3 Benefits to Bookkeeper Certification
Almost six years ago, I wrote about bookkeepers getting certified. I gave it another read, and mostly agree with what I said before. My thoughts were more focused on whether I should be a “certified bookkeeper” of some type.
To quickly recap, being a bookkeeper in Canada doesn’t require a specific degree or certification. I got my first bookkeeping job 30 years ago, but if I started tomorrow, I could still call myself a bookkeeper and start working on someone’s books.
If you were interested, the types of certification would fall into two categories.
- Bookkeeping certification
- Bookkeeping software certification
Canadian Bookkeeping Certification
Bookkeeping: There are two leading organizations involved with bookkeeping certifications in Canada. (at least as far as I can tell, but please let me know in the comments if there are others)
Canadian Institute of Bookkeeping
There’s enough of a difference between both of these certification paths that I feel it warrants its own post. Let me know in the comments (or by replying to this email) if you'd like a post that goes into more detail. Some people might want to know things like:
- Which bookkeeping certification is best in canada
- What is a CPB certification?
- How do I study for the CPB practice test?
- How much does it all cost?
- What impact will these certifications have on the bookkeeping fees I can charge?
Once I have written that post I will be sure to link to it here.
For now, I’ll just say that you take a certification exam, testing your bookkeeping knowledge, and the result is that you can market yourself as a Certified Professional Bookkeeper or Certified Bookkeeper, respectively.
Payroll: You can also get payroll certification, which might be beneficial if your main focus is payroll. The primary site in Canada is Payroll.ca, which is a national association. To become a “Payroll Compliance Practitioner,” you have to take four courses. Three are provided at the site, and the fourth needs to be taken at a college or university. Once those are complete, you need to complete one year of work experience before you’re eligible for the designation.
Bookkeeping Software Certification
Bookkeeping has moved on from ledger books and giant electronic calculators. Now accounting software has become the main tool of the trade. As such, it’s essential to be well-versed in the software you choose to use with your clients.
Your most popular accounting software options are QuickBooks and Xero. They both offer free certification programs. Extensive training is provided, either by self-paced training modules, webinars, or in-person lessons. I’m guessing the last choice hasn’t been too popular this year. Once you have gone through the training, you can take an exam. If you pass the exam, you get a certificate and the ability to show a badge in your marketing to prove you are certified.
If you look at my website’s footer, you’ll see that I’ve gone through both of these programs. The lessons’ training methods and scope are quite different, but the result is a more in-depth knowledge of the software.
The accounting software probably isn’t the only tool you’re using. You might also have a separate payroll service, and each of your clients might use their own invoicing or payment system.
I like the fact that many of these services offer certification programs of their own. I certainly don’t have a complete list, but here are a few that I’m aware of, and plan to pursue this or next year.
Bill.com - AP and AR management
Wagepoint - Payroll
Plooto - AP and AR management
TSheets - Timesheet service owned by Intuit
Hubdoc - Document management
Gusto - Payroll
Since certification isn’t required, you may wonder why it’s worth bothering, especially if you’re just getting started in bookkeeping. As I see it, there are three main benefits of getting certified, even for experienced bookkeepers. These benefits apply to general and software-specific certifications.
3 benefits to bookkeeper certification
Bookkeeper certification looks good for prospective clients.
It’s hard to argue with the benefit of having a professional designation like “Certified” or “Professional” in your title. Potential clients likely won’t know much about the certification process. They’ll just see that you have a title that other bookkeepers they’re considering don’t. I’ve also read many articles indicating that certified bookkeepers can charge more for their services based on a bookkeeping certification. And, if you do go through the process, you absolutely should raise your rates.
Bookkeeper certification makes it easier for clients to find you.
One side benefit of certification is increased exposure. QuickBooks has the “Find an Accountant,” and Xero has its “Find an Advisor” search sections.
QuickBooks - When you search for a bookkeeper in your area, there will be badges under those who have completed any of the certifications.
Xero - If you have more than one certification and a few clients using Xero, you will get a “Xero Champion” status on your listing. You can even filter for it when a client searches for a bookkeeper.
I wouldn’t get certified for this purpose alone. Since it’s free, most people using the service will eventually get certified. It's a pretty crowded job market so that alone is not a good way to stand out from the crowd.
Bookkeeper certification makes you more knowledgeable about the topic
Personally, I think this is the best reason to seek out certification.
The general bookkeeping certification is a great example. You need to prove a level of proficiency in accounting fundamentals, take additional classes, and complete certification exams before getting your certification. Having a badge might get you the client, but improving your bookkeeping skills is what will keep them.
To be honest, anyone with 2 hours of bookkeeping experience can handle the most basic of client needs. But that will only take you so far. If you want to run a proper bookkeeping business, you need to know how to quickly solve any problem that might arise.
It can also help you make a better decision about the tools you use. I found this to be true with the QBO certification. I discovered some features during the lessons that I wasn’t aware of. Discovering these were part of QBO made it clear I could be using it much more often and more efficiently.
However, this doesn't need to be limited to certification. Taking any accounting fundamentals course is a good idea. Having professional certifications is nice, but it's the skills that certification demonstrates are the real bonus.
Have you been certified?
If any of you have your bookkeeping certifications, whether as a certified bookkeeper or through one of the software solutions, please let me know. I’d love to hear your experiences, and whether you’d recommend it to people just getting started in bookkeeping or anyone wanting to grow their bookkeeping business.
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