Diploma in Accounting Technicians (Accounting Technicians Diploma, ATD)
The Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD) is a KASNEB-examined professional diploma that gives KCSE graduates a fast, structured route into accounting-support roles. It is organised into three progressive levels rather than academic years, each lasting roughly six months.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 33,595 to Ksh 100,784 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 50,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C- or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 18 months (3 levels of 6 months each), full-time, part-time, online, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 107 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Level I covers introductory financial accounting, commercial law, entrepreneurship, and ICT; Level II covers financial accounting, management principles, business mathematics and statistics, and finance fundamentals; Level III covers economics, ICT fundamentals, public finance and taxation, and auditing.
Because it is examined and recognised nationally by KASNEB, ATD is widely accepted by employers as evidence of solid entry-level accounting competence, and Kenyan SMEs, SACCOs, and NGOs frequently hire ATD holders directly into accounts roles.
Training is delivered through KASNEB-registered colleges and university TVET directorates, combining lecture-based instruction with past-paper practice, since KASNEB sets standard national examinations at the end of each level.
Holders typically become accounts clerks, cashiers, junior bookkeepers, or tax-assistance staff, and the qualification exempts holders from common papers if they progress to KASNEB's CPA examinations.
ATD suits students who want the fastest, most examination-focused path into accounting work, including those who may later add a diploma or degree for career progression.
What you study
8 subjects- Introduction to Financial Accounting
- Introduction to Law and Ethics
- Entrepreneurship and Communication
- Financial Accounting
- Principles of Management
- Business Mathematics and Statistics
- Principles of Public Finance and Taxation
- Auditing
Modules
10 in the programmeIntroduction to Law and Ethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic legal principles and professional ethics for accounting technicians for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Entrepreneurship and Communication
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Business communication skills and entrepreneurship fundamentals for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic recording of transactions and preparation of simple financial statements for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Financial Accounting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Financial accounting principles including bookkeeping, financial statements, and cost analysis for business decision-making.
Principles of Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Core management principles relevant to accounting and finance functions for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Principles of Public Finance and Taxation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Public finance concepts and Kenyan taxation principles for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Financial Accounting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Intermediate financial accounting, including adjustments and financial for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Cost Accounting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Cost accounting techniques including bookkeeping, financial statements, and cost analysis for business decision-making.
Auditing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Fundamentals of audit procedures and internal controls for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Taxation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Tax principles and compliance as applied to accounting technicians (accounting technicians diploma, atd) principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Specialisations
Financial Accounting Track
Emphasis on recording and reporting transactions, building toward full financial-statement preparation, preparing graduates for technical roles in Kenyan organisations with relevant regulatory and industry compliance requirements.
Taxation and Public Finance Track
Emphasis on tax computation, compliance, and public finance principles for roles in tax administration or advisory support.
Management Accounting Track
Focus on cost accounting, budgeting, performance measurement, and internal financial reporting to support business decision-making within Kenyan organisations and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Auditing Track
Focus on internal and external audit procedures, risk assessment, internal controls evaluation, and assurance services within the Kenyan regulatory framework and professional standards.
A day as a student
Classes are exam-focused, working through KASNEB's set syllabus level by level, with heavy use of past papers, revision kits, and timed mock exams alongside standard lectures on accounting, law, and taxation topics.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Fastest KASNEB-recognised route into an accounting career, structured in three shorter levels rather than full academic years. | National KASNEB pass rates for technician-level exams can be demanding, requiring disciplined self-study. |
| Direct exemptions into KASNEB's CPA programme for holders who wish to progress further. | As a technician-level qualification, career ceiling without further study (e.g. CPA) is lower than for degree-level accountants. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 331 business coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
KASNEB ATD. Meru 12K/stage, TVET 67K/yr. RAMSIS 17.8K/section (kasneb.or.ke, rttc.co.ke)
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; because ATD is comparatively low-cost and fast, many students self-fund per level.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Scholarships you could apply for
7 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- University of Eldoret TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship
Closes 1 May 2027FullUniversity of Eldoret / Mastercard Foundation
Full tuition + living expenses
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Certificate in Accounting and Management Skills (CAMS), an IGCSE grade D, or any other KASNEB-approved technician or diploma certificate.
When it next starts
Taught at 107 institutionsIncluding Laikipia University, Meru University of Science and Technology, KCA University.
Including Laikipia University, Meru University of Science and Technology, KCA University.
Including Laikipia University, Meru University of Science and Technology, KCA University.
How you are assessed
1 componentsKASNEB Level Examinations
Examination100% of the mark
Each of the three ATD levels is assessed through a standard national KASNEB examination sat at the end of that level.
Accreditation
Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board
National professional examinationRequired
ATD is examined directly by KASNEB in three levels; colleges deliver tuition but KASNEB sets and marks the exams.
Nationally examined by KASNEB; delivered through KASNEB-registered colleges and university TVET directorates across Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesAccounts Clerk
Very high demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 35,000
Handles routine transaction recording, filing, and basic reconciliations.
Cashier / Finance Assistant
High demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 32,000
Manages cash handling, receipts, and basic financial record-keeping for a business or SACCO.
Tax Assistant (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 38,000
Supports tax filing and compliance tasks under a senior accountant or tax agent.
Audit Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000
Supports internal and external audit processes including vouching, verification, and audit documentation within Kenyan accounting firms and organisations.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as accounts clerks, cashiers, junior bookkeepers, and tax-assistance staff, with direct exemptions into KASNEB's CPA programme.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
- Montessori EducatorEducation15Low exposure
Tools you will learn
QuickBooks
Accounting softwarePrimary
Accounting software for bookkeeping and financial management
Sage Pastel
Accounting softwarePrimary
Accounting software widely used in Kenya for financial reporting
Microsoft Excel
Data analysis
Spreadsheet for accounting data analysis and financial modelling
KRA iTax System
Tax software
Online tax filing and compliance system for Kenya Revenue Authority
Industry links
Common misconceptions
ATD and the Diploma in Accountancy are the same qualification.
ATD is a KASNEB-examined national qualification structured in three levels, while the Diploma in Accountancy is a KUCCPS/university diploma; content overlaps but the examining bodies and structure differ.
ATD takes as long as a standard diploma.
ATD is structured in three levels of about six months each, so full-time students can complete it faster than a typical two-to-three-year diploma.
ATD alone qualifies someone as a CPA.
ATD is a foundation step; CPA status requires progressing through KASNEB's CPA examinations.