Do You Need Certifications to Become a Freelance Bookkeeper?

If you’re thinking about starting your freelance bookkeeping journey, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Do I need certifications to succeed?”

This question is common among many aspiring bookkeepers, especially those transitioning into freelancing.

In this post, I'll break down why certifications can be a game-changer for your bookkeeping business and how they align with mastering full-cycle bookkeeping skills. While they may not be required, certain certifications can help you stand out and give you the confidence to grow your business.

Why Certifications Are Important but Not Required

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room, certifications are not technically required to become a freelance bookkeeper.

Bookkeeping is an unregulated field.

If you want to prepare tax returns for your clients, you'll need to be a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or EA (Enrolled Agent). That is very different service than bookkeeping. 

That said, having certifications as a bookkeeper can definitely set you apart from the competition. Think of certifications as credentials that demonstrate your commitment to learning and mastering the skills necessary for bookkeeping.

They act as a credibility booster, reassuring potential clients that they’re hiring someone who knows what they’re doing.

When you work as a freelance bookkeeper, your reputation is everything. It’s essential that clients trust you to handle their books, especially since you’ll likely be managing sensitive financial information.

Certifications offer that extra layer of trust and can make a huge difference when you’re trying to land clients—especially if you’re new to the field.

While there are many certification options available, two stand out for their relevance to freelance bookkeepers: the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) and the QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certification.

QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor Certification

If you’re looking to dive into the world of freelance bookkeeping, the QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certification is a fantastic starting point. In fact, many freelancers find this certification essential, even though it’s not technically mandatory.

Why? Because QuickBooks Online is the go-to software for so many small businesses, and having this certification showcases your proficiency with it.

QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certification isn’t just about learning the software itself. It also gives you the skills to troubleshoot problems, generate financial reports, and manage various accounting tasks that are critical to small business owners.

Plus, it gives you a deeper understanding of full-cycle bookkeeping, meaning you’ll learn to manage every aspect of a business’s financial records from start to finish.

Another benefit of the QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certification is that once you earn it, you’ll be listed in the QuickBooks ProAdvisor directory.

This listing can act as free marketing for your freelance bookkeeping business. Potential clients looking for help with QuickBooks can find your information and contact you directly.

National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) Certification

One of the certifications you might want to consider is from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB). This organization offers a variety of bookkeeping-related certifications, but their core credential is the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) certification.

Again, not required to be a successful freelance bookkeeper, but can be useful to add to your bookkeeping toolkit. I am not personally a CPB and have worked in this industry for 20 years.

But if you decide to invest in it, it can only deepen your bookkeeping knowledge and give you more credibility on your resume and when speaking with prospective clients.

What You Really Need To Be Successful

It’s one thing to have certifications, but to be a successful freelance bookkeeper, you also need to have solid, core full-cycle bookkeeping skills. This means you should be able to handle the entire process of recording financial transactions for a business, including:

- Recording and classifying daily transactions (e.g., expenses, sales)
- Reconciliation of accounts to ensure that your records match up with bank statements
- Generating financial reports such as income statements and balance sheets
- Managing accounts payable and receivable

As a freelance bookkeeper, your clients will expect you to manage their books from start to finish. Certification can give you credibility, but it’s your full-cycle bookkeeping skills (plus some key soft skills) that will make you indispensable.

You also need to be a good communicator, a relationship-builder and an honest, reliable person. These skills will set you apart from most bookkeepers out there, and that's the truth!

When to Pursue Certification

So, should you pursue any certifications?

If you’re just starting out in bookkeeping, my suggestion is to get certified as a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, at a minimum. It's free and you can do it in a day.

Getting certified early on can give you the confidence to tackle client projects. Certification can also provide a framework for learning the key aspects of bookkeeping that will become the foundation of your business.

If you’ve been working in the industry for a while but haven’t yet branched into freelancing, pursuing the  QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor can help sharpen your skills and build your authority.

Certifications act as a shortcut to trust, which can make it easier for you to attract and retain clients.

Certifications as a Confidence Booster

Certifications can also be a great confidence booster for freelance bookkeepers. When you start out, imposter syndrome can creep in—you may feel like you’re not qualified enough or lack the necessary experience. But certifications and solid training serve as tangible proof that you’ve invested in yourself and mastered essential skills.

Confidence is key when you’re trying to land clients. With the right training under your belt, you’ll feel more empowered to sell your services, set competitive rates, and close deals with new clients.

What You DON’T Need to Start Freelancing

Now, let’s talk about what you don’t need to start your freelance bookkeeping business.

You don’t need a formal accounting degree, and you don’t need decades of experience working in corporate finance.

Many successful freelance bookkeepers don’t have traditional accounting backgrounds but have still built thriving businesses by mastering essential bookkeeping skills and earning certifications like the QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor.

You also don’t need to invest thousands of dollars in software or office space.

With the rise of cloud-based solutions like QuickBooks Online, it’s easier than ever to work from anywhere and manage your clients’ books remotely. All you need is a reliable internet connection and a strong understanding of the tools available to you.

For aspiring freelance bookkeepers, certifications are a valuable investment that can lead to more confidence, better projects, and a sustainable career, but they are NOT a requirement as a freelancer.

Whether you choose to pursue them at the start of your journey or later on, is completely up to you, but they can help you stand out and build a successful freelance business.