QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate
Private, One-on-One Live Instruction in QuickBooks, Excel, Payroll, and Small Business Accounting
DWC’s QuickBooks bookkeeper certificate is delivered as private, one-on-one live instruction with a working accounting professional as your instructor. This is not a cohort where you sit in a virtual room with twenty other students and hope your question gets answered before the session ends. It is you and your instructor, every session, working through the full bookkeeping curriculum at a pace that matches where you actually are rather than where a group average says you should be.
The program covers 67 hours of live instruction across six modules: Microsoft Excel for accounting professionals (from fundamentals through PivotTables and macros), bookkeeping and accounting cycle fundamentals, payroll management and compliance, QuickBooks Online from setup through advanced reporting, and a Capstone project where you apply everything to a complete set of real-world business scenarios. The program also prepares students to earn the QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification through Intuit, which is free to take and adds a recognized credential to your resume. Graduates receive the DWC QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate, issued as a higher education professional certificate by the State of Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools.
Because this is private instruction, you pick your start date. There is no waiting for a cohort to fill. Contact the admissions team, choose a schedule that works for your life, and begin when you are ready.
Length & Frequency
67 total class hours | 2 sessions per week
Delivery
Private one-on-one | 100% live online instruction
Tuition
$5,995
Scholarships
May be available; contact admissions
How Enrollment Works
There is no cohort calendar. You start when you are ready.
Step 1: Contact Admissions
Request program information or attend a free info session. Discuss your goals, timeline, and funding options with an admissions advisor.
Step 2: Choose Your Schedule
Work with your instructor to set your start date, session days, and session times. Evening and daytime options are available. Sessions meet twice per week at 3.5 hours each.
Step 3: Begin Training
Start on the date you chose. Your instructor meets you where you are, and the curriculum moves at your pace from day one.
Why Private Instruction Changes Everything
Most bookkeeping certificate programs are built around cohorts. You sit in a virtual classroom with a group of students at different skill levels, the instructor teaches to the middle, and you either wait for others to catch up or fall behind when the pace moves past something you needed more time on.
This program does not work that way.
Every session is a private meeting between you and your instructor. If you already know Excel and want to move through Module 1 faster, you can. If payroll compliance is the part you need to spend extra time on because your employer needs you to take it over next quarter, your instructor adjusts. If you are a small business owner who wants to use your own company’s chart of accounts as the working example throughout the QuickBooks modules, you can do that too. The curriculum is the same 67 hours of content. The difference is that none of it is wasted on material that does not apply to you, and none of it moves past you before you are ready.
Private instruction also means scheduling flexibility. You are not locked into a fixed cohort calendar. You choose your start date, your session days, and your session times. Evening and daytime sessions are available. If you need to reschedule a session, you work that out directly with your instructor rather than missing content and watching a recording later.
This format costs the same $5,995 as a cohort-based program would. The difference in learning quality is significant.
What You Will Learn in This QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate Program
The curriculum covers everything a professional bookkeeper needs to manage accounts, process payroll, and produce financial reports for small and mid-size businesses. Excel comes first because it is the tool bookkeepers use alongside QuickBooks every day for analysis, reporting, and data management. Bookkeeping fundamentals and payroll come next to build the accounting knowledge that makes QuickBooks meaningful rather than just button-clicking. Then QuickBooks Online is taught in depth across two modules, from initial setup through advanced reporting and customization. The Capstone ties everything together.
Download the Program Guide for the full curriculum breakdown.
QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate Curriculum
Module 1 - Bookkeeping Fundamentals
Students learn the accounting cycle from start to finish: how transactions flow through a business, how financial statements are constructed, and what those statements tell you about the health of a business. This module builds the conceptual foundation that makes QuickBooks work make sense.
- Introduction to the accounting cycle
- Account classifications, account names, and the chart of accounts
- Analyzing common business transactions
- Fundamentals of debits and credits
- Complex transactions and adjusting entries
- Preparing financial statements
- Basic financial analysis
Module 2 - Payroll Fundamentals
Students learn the payroll knowledge that employers expect from a professional bookkeeper: employee classification, wage calculations, tax withholding, compliance documentation, and reporting. This module is where the legal and regulatory side of bookkeeping gets real.
