How to Obtain a Bookkeeping Certificate Online

Co-authored by Michael McCutcheon, PhD

Last Updated: November 28, 2022

If you work in the accounting or bookkeeping field, getting your certification in bookkeeping is a great way to show employers and clients that you’re serious about your profession and committed to doing great work. With a busy schedule, an online certification gives you the freedom to complete the preparation and exams on your own time. Visit the National Association of Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) website at http://certifiedpublicbookkeeper.org/ to get started.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Studying for Certification

1
Gain at least 1 year of accounting or bookkeeping experience. The NBA requires that candidates for certification have 1 year of working in the accounting or bookkeeping field. This will help you learn hands-on applications of the fundamental information needed for your certification.^{[1]
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- The NBA doesn’t distinguish between full-time and part-time experience in the field.
2
Take the online certification practice test. The practice test will tell you your current competency level and let you know if you’re ready to take the certification exam. It covers the same topics as the certification exam.
- Visit http://certifiedpublicbookkeeper.org/free-certification-practice-tests.cfm and select “Bookkeeper Certification” to register to take the online practice test.
- As a general rule, if you pass the practice test, you’re ready to take the certification exam. However, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on your skills for a little bit before taking the exam!
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3
Brush up on your study skills. If you’ve been in the workforce for a long time, you might have forgotten what it’s like to study for an exam. If you didn’t do well on the practice test, make a study plan and stick to it so that you can receive your certification.
- It will be helpful to have a notebook dedicated to your certification, where you can take notes and track your progress. This will help you decide the right time to take the exam.
4
Review common exam topics with teaching videos from the NACPB. The videos, which are free to members of the NACPB, include pre-lesson tests, instructional videos, and post-lesson quizzes. They’re a great resource if you just need to brush up on some of your skills before taking the certification exam.
- The video quizzes also give you a good idea of the structure and wording of the questions on the certification exam.
5
Enroll in the Bookkeeping Certification program for a discount on the certification exam. The online course from NACPB covers the information included in the certification exam in more depth than the free videos. The course is online, self-taught, and you can complete it at your own pace, and includes the price of the certification exam in the cost.^{[2]
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- This is a great option if you have minimal experience in hands-on bookkeeping. It gives you a variety of educational resources, including an online textbook, workbook, and study guides, as well as exercises and practice tests.
- Although the course is online, you have access to an instructor who can provide you with additional support.
- The cost of this program for non-members is $599 or $499 for members.
- There is an option for taking the accounting course that does not include the price of the exam, but the educational program is the best deal if you intend to take the certification exam.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Taking the Certification Exam

1
Pay the $150 fee for access to the exam. If you’ve opted not to take the educational program that includes the exam, you will have to pay a fee before you take the test. Once you pay this fee, you have one year to take and pass the exam from the date of purchase.
- This fee is discounted to $100 for members of the NACPB.
2
Pass the Uniform Bookkeeper Certification Examination by scoring at least 75%. The test is administered online and takes two hours to complete. This is exam is a comprehensive overview of many different topics in accounting and bookkeeping.
- The exam includes topics such as the language of business, adjustments, accounting for sales, cash, payroll, general journal and ledger keeping, accruals and deferrals, and many more.
- If you don’t pass the exam, you can pay to retake the exam.
3
Join NACPB for discounts and further benefits of membership. Members receive discounts on courses, access to free educational videos and practice exams. If you’re interested in getting a bookkeeping license in the future, membership includes resources that can prepare you for that process.^{[3]
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- Annual membership dues cost $100, but there is a 1-day free trial membership available that will give you access to member resources. After your free trial, you can decide whether membership is right for you.
- If you are in a position or are preparing to work in a business where you provide bookkeeping services to the public, you are eligible to be a member.

Expert Q&A

Question

How fast can I become a certified bookkeeper?

Michael McCutcheon, PhD
Career Coach & Psychologist
Dr. Michael McCutcheon is a career coach, psychologist, and award-winning public speaker who specializes in procrastination elimination, goal achievement, and increasing life satisfaction. With a background as a counseling psychologist, he guides clients toward becoming more aware of their desires and anxieties to break old patterns, create new habits, and achieve life-changing results. He also helps clients improve organization skills, embark on a new career, get promoted, get admitted into graduate schools, and transition from school to the working world. He is a published author and lecturer in graduate psychology courses at New York University (NYU), a position he has twice won the Teaching Award (2014 & 2019). His work has appeared in the press as a lifestyle and career expert for The Washington Post/The Associated Press, The New York Post, Scholastic, Lifehacker, and The Coca-Cola Company. He has served as a contributing writer for Out Magazine and featured panelist on National Public Radio (NPR).

Michael McCutcheon, PhD

Career Coach & Psychologist

Expert Answer

You need at least two years of full-time bookkeeping experience before you can apply for certification. So long as you pass the test for certification, that two years of experience is all you need.
Question

What does a bookkeeper actually do?

Michael McCutcheon, PhD
Career Coach & Psychologist
Dr. Michael McCutcheon is a career coach, psychologist, and award-winning public speaker who specializes in procrastination elimination, goal achievement, and increasing life satisfaction. With a background as a counseling psychologist, he guides clients toward becoming more aware of their desires and anxieties to break old patterns, create new habits, and achieve life-changing results. He also helps clients improve organization skills, embark on a new career, get promoted, get admitted into graduate schools, and transition from school to the working world. He is a published author and lecturer in graduate psychology courses at New York University (NYU), a position he has twice won the Teaching Award (2014 & 2019). His work has appeared in the press as a lifestyle and career expert for The Washington Post/The Associated Press, The New York Post, Scholastic, Lifehacker, and The Coca-Cola Company. He has served as a contributing writer for Out Magazine and featured panelist on National Public Radio (NPR).

Michael McCutcheon, PhD

Career Coach & Psychologist

Expert Answer

Bookkeepers help companies manage their finances and survive audits by making sure their records are in order. Bookkeepers spend their time managing profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and statements of changes in equity.
Question

Do I need a specific degree to become a bookkeeper?

Michael McCutcheon, PhD
Career Coach & Psychologist
Dr. Michael McCutcheon is a career coach, psychologist, and award-winning public speaker who specializes in procrastination elimination, goal achievement, and increasing life satisfaction. With a background as a counseling psychologist, he guides clients toward becoming more aware of their desires and anxieties to break old patterns, create new habits, and achieve life-changing results. He also helps clients improve organization skills, embark on a new career, get promoted, get admitted into graduate schools, and transition from school to the working world. He is a published author and lecturer in graduate psychology courses at New York University (NYU), a position he has twice won the Teaching Award (2014 & 2019). His work has appeared in the press as a lifestyle and career expert for The Washington Post/The Associated Press, The New York Post, Scholastic, Lifehacker, and The Coca-Cola Company. He has served as a contributing writer for Out Magazine and featured panelist on National Public Radio (NPR).

Michael McCutcheon, PhD

Career Coach & Psychologist

Expert Answer

No, there are no educational requirements to become a bookkeeper. However, a degree in finance or business certainly can't hurt.

Warnings

Avoid certification programs that guarantee that you pass the exam after paying large fees. This is a sign that the certification program isn’t rigorous and likely won’t be respected in the accounting and bookkeeping field.

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