However, a bookkeeper’s salary varies depending on their education, location and level of experience. A typical bookkeeping certification course takes several weeks to complete. For example, NACPB’s initial certification course takes an estimated 13 weeks, but you can complete the material at your own pace. NACPB also offers a Certified Public Bookkeeper license, which takes several months. Regardless of which bookkeeping certification you pursue, we recommend taking a preparatory course.

User Guide PDF

A virtual bookkeeper must meet the same educational requirements as an in-house or in-person bookkeeper. Therefore, you should consider the education opportunities discussed above. Someformal certifications include the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) and the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB). Because the course is self-paced, the certificate can be completed within a couple of months depending on how much time is available in your schedule. There is no cost for materials or the exam aside from the Coursera fee.

• Every industry keeps accounting records to manage expenses, income, and tax payments.
• Bookkeepers do not have any specific education requirements beyond a high school diploma.
• Prior to earning either designation, you must prove that you have sufficient bookkeeping experience.
• There are a lot of cheap bookkeeping courses online and a lot of free content too.
• As a bookkeeper, you may need to help the business learn the best practices to keep their financial records up to date and organized.

Research relevant certifications and certificates.

The bookkeeping certification accredited by the NACPB is recognised throughout the United States. Bookkeepers can advance their skills, knowledge, and marketability via the self-study professional education offered by AIPB to both members and non-members. You’ll receive instructions via email about how to best prepare and set up your test-taking environment at home, a local library or another place with an internet connection. Annual renewal applications cost $25 for NACPB members and $50 for nonmembers. Membership also gives you access to resources that can help you prepare to become a CPB. To score discounted fees, consider becoming a member of the organization of your choosing before registering for any courses and exams.

How Intuit helps tax and bookkeeping pros do their best work

I needed a way to be innovative and wanted to build something, and that just wasn’t possible in the roles I had. Manufacturing bookkeepers need to accurately recognize goods throughout the production process, including raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. Backed by the knowledge, skill, and experience of a national accounting company, Consortia Small Business Accountants, NACPB has what it takes to help you succeed.

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Below, we’ve included a few details on the certification programs available for three of the top small business accounting software. There are several additional bookkeeper courses and certification programs that will provide certification. One benefit to this type of study is that you’ll have access to instructors while you learn.

Requirements

A bookkeeper records financial transactions of your business in a systematic manner. Such transactions need to be identified, accepted, classified, and recorded in a way that allows them to be presented in the form of financial statements. This course prepares you for the national certification exam in advanced bookkeeping. Each of the six parts of this course, shown below, is also available by itself.

• Enrolling in a certificate or degree program offers an education-based option.
• Additionally, maintaining a bookkeeping certification from NACPB or AIPB requires continuing professional development.
• You can also learn how to use accounting software, like QuickBooks, which can teach you about the basics of bookkeeping as well as the technology used by many businesses.
• The role can function as a part-time job to supplement other income, or you can be a full-time bookkeeper.
• I remember talking to the manager at my first job before they hired me.
• What’s it like to work as a Front Office Expert or Back Office Expert for QuickBooks Live?

Freelance jobs can range from quick temporary projects to long-term employment. However, they may be less likely to offer training or educational opportunities. As more people move to working from home, freelancing, or starting their own businesses, you may want to learn how to become a virtual bookkeeper.

It made me think, “Hmm, maybe there are other companies out there that need my help.” This eventually led to the start of my business. After my role as a staff accountant, I moved to a financial qualified bookkeeper analyst position and then to a controller position, all at larger publicly traded companies. I gained a ton of experience and enjoyed the journey, but I knew something was missing.

• However, completing a bookkeeping certification program can teach you basic accounting and how to perform bookkeeping tasks and has the potential to set you apart from other bookkeepers.
• The organization offers both a bookkeeper license program and a bookkeeper certification.
• These don’t require you to go to school or gain any special training, but they may be skills you’ll need to develop over time.
• There are a host of programs available in the field of business administration and accounting.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that jobs for bookkeepers, accountants, and auditing clerks will decline by 6% from 2022 to 2032.

After successfully passing the exam and meeting all of the requirements, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. You’ll also be able to put the letters “CPB,” which stands for certified public bookkeeper, behind your name. You can include this in your email signatures and on business cards, social media sites, and all of your marketing materials to promote your achievement. You can then use this in your email signature and on your business cards, social media profiles, and other marketing materials. This will let potential clients know that you’re qualified, which will generate new leads and allow you to negotiate higher billing rates.