- Business entity types and special payroll rules
- Contractor versus employee versus statutory employee classifications
- The Fair Labor Standards Act
- Exempt versus non-exempt employee status
- Employee documentation: I-9s, W-4s, and W-2s
- Calculating gross earnings including regular and overtime
- Calculating net earnings and tax withholding
- Preparing tax documents and payroll reporting
Module 3 - QuickBooks Online Beginners
Students learn to set up and operate QuickBooks Online for a small business. This module covers the core transactions and reports that a bookkeeper manages daily: chart of accounts setup, product and service entries, common transactions (invoicing, bill payment, bank reconciliation), and essential QBO reporting.
- The QuickBooks Online environment and navigation
- Creating and organizing a chart of accounts
- Smart accounting setup for small businesses
- Entering products and services
- Recording common transactions: invoices, bills, payments, and deposits
- Bank and credit card reconciliation
- Running essential QuickBooks reports
Module 4 - QuickBooks Online Advanced
Students go deeper into QuickBooks Online with advanced features that distinguish a proficient bookkeeper from someone who just knows the basics. Customizing forms, tracking and paying sales tax, document management, collaboration features, and advanced reporting are all covered.
- Memorizing and automating recurring transactions
- Customizing invoices, estimates, bills, and other forms
- Tracking and paying sales tax
- Attaching documents to transactions
- Collaborating with accountants and business owners within QBO
- Backup, data management, and advanced reporting features
Module 5 - Microsoft Excel
Students build proficiency in Excel as a professional accounting tool. This is not a generic Excel course. It covers the specific workflows bookkeepers use: financial data entry best practices, formulas and functions for accounting calculations, PivotTables for financial analysis, charts for reporting, and macros for automating repetitive tasks.
- Excel fundamentals for bookkeeping: data entry, formatting, and best practices
- Formulas and functions for accounting calculations
- Advanced formulas and financial functions
- PivotTables, slicers, and charts for financial data analysis
- Automating workbook functionality with macros
Module 6 - Capstone Project
Students apply everything from the previous five modules to a complete bookkeeping engagement: setting up a company in QuickBooks, entering transactions, processing payroll, reconciling accounts, and producing financial statements. The Capstone is reviewed and critiqued by your instructor, and the program concludes with job market mentorship, career coaching, and guidance on sitting for the QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification through Intuit.
- Capstone: full bookkeeping engagement from setup through financial statements
- Job market trends and career paths for bookkeepers
- Resume, LinkedIn, and interview preparation for bookkeeping roles
- QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification preparation and exam guidance
Who This Program Is For
This program is built for three specific kinds of people, and the private instruction format serves each of them differently.
If you are a career changer entering bookkeeping from a different field, private instruction means you are not sitting in a room where half the students already know what a chart of accounts is while you are still getting oriented. Your instructor meets you exactly where you are and builds from there. No one else’s pace determines yours.
If you are a small business owner who has been managing your own books informally (or avoiding them entirely) and wants to do it properly, private instruction means you can use your actual business as the working example throughout the QuickBooks modules. You are not learning on a fictional company. You are learning on your company, with a professional walking you through how to set it up correctly.
If you are an administrative professional whose employer needs someone to take over bookkeeping or payroll, private instruction means the curriculum can emphasize the modules that matter most for your specific situation. If payroll is the priority, you spend more time there. If your employer already handles payroll externally and you need depth in accounts payable and financial reporting, the emphasis shifts.
No prior bookkeeping, accounting, or QuickBooks experience is required. Basic math skills and basic computer comfort are helpful.
Career Outcomes and Salary Data
Bookkeeping is one of the most stable demand categories in the workforce, not because the field is growing but because its turnover is high and every business that handles money needs someone who can manage it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 170,000 openings per year for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks through 2034, driven almost entirely by the need to replace workers who move into higher-level accounting roles or exit the workforce. That replacement demand creates a consistent, reliable hiring pipeline for people with the right skills and credentials. Common entry-level roles include bookkeeper, accounts payable and receivable clerk, payroll clerk, and accounting assistant.
