6 Best Bookkeeping Courses Online: 2026 Certification Classes

Every business needs a bookkeeper.

Although many businesses have turned to software, solutions, and automated financial tools, the nuanced understanding, critical thinking, and human touch that a bookkeeper provides are indispensable. In fact, recent stats show that 60% of small business owners don’t feel comfortable keeping the books.

But becoming a bookkeeper can be quite difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. Fortunately, many companies now offer online bookkeeping courses that can make this process much faster and easier.

Bookkeeping classes are an excellent way to prepare yourself for a career in finance. These will teach you everything you need to know about becoming a professional bookkeeper. Plus, they usually provide a certification test at the end, which can be an excellent addition to your professional resume.

Listed below are the 6 best online bookkeeping courses we could find.

6 Best Online Bookkeeping Classes of 2026

• 1. Best Overall: Illumeo Online Bookkeeping Certification Class
• 2. Best Online Bookkeeping Class: Penn Foster Course Review
• 3. Top Online Bookkeeping Course: NACPB Online Class Review
• 4. Best Hybrid Bookkeeping Courses: Ed2Go Course Review
• 5. Best Bookkeeping Class with Software: QuickBooks Bookkeeping
• 6. Best for Bookkeeping Career: US Career Institute Review

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1. Illumeo Online Bookeeping Certificate Class

Every course in the Illumeo bookkeeping program has been developed by highly experienced CPAs. Each instructor has both large and small business accounting experience, so you can rest assured that everything you’re learning in their bookkeeping classes can be applied to your workplace. From bookkeeping skills like dealing with financial statements and financial reports to accounting basics and business transactions, Illumeo will make sure you learn it all.

The Illumeo Professional Bookkeeping Certification Program consists of 14 different courses. Each course covers a specific aspect of bookkeeping skills with examples of how these accounting principles translate to the real world.

Their smaller, more focused classes are made up of 5 to 7 video lectures, a couple of text materials, a practice quiz, and a final exam.

Founded in 2009, the platform has grown exponentially to accommodate over 3 million site users. Over the years, it has delivered a staggering 350,000 hours of instruction. Its vast repository includes more than 3,500 On-Demand Courses and in excess of 6,500 video lessons. Furthermore, the platform prides itself on offering over two dozen varieties of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses to cater to diverse learning needs.

Illumeo’s full bookkeeping program only costs $499. This provides you with access for a full year to complete the course and earn your certification. If you set a good schedule for yourself, then you should easily complete your course load in that time. But if you can’t complete it in time, you’ll have to pay $399 to take it again.

Pros

• This course is only 17.5 hours, which can be completed over the course of a weekend. This is ideal for working professionals that are looking for a career change, but are still working at their current job.
• Practical examples with case studies teach you how the concepts you cover work in real world scenarios.
• Flexible self-study courses allows for you to work through the course at your own pace.
• Course includes bookkeeping tools and excel bookkeeping sheets to work with as you learning practical skills.

Cons

• Customer support is not consistent, with many candidates reporting that despite calling and emailing they received no response.
• There is only one instructor for this course.
• Includes final exam, which is not required for certification.

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2. Penn Foster Bookkeeping Course Review

Penn Foster’s bookkeeping program is self-paced and mobile-friendly. Additionally, a significant amount of their material is text-based, so you can even print it out if you want to study offline. However, you’ll still want to connect to Penn Foster’s student portal from time to time in order to watch their supplementary video lectures and work through digital study guides, quizzes, simulations, and videos.

But just because this bookkeeping school is meant for self-study, it doesn’t mean you’ll have to learn everything by yourself.  Instead, you’ll have access to several different support options from your instructors and other students.

If you have a sharp eye for detail and enjoy thinking critically to solve problems, becoming a bookkeeper could be the perfect career for you. With Penn Foster’s online bookkeeping classes, you can take the first steps toward a new job you enjoy while learning essential finance and accounting skills.

This course covers essential knowledge from assets and liabilities to revenue and expenses, a comprehensive curriculum of QuickBooks Online Plus™, and a final project about business ownership. With flexible course materials that allow you to finish at a pace that works for your schedule and how much time you can dedicate each week to coursework. Enrolled students also receive a year long subscription to QuickBooks Online.

While Penn Foster is accredited, some students have found that their certification is not always recognized or valued by all regions, so make sure you check your state before you enroll with them to improve your basic bookkeeping skills.

Pros

• This course ends with a career diploma rather than just a certificate, which means you got hands-on preparation specifically for bookkeeping.
• 3 submitted projects allow for hands-on experience using concepts and skills from the course and applying them as you would in the real world.
• 24/7 access to online resources like learning resource center and digital library and the dedicated learner center.
• Almost 30 hours of continuing education is included in purchase to support you into your professional career.

