEC அங்கீகரித்துள்ளது.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum qualification for AAT Sri Lanka?
Any six O/L passes (Sri Lanka) is the usual route. Two A/L passes, five UK O/L passes or five years’ relevant accounts experience also qualify.
Is there an age limit for AAT?
The Students’ Guide does not state one. The lower school-student fee applies only to those under 19 who are still in school.
How much does it cost to register for AAT?
Rs. 4,500, or Rs. 4,000 for school students under 19. After that, renewal is Rs. 2,750 a year, plus exam fees for each subject you sit.
Is AAT equal to a degree?
No. TVEC has accredited it as equivalent to NVQ Level 5, which is Diploma level. It can lead to exemptions and degree entry routes listed by AAT.
When are AAT exams held?
Twice a year, in January and July, in Sinhala, Tamil and English at exam centres in 14 cities.
Official Sources
AAT Students’ Service Unit: 011 255 9669.
BrightNook.lk is an independent education website and is not affiliated with AAT Sri Lanka. Fees and dates were checked against AAT’s official pages and its February 2026 Students’ Guide on 22 October 2026. AAT says fees may be revised without notice, so confirm before you pay.