With experience and demonstrated QuickBooks proficiency, bookkeepers advance into roles such as full-charge bookkeeper, office manager with accounting responsibilities, accounting coordinator, and payroll administrator. The professionals who advance fastest are the ones who pair their QuickBooks skills with a solid understanding of the accounting cycle, payroll compliance, and financial reporting, which is exactly what this program builds across all six modules. QuickBooks proficiency is also the foundation for building a freelance or contract bookkeeping practice, which is how a significant number of working bookkeepers operate.
Compensation in bookkeeping reflects the accessibility of the field and the value of specialization. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $49,210 for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks as of May 2024, with the top 10 percent earning above $72,660. Bookkeepers who add payroll management, sales tax compliance, and advanced QuickBooks reporting to their skill set earn toward the higher end of that range. The QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification, which this program prepares students for and which is free to take through Intuit, is increasingly listed as a preferred qualification in bookkeeping job postings and adds meaningful weight to a resume in this field.
Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers track payroll and other financial information within a business, ensuring that all information is documented correctly for business and tax purposes.
Payroll Officer
In charge of processing the salaries of employees within an organization, payroll officers are responsible for ensuring money and finances stay secure and accounts are safe from scams.
Budget Analyst
Budget analysts assess the budget of various departments across an organization and can recommend where to cut and where to increase spending in order to raise budgets elsewhere and to promote an overall increase in profits.
Why DWC Trains Differently
Most QuickBooks training falls into one of two categories: self-paced video courses from Intuit or third parties where you get no live feedback and no one looks at your actual work, or large cohort bootcamps where you are one of thirty people trying to get a question answered. Neither format is particularly effective for adult learners who need to actually use these skills in a real job or a real business.
DWC’s program is private, live instruction. Your instructor is a working accounting professional, not a video recording. Every session is a direct conversation about your work, your questions, and your progress. Class size is 1:1 by design, not by accident. Career coaching, admissions advising, student support, tech support, and access to DWC’s micro-internship network through Parker Dewey are all included for every student at no additional cost.
Support Every Step of the Way
Guidance from pre-enrollment to graduation
Admissions Advisors
From pre-enrollment through your first day, talk to our advisors to learn all the important details about your program
Mentoring
Instructors are here to be your mentor before, during & after class. Working with an expert as a mentor will help you become industry-ready.
Student Support
Our dedicated student affairs manager will be there to help you get your accounts setup, assess your technology, download the proper files and more.
Career Coaching
Meet with a career coach to review your updated resume, portfolio & LinkedIn profile, as well as job search and interview techniques.
Tech Support
While in your program, if you are stuck and need help you can reach out to our tech support for guidance. Whether through Slack, email or phone.
Internships & Alumni
Sign up for our micro-internship network and explore new opportunities. Our alumni network is also available to all students.
Paying for This Program
The QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate is eligible for WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funding through local American Job Centers. WIOA eligibility is determined individually based on employment status and income level. DWC works directly with case managers to provide the documentation they need, including program descriptions and learning objectives, tuition costs, program schedule, credential documentation, and labor market alignment data.
State-specific WIOA guidance is available for Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois. Contact our admissions team if your state is not listed.
This program is also eligible for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) funding for students who qualify. Admissions staff can assist with documentation and coordination with your DVR counselor.
DWC’s Tech Skills, Women in Tech, and Veterans Skills scholarships may be available for eligible students in this program. Availability is limited for private instruction programs; contact the admissions team or visit the financial aid page for details.
For students paying out of pocket, DWC partners with Climb Credit for student-friendly tuition loans, including a 0% interest payment plan option, with financing as low as $155/month. Explore all options on the financial aid page.
Many employers offer professional development stipends or tuition reimbursement. If your employer needs you to take over bookkeeping or payroll responsibilities, this is a straightforward pitch: the training directly benefits the business, and many companies will cover part or all of the cost.
DWC can provide case managers with program descriptions and learning objectives, tuition costs and itemized fees, program duration and schedule, credential documentation, labor market alignment data, and performance outcomes data. Contact our team directly if your case manager has specific documentation requirements.
Tuition
We want you to focus on your education and career path. We partner with Climb Credit to offer several options help ease the burden of your tuition costs. Additional scholarships may be available for those who qualify.
Apply with Climb Credit today for student-friendly tuition loans today.
