Bookkeeping Certificate

Certificate
TYPE:
  • Part Time
  • Full Time
LENGTH: 1 year
CAMPUS: Burns Lake - Fort St. James - Mackenzie - Prince George - Quesnel - Vanderhoof
FEES: Check fee schedule
START DATE: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
DELIVERY:
  • Some courses are available online
  • Overview
  • Courses
  • Location & Dates
  • Entry Requirements
  • Fees

Overview

Are you organized, trust worthy, and detail oriented? Prepare yourself for a career in bookkeeping by obtaining a Bookkeeping Certificate. Upon completion, you will become an essential component to just about every industry.

Working as a Bookkeeper, you can find yourself tracking and processing all of the pertinent financial information for a company or institution.

Bookkeeping Certificate Handbook  Bookkeeping Certificate Handbook 

Careers

Bookkeeping graduates might perform a variety of administrative and finance-related duties for small businesses or non-profits. Other graduates might have specific roles in larger companies, such as managing payroll or processing accounts receivable/payable.

Some potential bookkeeping careers include:

  • Assistant Bookkeeper
  • Entry Level Bookkeeper
  • Senior Bookkeeper
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Auditing Clerk
  • Bookkeeping Clerk
  • Office Manager
  • Executive Director
  • Program/Finance Assistant
  • Accounts Receivable/Payable
  • Payroll Administrator

Bookkeeping graduates might also be self-employed, with the option to work part-time or keep books for several small businesses. 

Median Salary  $53K

Annual provincial median salary in related positions according to Work BC

10,000 Job Openings

Total expected job openings in this field by 2032 according to Work BC

What you will learn

CNC's Bookkeeping Certificate will provide you with a well-rounded understanding of the complete bookkeeping cycle. You will learn bookkeeping essentials covering the whole business cycle:

  • Setting up a company's books
  • Updating and adjusting balance sheets
  • Managing payroll
  • Canadian tax rules (HST and GST)
  • Preparing year-end financial statements and "closing the books"
  • Using accounting software to track inventory, budgets, projects and more
  • Communication and management skills

Instruction covers both manual and computerized accounting systems.

Bookkeeping Certificate Courses

This program is designed to train our future bookkeepers; the ground level professional that will be able to expertly analyze day to day transactions, and report them accurately within the accounting cycle. Bookkeepers manage business accounts, in order to provide timely information to owners/managers so that they may make sound and informed financial decisions. Since all businesses need to manage and organize their financial transactions, bookkeepers perform an essential role in the financial decision making process in every sector of the economy.

Required Courses

There are eight courses in this program which are offered to students in a part-time evening delivery format. The required courses are listed below. Please note that Management Skills for Supervisors is offered multiple times throughout the academic year and can be taken at any time before graduation.
COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE CREDITS LENGTH
BOOK-101 Fundamentals of Bookkeeping 2 6 weeks
BOOK-103 Intermediate Bookkeeping 2 6 weeks
BOOK-105 Advanced Bookkeeping 2 6 weeks
BOOK-108 Excel for Bookkeepers 2 11 weeks
BOOK-113 Computerized Bookkeeping - L1 1.5 8 weeks
BOOK-114 Computerized Bookkeeping - L2 1.5 8 weeks
BOOK-115 Payroll 2 11 weeks
CESS-151 Mgmt Skills for Supervisors I 0 1 weeks

Locations & Dates

CNC programs have varying lengths and start dates to meet your needs, and are offered across multiple campuses where possible. Don’t see the campus you’re looking for? Check back with us soon as this page is updated throughout the school year.

START DATE CAMPUS DELIVERY LENGTH
Fall 2024 Prince George Online 1 year
Fall 2024 Burns Lake Online 1 year
Fall 2024 Fort St. James Online 1 year
Fall 2024 Mackenzie Online 1 year
Fall 2024 Quesnel Online 1 year
Fall 2024 Vanderhoof Online 1 year
Spring 2025 Prince George Online 1 year
Spring 2025 Burns Lake Online 1 year
Spring 2025 Fort St. James Online 1 year
Spring 2025 Mackenzie Online 1 year
Spring 2025 Quesnel Online 1 year
Spring 2025 Vanderhoof Online 1 year

Entry Requirements 

Applicants require proof of successful completion of the following:

  • English 11 or equivalent 
  • Workplace Math 10, or Accounting 11, or equivalent 
  • English Language Proficiency requirements. Candidates whose first language is not English must meet the English requirements and provide proof of English language proficiency as outlined in CNC’s English Language Requirements.

NOTE: Applicants may be able to write the Student Readiness Assessment (SRA) to meet the admission requirements.

Recommended skills

  • 20 NWPM
  • Strong working knowledge of personal computer applications 

Need help meeting these requirements? Check out our Academic Upgrading options. 

Previous Coursework Credit

Students with previous work experience and/or have taken similar courses through CNC Continuing Education or other post-secondary institutions may be eligible to receive advance course credit up to a maximum of 4 courses. Students looking to investigate these options should consult the Continuing Education Business Program Coordinator or an Academic Advisor to initiate a review by the appropriate Education Administrator.

Advance Course Credit

As a value-add for students in CNC’s ABT and Bookkeeping programs, the following advance course credits have been established.

Students with:

  • ABTA-100 will be given credit for BOOK-101 and BOOK-103.
  • ABTA-150 will be given credit for BOOK-113 and BOOK-114.
  • ABTA-125 will be given credit for BOOK 108.
  • BOOK-101 and BOOK-103 will be given credit for ABTA-100.
  • BOOK-113 and BOOK-114 will be given credit for ABTA-150. 

Limited admission

This program has a limited number of seats per intake.  Admission is granted on a “first qualified, first admitted” basis.

Program Tools

Many courses in this program use online learning tools. Students will need

  • a reliable internet connection,
  • a compatible PC computer, and
  • a financial/scientific calculator.

Students are encouraged to review historical syllabi or discuss with a recruiter, an advisor, or a faculty member to identify their technological needs.

Invest in your future

The estimated cost for this program is $3493

Tuition and fees for the Bookkeeping Certificate Program will be charged on a semester basis and not course-by-course. Check the fee schedule for more details.

A $300 seat deposit will be required upon acceptance to the program. For the second semester, students must pay all remaining tuition and student fees by the semester Fee Payment Deadline.

 

Get up to $3,500 toward your tuition with the future skills grant.

The future skills grant aims to help British Columbians to quickly get the skills they need to succeed in the jobs of today and the future. You could be eligible to receive up to $3,500 to help cover tuition fees for select short programs.

Learn More

 

To find more information on applying, refunds, or the registration timetable please see the Office of the Registrar's website.

Books for this program can be purchased from the bookstore.

 

Salaries and employment

Looking for a job? Check the student employment opportunities board