Bookkeeping Certification Exams, Requirements And Salaries

This is a 13-hour video course that includes quizzes for each section to check your knowledge. You can complete everything on your own time and you don’t need prior experience in accounting. The Certified Bookkeeping Certificate is designed for students who desire to secure employment in private and public businesses as certified bookkeepers. The required courses in this certificate will prepare students to sit for the Certified Bookkeeper exam offered by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the QuickBooks Certified Online User exam.

Once you’ve met all of your chosen credential’s requirements and completed your preparatory courses, it’s time to take the exams. AIPB offers a series of six self-paced classes and accompanying workbooks, all of which are part of AIPB’s CB preparatory course. AIPB also has extra courses for sale, such as mastering double-entry bookkeeping. The cost to become a CPB includes four courses and their respective exams. Read on to learn about eligibility, examination, and continuing education requirements for CPB or CB certification. Expertise Accelerated offers high-quality, affordable offshore professional resources that provide excellence in a range of support services for its valued clients.

Career Paths for Bookkeepers vs CPAs

If you work on it for about 5 hours a week, you should complete it in around four months. Once you complete and pass the exam at the end of the course, you do receive a certification through them that will add extra credibility to the services you provide clients. However, https://www.bookstime.com/ don’t let all the options overwhelm you and stop you from starting your bookkeeping business! The most important aspects of being a bookkeeper is knowing your software, having basic knowledge of keeping books, and you’re confident you can help your clients.

• It’s a sizable list where candidates benefit from investing in courses that show a commitment to the profession.
• Credentials help you to stand out to potential employers, so you can earn an average of $45,560 per year as a bookkeeping professional.
• The most popular certification requirement is Certified Public Accountant.
• The NACPB offers free educational courses that you can apply to this requirement.
• It’s designed for experienced bookkeepers as well as office managers or those who are looking to make the transition to a career in bookkeeping or accounting.
• You also indicate if you worked as a freelancer, but you must provide all your client’s names and the total hours worked.
• Below are the requirements for the bookkeeper license program offered by the NACPB.

Xero offers a “fast-track assessment” for experienced users to skip all the requirements and get certified fast. However, you only have one attempt, so don’t take it unless you’re confident. With that said, we’ve compiled the top five best bookkeeping certifications below. Getting at least one of these could give your bookkeeping career a serious boost. The course includes a complete overview of how to use Tally software for financial reporting, with insights into a range of business situations. You’ll begin with an overview of business formation, and the steps required to launch a successful company.

Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) License

Bookkeepers who invest in continuing education and certification increase their marketability in the industry. Employers seek the best talent, and certification signals a commitment to the profession and continuing excellence. Earning your credential is going to take time, effort and patience, but the career advantages you’ll gain are well worth the effort. To score discounted fees, consider becoming a member of the organization of your choosing before registering for any courses and exams. You must pay for each part of the required exam, along with any preparation courses you may take. As noted above, NACPB and AIPB both require annual fees as well to keep members’ credentials current.

• In addition, you’ll be listed on the Find-a-ProAdvisor website so that small businesses that need to hire a QuickBooks Pro can find you.
• Clients often look at certifications to verify a level of experience and expertise when selecting a bookkeeper.
• Requirements for CB certification are more extensive, as they ask for at least 3,000 hours of experience or two years of bookkeeping or accounting experience.
• A minimum grade of 75% is required for the first and second part, and a minimum grade of 70% is required for the third and fourth part to achieve certification.
• Bookkeepers need to record transactions in their proper place so that accountants can later assess the figures and write financial reports.

Regardless of whether you are pursuing credentials through AIPB or NACPB, your supervisor or a former employer must validate your experience hours. You do not need a formal education to go through the AIPB’s certification process. However, NACPB recommends a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related industry to earn the CPB license.

Bookkeeper vs. CPA, What’s the Difference?

While other bookkeeping credentials do exist, those offered by AIPB and NACPB are the most renowned and respected. Bookkeepers seeking the CPB license must complete all portions of the exam online. Those seeking the CB credential must schedule in-person appointments at a Prometric testing center. A majority of professional certifications expire periodically and require renewal.

You have to sign up for the Xero partner program first, but that’s free. ProAdvisors must take a short recertification exam every year to ensure they’re solid on their skills and keeping up with Quickbooks updates. However, they can be expensive and they aren’t backed by a professional organization.

Nationally Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)

They may have a degree in accounting or a related field, but it is not a requirement. The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification is most common among bookkeepers. This certification is awarded by the The Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business. This certification is great to have certified bookkeeper as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn’t require a minimum education level and work experience. To become a certified bookkeeper with Certified Management Accountant (CMA), you need to pass the exam.