Certified bookkeepers help organizations keep track of their finances. These professionals manage accounts, record transactions, process invoices and handle payroll. Bookkeepers work in nearly every industry, for organizations big and small.
Earning a bookkeeping certification demonstrates to prospective employers that you have bookkeeping experience, skills and knowledge, and that you’re committed to professional ethics. Although not mandatory, certification can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries.
If this sounds like something you might want to pursue, use our guide for an in-depth explanation of how to become a certified professional bookkeeper. Learn about typical certified bookkeeper job duties, certification requirements and exam preparation.
How To Become a Certified Bookkeeper
Complete College Coursework
Although not all employers require a bachelor’s degree, they generally prefer to hire bookkeepers who have taken some college coursework in relevant subjects such as accounting or business. Some bookkeepers earn a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, which may improve opportunities for career advancement.
To get a grasp on bookkeeping basics, prospective bookkeepers can also explore free online bookkeeping courses.
Get Professional Experience and On-the-Job Training
Most bookkeepers learn on the job and receive technical training to use specialized bookkeeping software. To qualify for certification, applicants must provide proof of professional experience. Depending on the certification, the amount required ranges from six months to two years.
Complete a Professional Certification
The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) and the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) provide bookkeeping certifications. AIPB offers the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) credential, while NACPB has a Bookkeeping Certification and a more involved Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) designation.
Candidates can prepare for their exam by enrolling in a certified bookkeeper course, either through the credentialing organizations mentioned above, or through colleges and universities, including community colleges.
What Is a Certified Bookkeeper?
A certified bookkeeper helps organizations keep track of financial records so they can make sound financial decisions. Their role and responsibilities can vary significantly depending on the organization.
Typical job duties may include:
- Recording financial transactions
- Posting debits and credits
- Using bookkeeping software
- Creating financial reports
- Preparing invoices
- Managing payroll
Certified bookkeepers can work in nearly any sector. The largest employers of bookkeepers include professional, scientific and technical services; construction; retail trade; wholesale trade; and healthcare and social assistance, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Certified Bookkeeper Salary and Job Outlook
The BLS classifies bookkeepers in the category of bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks. That broader group informs this salary and job outlook discussion.
The BLS reports that these professionals earn a median annual salary of $49,210 as of May 2024. However, certified bookkeeper salaries vary depending on employer, industry, geographic location, education and experience.
The job outlook for certified bookkeepers is mixed. Technology and automation have eliminated some jobs, and the BLS projects a 5% decline in employment of bookkeepers between 2023 and 2033.
Despite this, the BLS projects around 174,900 annual openings for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks each year due to the need to replace workers who retire or change careers. Bookkeepers might start taking on more analytical work, which is harder to replace with automation.
Certified Bookkeeper Specializations
Certified bookkeepers don’t need to pursue a specialization. But focusing on one area of the field can develop expertise that might lead to new opportunities in that niche.
Bookkeepers can specialize in an aspect of bookkeeping, one type of client or industry, or a specific software. Potential specializations include:
- Payroll bookkeeper
- Accounts receivable/accounts payable bookkeeper
- QuickBooks bookkeeper
- Nonprofit bookkeeping
- Real estate bookkeeping
- Construction bookkeeping
Certified Bookkeeper Career Advancement
Certified bookkeepers may choose to advance in their careers by becoming accountants or auditors. Qualifying for these opportunities usually requires a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Some accounting roles also require a certified public accountant credential.
However, some bookkeepers with significant experience and accounting skills may be able to move into junior accounting positions without more formal education. Those who complete bookkeeping certificates, continuing education or self-study may find it easier to move up.
Certifications for Bookkeepers
The CB from APIB and the Bookkeeping Certification and CPB credential from NACPB can lead to similar job opportunities. They demonstrate skills and expertise, confirm professional experience and testify to a commitment to professional ethics.
The CB and CPB both demonstrate similar levels of expertise, while the Bookkeeping Certification from NACPB requires significantly less time to complete and may be easier to qualify for.
