How to Earn a QuickBooks Certification

QuickBooks is an industry leader in accounting software. Learn how earning QuickBooks certification can lead to increased job opportunities and earnings.
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Updated on April 4, 2023
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  • QuickBooks is an industry leader in accounting and bookkeeping software for businesses.
  • Earning QuickBooks certification demonstrates a job candidate's competency in this software.
  • Students can gain the necessary skills to pass the exam via QuickBooks training online.
  • QuickBooks certification can take as little as 2-3 weeks, including courses and testing.

QuickBooks is one of the industry leaders in business accounting and bookkeeping software. Small- to mid-size companies use it to track their income and expenses, complete payroll, and maintain financial health.

By earning QuickBooks certification, holders demonstrate their bookkeeping and accounting skills and establish their competency in QuickBooks. This certification may enhance job opportunities and add third-party validation, ensuring potential employers of a candidate's skills. It can also boost a resume in a competitive field and may lead to increased earnings.

What Are the Requirements for a QuickBooks Certification?

People can get certified in QuickBooks Online or in QuickBooks Desktop. For people looking for a new position, getting certified in both versions can help qualify them for more jobs.

There are no specific requirements for earning this certification. For learners just starting with the software, QuickBooks training can help teach them the needed skills and prepare them for the exam. Professionals well-versed in QuickBooks can jump right in and take the test with no further instructions.

After receiving QuickBooks Online certification, professionals may earn the Quickbooks Online advanced certification. This certification comprises an eight-hour self-paced course and teaches advanced features like job costing, inventory, and complex problem-solving. Each year, certification-holders must pass a short recertification exam.

What Skills Will I Learn by Taking Quickbooks Classes?

QuickBooks certification covers five essential components. These include online administration, sales and money in, vendors and money out, basic accounting, and reports. The following represent a few of the many learned skills associated with this certification:

  • Setting up a company and identifying automated tasks
  • Recording invoices and sales receipts and managing payments
  • Activating expense tracking by connecting bank and credit card accounts
  • Setting up and running payroll
  • Understanding QuickBooks financial reports

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Is a QuickBooks Certification Worth It?

Yes. Many companies use QuickBooks for their accounting purposes. Earning QuickBooks certification validates your knowledge and can boost your career, whether you're looking to advance or enter the field.

Understanding QuickBooks at this level means users can get the most out of the software and use it to its full extent. They can create reports to demonstrate a company's financial health and discover ways to automate tasks.

This knowledge can improve their chances of receiving a raise or a higher starting salary. Acquiring new skills can also boost their bookkeeping and accounting confidence.

What Jobs Can I Get With a QuickBooks Certification?

Earning QuickBooks certification can get job applicants in the door and, if just starting their careers, qualifies them for entry-level positions. With experience, these professionals can make their way up the ladder.

Bookkeeper

Bookkeepers help keep a business's finances in order. They may record transactions, manage general accounting ledgers, and create financial statements. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bookkeepers earned a median annual salary of $45,560 as of May 2021.

Business Accounting Specialist

Business accounting specialists' tasks vary. Some positions require making general ledger journal entries, running accounts payable and receivable reports, and drafting invoices. They may also assist with payroll.

Some employers may require an associate or bachelor's degree for this position. As of April 2022, these professionals earn an average yearly wage of $48,410, according to Payscale.

Accounting Clerk

Accounting clerks typically assist high-ranking accountants within a company. They may reconcile accounts, prepare reports, and update financial records. Payscale reports that accounting clerks earn an average yearly salary of $40,380 as of April 2022.

Accounts Payable or Receivable Clerk

An accounts payable clerk focuses on a company's bills and invoices, ensuring they record and pay them on time. An accounts receivable clerk holds responsibility for receiving funds, including creating invoices and processing customer payments. According to Payscale April 2022 data, these professionals earn an average salary of $40,030 and $39,350, respectively.

How Much Money Can I Make With a QuickBooks Certification?

According to Payscale, people with QuickBooks certification earn an average annual salary of $51,000 as of March 2022. Because people with this certification work in many industries and positions, the average wage can vary greatly.

For example, the BLS reports that bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks earned a median wage of $45,560 as of May 2021, with the top 10% making more than $61,980. Additionally, these professionals working in Massachusetts, Washington, and California boast even greater earnings, with salaries of $53,340, $51,460, and $51,080, respectively.

Frequently Asked Questions About QuickBooks Certification

How much does it cost to get QuickBooks certified?

The cost for QuickBooks certification depends on your level of knowledge. For those just starting in QuickBooks, taking training classes can help prepare them for the certification test. The costs for these programs vary significantly.

The only training center officially endorsed by Intuit is Real World Training. Their combined fee for classes and the exam costs about $680. A self-paced VIP membership option charges an additional monthly fee of $29.95.

The National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) offers a QuickBooks Online certification that costs $449 for nonmembers and $369 for members. The fee includes the course and exam costs.

For those ready to take the exam, it costs $156.

How can I get QuickBooks certified for free?

QuickBooks Online certification training and exams are free to accounting pros. The ProAdvisor program is for accounting, tax, bookkeeping, and consulting professionals who provide services to third-party clients. Other professionals must pay a fee for the certification exam.

Taking QuickBooks courses can raise your certification cost by hundreds of dollars. However, there are other QuickBooks learning options you can use before taking the exam, such as QuickBooks tutorials and the QuickBooks learning center. Some sites, such as Certiport, QuickBooks' official testing site, also offer free practice exercises and examples of test questions.

How long does it take to be QuickBooks certified?

QuickBooks certification can take as little as 2-3 weeks. Intuit QuickBooks training offers two-day live online or self-paced instruction. These include a study guide, practice test, and exam voucher. Then, when students feel prepared, they take the test at a Certiport testing center or take an online test via the certified testing portal site.

The Intuit QuickBooks Certified User Certification Exam consists of about 50 questions that test takers must complete in 50 minutes. Once they pass, they receive an email notification and an official digital certificate within two weeks.

The NACPB requires QuickBooks Online certification candidates to complete a 10-week,10-session QuickBooks Online fundamentals course before taking the qualifying exam.

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