Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best bookkeeper certifications
Bookkeeper certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an bookkeeper to employers. However, not all bookkeeper certifications provide the same value for job seekers.
The best certifications for a bookkeeper are Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Bookkeepers Certification, and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).
Below is a list of the best bookkeeper certifications. Obtaining an bookkeeper certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
12 best certifications for bookkeepers
| Rank | Bookkeeper certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Management Accountant (CMA) | IMA |
| 2 | Bookkeepers Certification | NBA |
| 3 | International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA) | ACAT |
| 4 | Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | AICPA |
| 5 | Nationally Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA) | NCCT |
| 6 | Certified Bank Teller (CBT) | ICB |
| 7 | Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) | AICPA |
| 8 | Professional Credit Specialist (PCS) | CPI |
| 9 | Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) | Association o... |
| 10 | Credit Business Associate (CBA) | NACM |
| 11 | Certified Customer Service Representative (CCSR) | ICB |
| 12 | Bookkeeper | NCCT |
12 best bookkeeper certifications
1. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
2. Bookkeepers Certification
The National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers' (NACPB) Uniform Certified Public Bookkeeper Examination (Exam) is the exam administered to candidates who want to obtain a Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license. The license and Exam are developed and maintained by NACPB.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
3. International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA)
ACAT seeks to ensure that all accredited individuals possess both the theoretical knowledge and the practical knowledge necessary to be successful practitioners. For that reason, candidates for accreditation must satisfy an experience requirement before becoming fully credentialed: three years of related work experience, up to two of which may be satisfied through college credit. Related work experience includes verifiable experience in accounting, financial services, or other field requiring a practical and theoretical knowledge of the subject matter covered on the ACAT Comprehensive Examination for the International Accredited Business Accountant. Those who pass the exam but who have not met the experience requirement may market themselves as having passed the ACAT Comprehensive Examination for International Accredited Business Accountant, but are not entitled to use the IABA designation.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
4. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Public Accountant candidates must pass a national exam certifiying that they are eligible to be licensed in the state(s) of their choosing. Information about state licensing requirements is made available in the Licensed Occupation tool.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
5. Nationally Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)
Medical Office Assistants typically perform administrative duties for health care providers in office settings, although some may also perform basic clinical tasks (as allowed by state laws). Their responsibilities will vary by employer, but may include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing medical records, completing insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing or bookkeeping.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
6. Certified Bank Teller (CBT)
Applicable to financial services professionals who have completed the AIB Bank Teller Certificate and who function as bank tellers.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
7. Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)
A Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) is a Certified Public Accountant recognized for his or her unique ability to provide business insight by leveraging knowledge of information relationships and supporting technologies.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
8. Professional Credit Specialist (PCS)
Certification enables you to make your clients, customers, colleagues,employers and others with whom you do business aware of the knowledge and skill you have invested in your career in the credit industry.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
9. Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a global body for professional accountants with 219,000 members and 517,000 students in 179 countries. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1974 which commits it to acting in and upholding the public interest. ACCA works through a network of 110 offices and centres and 7,571 Approved Employers worldwide, and 328 approved learning providers who provide high standards of learning and development. In addition to IFAC membership, ACCA is represented on key regional forums including the ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA), the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA), Accountancy Europe, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC), the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), and is a member of CCAB in the UK and Ireland. It undertakes wide-ranging capacity building work globally and has an extensive network of partnerships with other professional accountancy organizations.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
10. Credit Business Associate (CBA)
The Credit Business Associate (CBA) is an academic-based designation which signals mastery of three business-credit related disciplines: basic financial accounting, business credit principles and introductory financial statement analysis. There is no minimum work experience requirement for this designation level and the course work needed to qualify for this designation can be obtained through colleges, local NACM Affiliated Association programs, self-study or nationally sponsored programs.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
11. Certified Customer Service Representative (CCSR)
Applicable to financial services professionals who have completed the AIB Customer Service Representative Certificate and who function as customer service representatives.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
12. Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks may apply for our examination with qualified experience or education. The Bookkeeper examination content areas include balance sheets, payroll, profit & loss, month end closing, and legal & ethical issues in the profession.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
What is the best certification for a bookkeeper?
The best bookkeeper certification is Certified Management Accountant (CMA). The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is awarded by the The Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this bookkeeper certification:
- To become a certified Certified Management Accountant (CMA), you need to pass the exam.
- This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 1 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for bookkeepers?
The most in-demand bookkeeper certification is Certified Public Accountant based on all active job postings. Having this bookkeeper certification will give you access to more bookkeeper jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a bookkeeper career and salary?
The Certified Management Accountant certification will help you to secure a office manager position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A office manager's average salary is $43,471 whereas bookkeepers make an average salary of $40,337.
The most common combination of bookkeeper certifications include: Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Bookkeepers Certification, and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).
Online courses for bookkeepers to earn certifications
1. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction
Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...
2. Accounting, Bookkeeping & Financial Analysis (Accounting)
Accounting & Bookkeeping Basics. Accounting & Financial Analysis Concepts. Learn Accounting & Bookkeeping...
3. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
4. Accounting & Bookkeeping Masterclass - Beginner to Advanced
Accounting, Bookkeeping Introduction, Accounting, Bookkeeping Entries, Accounting, Bookkeeping Adjustments & Reports...
5. Bookkeeping in QuickBooks Online (Bookkeeping & accounting)
Bookkeeping & Accounting with Quick Books Online. Bookkeeping & Accounting is Easy. Bookkeeping & Quick Books software...
6. Bookkeeping Basics Explained (Bookkeeping & Accounting)
Bookkeeping and accounting explained. Bookkeeping and accounting basics is easy. Simple Bookkeeping and accounting...
7. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course
Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...
8. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries
Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...
9. Managerial Accounting & Bookkeeping (Cost Accounting)
Management Accounting & Bookkeeping Basics. Accounting & Bookkeeping Concepts. Learn Accounting & Bookkeeping...
10. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course
Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...
11. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals
Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...
12. Financial Bookkeeping and Accountancy: Complete Accounting
A Complete Course on Book-keeping & Accounting Course For Level 1 & 2 aspirants...
13. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
14. Xero Bookkeeping & Accounting, w/ Set-up & Reporting
From Set-up to Bookkeeping, Accounting, Reporting, & Financial Statements in Xero with a Certified Xero Advisor...
15. Excel Accounting Problem
Learn How to Create an Accounting Worksheet Using Microsoft Excel from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...
16. Accounting basics, create financial statements easily
Discover, develop, practice your financial information and explore the world of accounting...
17. Quickbooks Online in 90 Mins - For Bookkeeping & Accounting
Filled with Easy Practical Examples Learn the Basics of Quickbooks Online Bookkeeping & Accounting FAST! Expert CPA...
18. Introduction to bookkeeping and Accounting
Introduction to Bookkeeping and Accounting, Assets, liabilities, I & E and the Accounting equation...
19. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book
Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...
20. Accounting Made Easy: A Quick Guide to Financial Accounting
Accounting is not about Math, it is about concepts. And no one said it has to be hard. Learn the basics in just 2 hours!...