Learn what it takes to earn these credentials below.
Certified Bookkeeper (CB)
Eligibility criteria for the CB credential includes:
- Completing at least two years of full-time bookkeeping or 3,000 hours of part-time or freelance bookkeeping experience. Applicants can meet this requirement before the exam, or they have up to three years after taking the exam to finish their hours.
- Signing the CB Code of Ethics
- Passing the four-part, multiple-choice CB exam. Applicants take the first two parts of the exam at a Prometric testing center. Parts three and four are open-book tests included with the required CB workbooks that prepare learners for the exam. The test covers adjustments and error correction, payroll and depreciation, inventory, and internal controls and fraud prevention.
AIPB’s self-study CB prep course costs $479 for members and $574 for nonmembers and includes all certification costs, including an enrollment fee, workbooks and Prometric test fees. AIPB also offers an instructor-led online prep course that costs $1,475 for members and $1,495 for nonmembers and includes all certification costs.
CBs must complete 60 continuing professional education credits every three years to maintain certification.
NACPB’s Bookkeeping Certification
The Bookkeeping Certification from NACPB does not require any professional experience.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Completing NACPB’s 13-week, self-paced accounting fundamentals course
- Taking pre- and post-assessment exams
- Passing NACPB’s bookkeeping certification exam
The organization offers a Bookkeeping Certification bundle that includes the accounting fundamentals course, the certification exam and a certificate for $359 (members) or $449 (nonmembers).
Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB)
Earning NACBP’s CPB credential is a much more involved process that demonstrates significantly more expertise than the Bookkeeping Certification. In fact, the Bookkeeping Certification is built into the CPB.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Completing NACPB’s Certified Public Bookkeeper Program. Applicants take courses on the fundamentals of accounting, QuickBooks Online and payroll, earning certifications in these areas along the way. They also complete six months of bookkeeping experience and three months of payroll experience.
- Verifying one year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping experience under the supervision of a CPA or the six months of bookkeeping experience that’s built into NACPB’s Certified Public Bookkeeper Program
- Agreeing to NACPB’s code of professional conduct
- Passing the bookkeeping certification, payroll certification and QuickBooks online certification exams
NACPB offers a Certified Public Bookkeeper License Bundle that includes all required courses, certification exams and certificates for $1,078 (members) or $1,347 (nonmembers).
Applicants with an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in accounting may be able to waive one or more of the required courses by submitting college transcripts.
To maintain the credential, CPBs must apply for renewal and complete 24 hours of continuing professional education each year.
Professional Organizations for Certified Bookkeepers
American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers
A membership group for professional bookkeepers in the U.S., the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers offers member benefits including a newsletter, special reports, discounts and access to the organization’s telephone answer line.
National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers
The National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers is also a national membership group for professional bookkeepers. Members get a 20% discount on courses, certifications, training and programs. They can also access a members-only portal, CPB placement program and social networking bookkeeper community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Certified Bookkeepers
How long does it take to become a certified bookkeeper?
It can take anywhere from four months to more than two years to become a certified bookkeeper, depending on which certification you pursue and how quickly you complete its requirements.
You need at least two years of bookkeeping experience for the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) credential from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. The Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) credential from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) takes less time, requiring just one year of experience. NACPB’s Bookkeeping Certification takes about four months to complete.
In addition to the time it takes to gain enough professional experience, factor in the time it might take to complete college coursework (optional) and study for certification exams.
What qualifications do I need to be a bookkeeper?
Requirements vary by employer, but becoming a bookkeeper does not involve formal qualifications. A four-year degree may not be required, but most employers prefer bookkeepers who have completed some relevant college coursework. A bookkeeping certification is not mandatory, but it can help you stand out from the competition.
Which certification is best for bookkeeping?
The two main certifications for bookkeepers, the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) credential from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) credential from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB), are both well-respected.
If you want a certification that is still respectable but that requires a much smaller investment of time, consider Bookkeeper Certification from NACPB. You can also apply the Bookkeeper Certification to the CPB if you decide to pursue that credential in the future.