Tuition Example
As low as $155/month*
Easy Ways To Pay
- Pay up front & in full
- Pay with a traditional loanˆ
- Pay with a payment planˆˆ
*¹Actual price of program varies. ²Average award shown as an example only. Scholarships are reviewed and awarded individually. Scholarship award amount may vary. No amount of scholarship funding is guaranteed. ³Subject to lender terms and loan approval. This is not an offer for a loan. These loans are not offered or made by Digital Workshop Center but are made by the loan provider. These terms are representative and may not be the exact terms of your loan. ˆAvailable to those who qualify and subject to lender terms and loan approval. ˆˆPayment Plans available to those who qualify and subject to lender terms and payment plan approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
The QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate at Digital Workshop Center is a 6-month, career-focused program designed for adults who want to build professional bookkeeping skills using QuickBooks. The program prepares students to manage financial records, process payroll, generate reports, and support small business accounting functions. It also prepares students to sit for the QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification exam, which is offered free through Intuit. Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about program length, schedule, cost, certification, and career outcomes.
Do I need prior bookkeeping or QuickBooks experience?
No. The program is designed for adults starting from scratch. Module 1 begins with Microsoft Excel fundamentals, and the bookkeeping and accounting concepts are built from the ground up in Module 2 before you touch QuickBooks. Basic math skills and basic computer comfort are helpful but no prior accounting knowledge is expected. Because this is private instruction, your instructor adapts the pace to where you actually are rather than to a group average.
When can I start?
You choose your start date. There is no cohort calendar to wait for. Contact the admissions team and they will help you set a schedule that works for your availability. Sessions can be scheduled during the day or in the evening.
Is this program eligible for WIOA funding?
Yes. The QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate is eligible for WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funding through local American Job Centers. At $5,995 for 67 hours of private live instruction, it sits within the typical WIOA individual training account range. DWC’s admissions team can provide full program documentation for case managers. State-specific guidance is available for Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois.
How long does the program take?
The program is 67 total hours of private live instruction, delivered in two sessions per week at 3.5 hours per session. At that pace, most students complete the program in approximately four to five months. Because this is private instruction, the timeline can adjust based on your schedule. If you need to pause for a week, you pause. If you want to add a third session per week to move faster, that may be possible depending on instructor availability. Students should plan for two to three hours per week of outside work for practice and review.
Why is this private instruction instead of a group class?
Private one-on-one instruction produces better outcomes for adult learners in bookkeeping because the material is cumulative and gaps compound. In a group class, if you miss something in the debits and credits section, you carry that confusion into QuickBooks and never quite catch up. With private instruction, your instructor catches it immediately, addresses it on the spot, and moves forward only when you are solid. The format also allows you to use your own business scenarios as working examples in the QuickBooks modules, which is not possible in a group setting.
What is the QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification?
The QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification is a professional credential offered free through Intuit that certifies your proficiency in QuickBooks Online. It is increasingly listed as a preferred qualification in bookkeeping job postings and gives you access to Intuit’s Find-a-ProAdvisor directory, which is a client-facing search tool for freelance bookkeepers. This program prepares you to sit for the ProAdvisor exam. The exam itself is administered by Intuit and costs nothing to take.
What credential will I earn?
Graduates receive the DWC QuickBooks Bookkeeper Certificate, issued as a higher education professional certificate by the State of Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools. The program also prepares students for the free QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification through Intuit, which is a separate credential earned by passing Intuit’s exam. Together, the DPOS certificate and the ProAdvisor certification give graduates a state-recognized workforce credential and an industry-recognized software credential.
Can I use my own business as a working example?
Yes. This is one of the most valuable features of private instruction. In the QuickBooks modules (Modules 4 and 5), you can set up your own company’s chart of accounts, enter your own transaction types, and produce reports that reflect your actual business. Your instructor can walk you through your specific accounting questions in context rather than using a generic fictional company. If you are a small business owner, this means you are building a working QuickBooks setup for your business while you learn, not after.
Start Your Training
This is private instruction with a flexible start date. There is no cohort to wait for.
Request program information and an admissions advisor will follow up within one business day to help you choose a start date, set a session schedule, and sort out funding if needed. You can also attend a free info session to meet an instructor and ask questions before committing.
If funding is your first priority, start with the financial aid page. It covers WIOA, DVR, scholarships, employer assistance, and financing options.