A Guide to Bookkeeping: Skills, Salaries, and Careers

While bookkeepers can sit for the CB exam sections in any order, AIPB recommends taking part one before scheduling part two. To maintain certification, you need to earn at least 60 continuing education credits every three years. You can learn bookkeeping for free and at a low cost through online courses. These courses focus on bookkeeping fundamentals to help improve bookkeeping knowledge and skills. For example, you might complete the Intuit Bookkeeping Professional Certificate or several other bookkeeping courses offered by universities and companies on Coursera. Having the ability to prepare an accurate financial picture of an enterprise and keep records organized is essential for being a bookkeeper.

Complete your high school diploma or GED.

Every business step requires capital, from transforming an idea into a model to investing in its expansion. As a professional bookkeeper, you would keep track of a company’s financial transactions and record them in the general ledger accounts. Your job as a bookkeeper entails systematically keeping track of an organization’s financial transactions. For the information to be reported as a financial statement, it needs to be identified, accepted, classified, and recorded. Learn more about bookkeeping, how it differs from accounting, the required qualifications, and bookkeeping jobs and salaries. Many certifications require renewal through continuing education credits, ensuring that certified bookkeepers stay updated on industry standards.

This certificate includes five courses covering accounting concepts, data management, and Microsoft Office skills. Once you’ve chosen a program, complete the coursework or training material. Be sure to allow enough time in your schedule to learn the skills your certification or certificate program measures, and be mindful of any deadlines by which you must take a certifying exam.

According to Payscale, certified bookkeepers make around $57,000 each year. The first step to becoming a certified bookkeeper is ensuring you’ve met all professional and educational requirements. Regardless of whether you are pursuing credentials through AIPB or NACPB, your supervisor or a former employer must validate your experience hours. Yes, a bookkeeping certificate can enhance job opportunities, increase earning potential, and add credibility, making it a valuable certified bookkeeper investment for many in the field. A CB (Certified Bookkeeper) is a professional who has completed a recognized certification program in bookkeeping, demonstrating expertise in managing financial records, payroll, and accounts.

• It’s a way to show your skill set to potential employers and others in your professional network.
• The best way to prepare for a certified bookkeeper exam is by studying early and thoroughly.
• Experienced bookkeepers, on the other hand, may not see a significant return on investment.
• This guide explores what a Certified Bookkeeper does, how to become one, and offers essential tips for passing the CB exam.

Prepare bank deposits.

CB certification also requires more professional experience than a CPB license. The best way to prepare for a certified bookkeeper exam is by studying early and thoroughly. Take advantage of practice exams, study workbooks, and other online resources to brush up on your bookkeeping skills and knowledge.

A bookkeeper certification tells employers that you have all the skills and expertise required for advanced bookkeeping. The expected job decline is primarily due to cloud computing and other software innovations automating bookkeeping tasks that a person would normally do. Specializing in a career field can help to set you apart and lead to career stability and longevity. You may also be expected to take on more advisory and analytical roles as bookkeeping becomes more automated. Integrity and trustworthiness are important qualities to cultivate as a bookkeeper. Keep an organization’s financial data confidential and be transparent about your bookkeeping activities.

How fast can I learn bookkeeping?

As a bookkeeper, you oversee the first steps of the accounting cycle, while an accountant typically handles the last two. Hiring a certified bookkeeper could potentially save your company money, offsetting the costs of wages and benefits. With their expertise, bookkeepers can often identify ways your company can cut costs, streamline financial practices, and avoid unnecessary fees and penalties. When you feel you have enough education, you can begin applying for jobs or start your own bookkeeping business. You will need to learn how to start a bookkeeping business in your location, such as how to file for a license if you choose to have an in-person office. Bookkeepers are responsible for recording financial transactions related to the business.

Additionally, your employer might be inclined to promote and offer higher salaries to certified bookkeepers. Demonstrating a high level of proficiency can reassure employers that you’re equipped to take on greater responsibility, significantly raising your earning potential. Earning a CB or CPB credential may help advance a bookkeeper’s career or salary, as both are reputable industry certifications. Although certification isn’t required to become a bookkeeper, employers sometimes prefer candidates with these formal credentials.

Moraine Park Technical College’s bookkeeper program—which consists of five courses—teaches students basic accounting concepts with hands-on accounting software experience. The curriculum covers data management, computer literacy and accounting, equipping you to manage financial data for a small business in an entry-level position. The certified bookkeeper exam can be challenging without bookkeeping experience or education. AIPB suggests that candidates have at least some college-level bookkeeping education or professional experience before sitting for the exam.

Students can pay for their classes at one time or monthly using Harper’s interest-free installment plan. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals. As the professional landscape evolves and demand for bookkeepers fluctuates, it’s important to update your skills periodically. That way, you can take on real-world business challenges effectively and remain competitive in the job market. Regardless of which bookkeeping certification you pursue, we recommend taking a preparatory course.

Completing courses and workbooks can help you prepare for and pass your bookkeeping exam. 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.

As a bookkeeper, you may also receive client payments and deposit them at your company’s financial institution. Small businesses may prefer to handle their books themselves, but hiring a professional bookkeeper can be helpful. The CB exam covers essential bookkeeping topics and is challenging but manageable with adequate preparation, relevant experience, and thorough study.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below. 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. Register to take the first part of the exam at a Prometric test center near you. Make sure to bring proper identification and any required materials on exam day.