Certified Bookkeeper Certifications & Licenses CPB and CB

certified public bookkeeper

If you do not pass one of the certification exams, you can retake it for a fee of $50 for NACPB members and $75 for nonmembers. Candidates must meet similar eligibility requirements for the CPB license and the CB credential. To earn either certification, bookkeepers must successfully pass a four-part multiple-choice exam, verify their bookkeeping education and experience, and agree to follow a professional code of conduct. QuickBooks is one of the most widely used bookkeeping software programs among small businesses. It is only fitting that there is a license for highly proficient users.

certified public bookkeeper

The average salary for a certified bookkeeper is around $55,000 per year, and the average salary for a non-certified bookkeeper is around $45,000 per year. The length of your bookkeeping certification journey will vary widely based on your choice of education. If you want to earn a bookkeeping certificate through a college, you may end up spending one to two years to complete the program. Simple bookkeeping certificates are offered for people who are just getting started with bookkeeping. In addition, more intensive bookkeeping certifications are available for those who want to level up in their careers.

Why Become a Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB)?

Bookkeepers can also obtain additional certification showing their mastery of Intuit QuickBooks, the most popular accounting software for small businesses. Consider taking the QuickBooks certified user exam or pursuing the Intuit certified bookkeeping professional credential. Exams are available at Certiport authorized testing centers across the U.S. After completing the course curriculum, you will prepare to take the Tax Certification Exam. Once you pass the exam, you will receive and be able to use the Professional Tax Preparer™ designation, recognized by employers worldwide as the gold standard in small business training. While you can get started with an entry-level bookkeeping job without any certification, certificates can help you get higher-paying jobs.

Bookkeepers produce and manage financial records for small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and accounting firms. Though licensure is not required to work as a bookkeeper, some professionals pursue certification to demonstrate their skills to employers and stand out in the job search. There are two widely recognized licenses for bookkeepers, the Certified Public Bookkeeper and the Certified Bookkeeper licenses. Additionally, there are licenses for certain areas of bookkeeping and even specific bookkeeping software. Bookkeepers interested in licensing and certification can find applications, guidelines, exam study guides, continuing education and bookkeeping best practices on each certifying organization’s website.

tips on how to negotiate pay and approach compensation

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. After completing part one of the CB exam, repeat this process to take part two.

  • Once you pass the exam, you will receive and be able to use the Professional Tax Preparer™ designation, recognized by employers worldwide as the gold standard in small business training.
  • Meghan Gallagher is a Seattle-based freelance content writer and strategist.
  • In each section, test-takers must answer 37 out of 50 questions correctly to receive a passing grade.
  • QuickBooks is one of the most widely used bookkeeping software programs among small businesses.
  • While other bookkeeping credentials do exist, those offered by AIPB and NACPB are the most renowned and respected.
  • Created by Intuit and Certiport, the Intuit Certified Bookkeeping Professional program starts to  establish an industry-standard for bookkeeping.

In today’s job market, having a bookkeeping certificate or a badge from Intuit Academy can increase your career opportunities. With the foundational skills learned through online courses and certificate programs, you can become a bookkeeping A Deep Dive into Law Firm Bookkeeping professional and stand out among the competition. You can also use a bookkeeping certificate to negotiate better job terms. In the case of Intuit Academy, the Bookkeeping badge helps you stand out to Intuit recruiters.

How Long is a Certified Bookkeeper Certification?

In addition, Adam also uses his skills as a profit and growth expert to run his own accounting practice. He is also QuickBooks Certified and is working towards his Enrolled Agent (EA) designation. You work directly with clients and small businesses to help manage their QuickBooks accounts and bookkeeping processes. For example, you might help them set up their books, complete monthly updates, or run reports. For example, the bookkeeping program through Intuit Academy entails about 40 hours of content and 1 hour of exam to complete. That said, it is a self-paced course, so you can go as fast or slow as you’d like.

certified public bookkeeper

Sure ways to set up complete bookkeeping systems and manage the books for a variety of more sophisticated industries. Master the tools, procedures, and underlying principles that make up the bookkeeping processes of all businesses. Your Intuit Academy Bookkeeping badge can be used to show any employer or client that you have an understanding of bookkeeping and accounting. It also opens up the possibility of becoming a remote QuickBooks Live bookkeeper with Intuit. There are a number of free and affordable options if you choose to take a bookkeeping course online. One of the best free bookkeeping courses is from AccountingCoach, LLC.

Your Enrollment Includes

If you want to start a bookkeeping business, you need education, experience, and licensing. The first step to becoming a certified bookkeeper is ensuring you’ve met all professional https://goodmenproject.com/business-ethics-2/navigating-law-firm-bookkeeping-exploring-industry-specific-insights/ 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.