Bookkeepers who are completing a degree can keep in touch with their classmates and then, once everyone has met the exam's experience requirement, they can reunite and form a study group. The bookkeeping certification exam should be considered very difficult.

Earning a certification can boost your earning potential. If you work in a competitive job market, certification can give you a leg up when discussing salary potential with prospective employers. Additionally, your employer might be inclined to promote and offer higher salaries to certified bookkeepers.

Bookkeepers handle the day-to-day financial record-keeping, while accountants have a broader role, including analyzing financial data, preparing reports, and sometimes providing tax advice. Accountants typically have more formal education and may hold certifications like CPA or CMA (Certified Management Accountant).

edX. Course Description: edX provides a host of free bookkeeping courses through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Topics include an introduction to bookkeeping, intermediate bookkeeping, financial accounting and introduction to management accounting.