Online QuickBooks Certification and Training Information

Previous accounting experience is not necessary to be successful with QuickBooks, a software program that can help small businesses manage their own expenses in house. Many education centers offer online training and certification courses for users of every level.

QuickBooks Programs

QuickBooks programs stem from two main categories: accounting and payroll. Accounting software ranges from a free program for tracking sales and expenses, paying bills and creating invoices to a $600 program created to help manage mid-sized businesses. Payroll programs exist to assist accountants and their clients with taxes, salary forms and more.

Online QuickBooks Training

While some educational institutions offer QuickBooks training on-site, many have paired up with Gatlin Education Services, now ed2go, to provide Web-based programs for students. An introductory course focuses on small business accounts, invoices, receipts and reports. A course on executing payroll guides users in proper payroll setup and troubleshooting. These three online options are often available individually; they may result in Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Continuing Professional Education Credits (CPEs). However, some colleges do offer the courses as part of a certificate or associate's degree program in business administration, management or accounting.
Although on-site and online courses are comparable, there are a few differences. As part of a certificate program, on-site QuickBooks training is often combined with other basic bookkeeping and accounting courses. Training may break down into separate courses to provide more specialized training. For example, smaller courses may focus specifically on entering sales receipts, handling bills or working with sales tax.

Requirements for Online QuickBooks Training

Ed2go costs include the materials needed to successfully complete the course, including textbook and reading materials. However, some programs require participants to purchase QuickBooks software. Prospective students should check specifications for system requirements, because the Web-based courses may not be compatible with certain computers or browsers. Students typically have six months to complete each course at their own pace, but they may request an extension.

Additional QuickBooks Training

Aside from the training and certification available through colleges and universities, Intuit offers the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program, which leads to expert certification. Intuit also offers courses that do not count for CPE credit, so users may enroll and skip through to find the exact information they need - as opposed to completing an entire course. They can learn QuickBooks tips and tricks, common mistakes and fixes, how to prepare for ProAdvisor certification and more.