Cons

• Submitted projects are typically required to be printed out and down by hand, which can be unappealing.
• $1,000 for the entire course is not budget-friendly.
• 12 month access may not be enough time for working professionals to complete the course.

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3. NACPB Online Bookkeeping Classes

NACPB, also known as the National Association of Certified Professional Bookkeepers, offers online bookkeeping classes that stand out from the crowd.

Their bookkeeping course has a unique structured design, following a weekly schedule for 13 weeks, requiring students to adapt their personal schedules to get the full experience of their virtual bookkeeping school. Unlike some free online bookkeeping courses that lack structure, NACPB ensures consistent progression.

Each session comprises engaging video lectures, quizzes, textbook passages, and essential accounting principles. This varied approach aids in understanding and recording financial transactions, ultimately helping students digest the financial accounting process better.

For those looking for flexibility, NACPB offers on-demand materials and self-paced courses. However, for a comprehensive grasp of bookkeeping basics, their full accounting course comes highly recommended. NACPB provides two pricing tiers for its online bookkeeping course. You can opt for the essentials, which comprise the online textbook and course materials.

Pros

• Course is instructor-led, which is a good choice for candidates looking for a self-study course that’s supplemented with instructor support.
• This certification is for certified public bookkeeper, the most qualified of bookkeepers in the industry.

Cons

• 6 month access to the course may not be enough time for working professionals.
• This course is not as budget friendly as some of its competitors.
• Requires an exam to complete certification, which is not legally required to become a bookkeeper.

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4. Ed2Go Hybrid Bookkeeping Course Review

Ed2go bridges the gap between self-paced courses and instructor-led online classes with its hybrid bookkeeping course.

This online bookkeeping class spans 140 hours of content, accessible for half a year. It covers a broad spectrum of bookkeeping and accounting, including the double-entry accounting method, preparing financial statements, and ensuring accurate business transactions.

Additionally, it teaches students how to identify discrepancies in financial records, potential fraud cases, and ways to rectify them. An experienced instructor is always available, providing timely feedback and ensuring students remain on the right track.

At the end, you’ll be fully prepared to pass one of the most challenging bookkeeping certification exams— the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) exam.

It’s crucial to note that this course is not designed for novices. A minimum of two years of experience in the bookkeeping business is a prerequisite. The tuition might be higher than some online bookkeeping courses. Still, the reward is a credible certification from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) – a valuable asset for a thriving bookkeeping career.

But if you can meet these small hurdles, the payoff is an unbeatable certification that can drive your accounting career to new heights!

• Take Me to Ed2Go Bookkeeping Course

Pros

• Instructor support from several experts to help you as you work through the program.
• Certification is for a certified bookkeeper, which is more qualified than bookkeeper alone.
• Course includes the cost for both exam sections.
• Open enrollment so you can begin the course at whatever time best suits you.

Cons

• Not as budget-friendly as other courses.
• Requires two years of experience before taking the course.
• Also requires an exam to obtain the certification.

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6. US Career Institute Bookkeeping Class Review

US Career Institute (USCI) is all about shaping careers. Their bookkeeping class is a robust program designed to impart bookkeeping fundamentals to students from all walks of life. The course delves deep into topics like understanding financial statements, bookkeeping concepts, and the intricacies of closing books. Upon completion, students receive a Bookkeeping Specialist certificate, validating their expertise in managing financial data.

USCI provides study texts in both digital and physical formats. Additional resources include a handy reference sheet outlining various credits and debits and spreadsheet applications. The math tutor is a standout feature, ensuring students grasp accounting equations essential for a bookkeeper role.

For video lecture enthusiasts, Illumeo might be a more fitting choice. However, USCI offers a concise, comprehensive course, perfect for adding a significant certificate to a professional portfolio.

Since this is predominately text-based, you might be disappointed if you prefer video lectures. If you just want a no-frills crash course that can add an impressive certificate to your resume, you’re in good hands with USCI.

Pros

• DEAC Accredited.
• 1:1 coaching and instructor support.
• Mobile friendly and can be completed on your phone.
• Interactive exercises and open note quizzes.

Cons

• Lacks universal recognition, with some places not recognizing the certification.
• Physical books are available, but not included in the cost.
• Customer support can be hard to get in touch with.

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Honorable Mentions of Top Online Bookkeeping Courses

These online classes and study resources aren’t as good as our top picks. However, each of them bring something interesting to the table that may be worth your time. Check out these mini-reviews to learn more!

edX: edX uses the power of modern technology to provide more students access to higher education. Thanks to their platform, you can enroll in Ivy League college programs that were previously only available to a tiny selection of students.

Coursera: Offers a bookkeeping basics certification course along with three related financial and accounting courses that you can also complete to boost your skills for your career.

LinkedIn: They offer a 15-hour bookkeeping program that adds a badge to your profile, making it stand out amongst other professionals when you are applying for positions.

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Frequently Asked Questions