Certified Bookkeeper (Exam Cost Included)

This unique, comprehensive online bookkeeping certification course is designed for professional bookkeepers. It reinforces key bookkeeping concepts, definitions, and calculations you have likely encountered in your bookkeeping education and career and prepares you for the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) national certification exam. Throughout this bookkeeper training, you will have access to resources such as videos, interactive activities, and hands-on exercises that will...

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6 Months / 140 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
Offered in partnership with your preferred school

Butler Community College

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Learning method

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Course code: GES202

What you will learn

  • AIPB CB designation eligibility requirements, code of ethics, and maintenance requirements
  • How to apply the concepts of accrual accounting to transactions that span fiscal periods and trace the effect of accrual and deferral transactions
  • How to master the adjustment of entries, identify and correct accounting errors, and reconcile bank accounts
  • How to complete book and tax depreciation, including various methods of calculating depreciation for book and tax purposes
  • The basics of payroll, from paying wages to depositing and reporting taxes
  • How to value inventory, record costs, make entries, and report inventory on financial statements
  • How to use basic internal controls to prevent theft, embezzlement, or check and credit card fraud by employees, customers, or vendors

How you will benefit

  • This product includes many videos showing concepts and bookkeeping scenarios with plenty of examples
  • Interactive scenarios allow you to practice calculations and concepts described in the textbooks and lesson materials
  • Upon completion of the course, you will be prepared to sit for the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) exam
  • You may take the exam at any Prometric Test Center

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 140 course hours
  1. Getting Started
  2. Pretest
  3. Adjusting Entries
  4. Correction of Accounting Errors
  5. Payroll
  6. Depreciation
  7. Inventory
  8. Internal Controls and Fraud Prevention
  9. AIPB Exam Preparation
  10. Final Exam
  11. Resources

Wade Lindenberger

Wade Lindenberger is a CPA with over 20 years of financial accounting and management experience in public accounting and private industry. He is currently Director of Finance and Administration for New Children's Museum. Before his current position, he worked as the National Finance and Accounting Service Line Leader for Premier Alliance Group, a national professional services firm. Wade was also Director of the Finance and Accounting service line for the San Diego office of a global, publicly held professional services firm. Before becoming a consultant, Wade was Divisional Controller for one of the leading health and fitness club chains in the world. He has also been Internal Audit Manager and Divisional Controller for a division of a Fortune 500 global energy project management company. He began his career with Coopers & Lybrand, predecessor to PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the "Big Four" CPA firms. He has previously served as an instructor for courses at Coopers & Lybrand and at the University of California at San Diego for the Extension Course and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Business. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Bookkeepers' Advisory Board.

Helene K. Liatsos

Helene K. Liatsos is a consultant for small businesses, travel agencies, and home-based business startups with more than 25 years of experience. Along with a successful career in the travel industry, working with airlines, hotels, and travel agencies, Helene established her own business management company, Home Office Management Experts, and was awarded the 2004 Home-Based Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. As a QuickBooks Certified Advisor, she provides bookkeeping, payroll and QuickBooks training services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Prerequisites:

The Certified Bookkeeper course is designed for experienced bookkeepers who want to prepare for national certification. To succeed in this course, you must have at least two years of experience as a bookkeeper before enrolling.

If you do not meet the experience requirement, we recommend our Professional Bookkeeping with QuickBooks course, which is designed for entry-level bookkeepers.

Certification Exam Prerequisites:

To earn your Certified Bookkeeper designation, you must pass the AIPB certification exams and be able to submit proof of at least two years of full-time - or 3,000 hours of part-time - experience. Learn more about the requirements for the AIPB Certification exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 10 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Microsoft Word Online
  • Microsoft Excel (not included in enrollment).
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The AIPB provides the six workbooks that are required for this course:

  • Mastering Adjusting Entries
  • Mastering Correction of Accounting Errors
  • Mastering Payroll
  • Mastering Depreciation
  • Mastering Inventory
  • Mastering Internal Controls and Fraud Prevention

In addition to the six workbooks listed above, you will also receive:

  • Two exam vouchers that cover the full cost of part one and part two of the Certified Bookkeeper exam

Books/Materials/Exam Fees are non-refundable upon registration.

Note: Due to the high cost of these items, books will not be shipped until 10-days after the student's start date. Students may request an earlier shipment by contacting their Student Advisor but will be required to acknowledge the fees involved are non-refundable.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median bookkeeper salary is $45,560 annually. However, bookkeepers can increase their earning potential through years of experience, certification, or starting your own bookkeeping business.

Certified Bookkeepers meet the high standards of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB). The official designation of Certified Bookkeeper (CB) from the AIPB allows you to put the initials CB after your name, which adds to your market value and professional status. This is an elite credential in the world of bookkeeping much like the CPA designation in accounting.

As a bookkeeper, you will be in charge of keeping accurate financial records for one or more financial organizations. You will be responsible for using bookkeeping software like QuickBooks to record transactions, produce reports, and check financial information for accuracy. You will handle expenses, receipts, payables, and accounts receivable. In addition, you may also help with payroll, purchasing, and outstanding accounts. The role of a professional bookkeeper can vary widely depending on the size of the organization you work for, but you can be sure that you will play an important role in the financial stability and success of your company.

