How to Become a Bookkeeper in Virginia

Interested in becoming a bookkeeper in Virginia?

You’re in luck!

Here, we’ve got a helpful guide on how to start your journey as a bookkeeper in this state.

Discover the education and training requirements you need, right here.

Keep reading for all the details!

How to Become a Bookkeeper – Step by Step

Getting certified can make bosses trust you more, which means you’ll have more job options.

You can get licensed by:

• Gaining real-world experience
• Studying

Both choices are similar in some ways, but they also have their own special aspects.

Step 1 – Earn Your High School Diploma

To become a bookkeeper, it’s important to graduate from high school and receive a diploma.

If finishing high school seems difficult right now, getting a GED is another option.

Regardless of your choice, having a diploma is necessary before moving forward to the next stage.

Step 2 Education – Earn a Degree

Considering further education is a smart choice.

Getting a degree can make you more skilled and open up better job opportunities later on.

Lots of companies like hiring people who have had some formal training.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), getting a degree is a smart move for those interested in education.

You’ve got a few options for degrees:

• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree

Even if you’re not thinking about getting a master’s degree, it’s helpful to know what’s involved.

Now, let’s check out the bookkeeping programs available in Virginia.

Step 3 Education – Train on-the-job

At the start, training sets the stage, and starting off well is crucial.

You’ll spend six months learning while working.

During this time, your main focus will be understanding how things operate, even if you won’t be doing them right away.

If you opt for education, becoming skilled at using the company’s software is essential.

You’ll also become proficient at carefully reviewing the company’s transactions.

Step 2 Practice – Gain Experience

If you took this path you’ll have to earn some credentials.

There are at least 2 credentials to earn:

• The license from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB),
• The certificate from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB)

For the license, you need 2 years of experience while the certificate requires 1 year of experience.

Step 3 Practice – Earn the Credentials

Those two credentials have national recognition.

To earn it, you must pass four tests.

If you’re going for two licenses, that’s eight tests in total.

These tests are conducted at Prometric centers nearby.

You can’t use your books during the first round of tests, but you can during the second round.

Excitingly, you can begin pursuing your license while still in school.

Once you’re certified, it remains valid for a year.

To keep it active, you’ll need to complete 24 more classes.

Bookkeeping Programs in Virginia

So what program for bookkeepers can you attend in Virginia?

Reynolds Community College

The Bookkeeping Career Studies Certificate is designed to prepare graduates for jobs as bookkeepers, where they’ll handle various accounting tasks.

These include journal entries, financial statement preparation, and payroll.

After completing this certificate, students can take industry certification exams such as the:

• Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP),
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC),
• Certified Bookkeeper (CB).

To enroll, students must meet general college admission requirements.

Additionally, this certificate can be directly transferred into the Accounting Associate of Applied Science degree.

Students will also fulfill the college’s computer competency requirement through a designated course or by passing an exam.

Central Virginia Community College

This college offers a training program for bookkeepers that is 100% online.

You can complete the course as fast or as slow as you see fit.

Just make sure not to last more than 6 months.

The course has 140 hours and the tuition is $2,195 which can be paid in installments.

The cost of the course includes the fee for the exam as well.

If you pass the test you’ll be a certified bookkeeper.

Bookkeeper Salary in Virginia

After completing your education and training, it’s crucial to know what your potential earnings could be.

This can impact the decisions you make.

For instance, in Virginia, bookkeepers typically earn about $44,453 per year.

However, keep in mind that this amount can vary depending on your location and level of experience.

Refer to the table below to explore potential earnings.

Regional Salary in Virginia

Bookkeeper Schools by State