To become a bookkeeper, you need a background in accounting and specialized knowledge in payroll and taxation. You can gain this knowledge through a course or on-the-job training in an accounting department or working underneath an experienced bookkeeper. You will also need to gain experience with bookkeeping software.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are a lot of jobs for bookkeepers, and the job outlook is expected to remain relatively constant through 2026. Understanding how to efficiently use bookkeeping software like QuickBooks will make you a more desirable candidate as more and more businesses turn to technology to perform basic accounting tasks.

To become a Certified Bookkeeper, you must sit for and pass the AIPB Certified Bookkeeper exam.

There are two paths to becoming a virtual bookkeeper. The first is looking for job opportunities listed as "Remote," which offer the possibility to work virtually. Second, you can work for yourself as a freelance bookkeeper and market yourself as a virtual or "remote" bookkeeper.

In order to earn the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, you are required to pass a four-part, multiple-choice examination and obtain at least 2 years of full-time bookkeeping experience. It is possible to take and pass the exam before you have obtained your 2 years of experience. You will also be required to sign a Code of Ethics.

You do not need an advanced degree to become a bookkeeper. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you will need to have your high school diploma or equivalent to pursue a career as a professional bookkeeper. Many bookkeepers get started with an online course like this Professional Bookkeeping course. However, in order to stay competitive and open up even more job opportunities down the road, you may want to think about earning an associate degree in bookkeeping or accounting at some point in your career.

Not exactly. There are five major parts to the accounting process, and they include recording, interpreting, classifying, analyzing, and reporting financial information. Bookkeeping is the first foundational part of the accounting process — recording financial transactions. However, bookkeeping is a great first step into an accounting career, and with additional education, you use this as a way to gain experience and become an accountant in the future.

Most bookkeepers work 40 hours per week, though some do work part-time. As a professional bookkeeper, you may need to work overtime during certain periods of the year, such as closing out the fiscal quarter and/or year, as well as during tax season.

Most bookkeepers work in an office environment for a typical 9 to 5 hours and spend a large amount of their time in front of a computer. As a professional bookkeeper, you will usually be working alone but may have a few people from other areas of accounting work alongside you. It is even possible that you could work remotely from home for one or more organizations at a time.

No, bookkeepers do not do company taxes. Taxes are done by an accountant. However, bookkeepers play an important role in making sure that financial transactions are recorded in a timely and accurate manner. This ensures that the financial information for a company is easy to read and use once it is time for an accountant to take over and do the taxes.

Yes. A certificate of completion signifies to a potential employer that you have completed the coursework in the area of bookkeeping. Still, it can vary widely depending on where you get that education and training. Upon completion of this course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Certification, such as Certified Bookkeeper, demonstrates competency based on a national and industry-recognized standard. It also allows you to include the "C.B." designation after your name, signifying that you have met the demanding requirements to earn this credential.

If you do not meet the experience requirement for the exam, we recommend waiting to take the exam or enrolling in our entry-level Professional Bookkeeping with QuickBooks course.

You must go to the Prometric Test Center to take the exam on a computer. The tests are taken on a computer at the testing facility.

Yes, the books will be shipped. You should expect to receive them within 7-10 business days.

Once payment is made, you will gain access to the course in 24-48 hours.

We currently have a 10-day refund policy. Upon enrollment in the course, if you do not like the course, you can receive a full refund minus the costs of materials.

Yes included in the program are two exam vouchers for Part one and Part two of the exam. There are no fees associated with Part three and Part four of the exam.

To learn about funding options for veterans, please contact us via chat or phone to discuss options that may be available to you.

At this time, there is not an internship or externship included in this course, but nothing is stopping you from securing these options on your own.

At this time, we do not offer any job placement assistance. However, the AIPB website does provide a job board where you can search for employment opportunities, both remote and near you.

This course is based on U.S. accounting rules and regulations, as is the Certified Bookkeeper exam, so it may not be the best option if you are Canadian.

Yes. This online course will prepare you for the four-part Certified Bookkeeper Exam to earn your American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) certification. You will have one year (365 days) from enrollment in the Certified Bookkeeper course to submit the Application for Certified Bookkeeper Designation form to The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. Please note that you will receive two exam vouchers, as two of the four exams are no-cost exams. Detailed instructions regarding the certification application, exams, and the use of the vouchers at any Prometric Test Center are also available within the course. Please refer to The Certified Bookkeeper™ (CB) Designation handbook for more information.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

After you register, you will receive _ months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."

American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB)
The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) is the leading institution for bookkeeping professionals in the United States and beyond. The institute contributes to the recognition of bookkeeping as a serious profession by providing comprehensive continuing education and resources that ensure practitioners are up-to-date and informed on the latest developments in the field. AIPB created the Certified Bookkeeper Program (CBP), the most prestigious certification in the industry. Earning your CBP designation can add to your market value and is recognized by employers all over the country. Increase your professional status with a course certified by AIPB.