Accounting is an ever-green skill, with excellent returns. In May 2020, the median annual wage for all workers was $41,950. However, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants have an annual median salary of $73,560. Educators can prepare students for careers in accounting with the addition of the Intuit QuickBooks Certified User (QBCU) certification into their curriculum. Get all the information you need about the QBCU certification below.
What is the Intuit QuickBooks Certified User (QBCU) certification?
The Intuit QuickBooks Certified User certification is an industry-recognized credential that effectively validates one’s skills in QuickBooks accounting software. There are two versions of the QuickBooks Certified User certification exam: QuickBooks Certified User Online and QuickBooks Certified User Desktop. Both versions of the exam have a 50-minute time limit. The Desktop version has 47 questions, while the Online version has 50 questions.
Why create the QBCU certification?
Bookkeeping in the 21st century requires more than knowledge of GAAP principles or an eye for detail—students need relevant computing skills. Intuit® QuickBooks, the industry leader in managerial accounting software for entrepreneurs and small business, provides an easy-to-understand platform for students to grasp accounting concepts while honing skills in the most prevalent bookkeeping application in small business today.
What topics are covered in the QBCU certification exam?
The Intuit QBCU Online exam covers the following topics:
- QuickBooks set-up and maintenance
- List management
- Sales and money-in
- Purchases and money-out
- Basic accounting
- Reports
- Customization and saving time
The Intuit QBCU Desktop exam covers the following topics:
- QuickBooks set-up
- QuickBooks utilities and general product knowledge
- List management
- Items
- Sales
- Purchases
- Payroll
- Reports
- Basic accounting
- Customization and shortcuts
You can see the Intuit QBCU Online exam and the Intuit QBCU Desktop exam objectives here.
What are the benefits of certifying?
In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, certifications offer hope because they are a credible, third-party assessment of one’s skill and knowledge for a given subject.
Additionally, schools who implement certification in the classroom see increased job placement among students, increased graduation rate, lower drop-out rate, improved average GPAs, increased post-secondary enrollment, and improved access to funding opportunities.
You can learn more about the value of certification here, and see success stories from other institutions using QuickBooks Certified User certification here.
What are the prerequisites to certifying?
There are no explicit prerequisites to earning a QBCU certification. However, students taking the QBCU Desktop exam will need to be familiar with United States accounting guidelines.
Is there courseware available for QBCU certification?
Yes. Certiport has partnered with various publishers and learning companies for content catered to the QuickBooks Certified User certification exam. You can find the full list here.
If your students are looking for additional resources to use to prepare for the exam, we can help with that as well. We've put together a set of practice exercises and example exam questions for them to review. These materials are meant to help candidates familiarize themselves with the areas of the exam, but it is not comprehensive across all the objectives. You can download the Desktop study guide here, and the Online study guide here.
Are there practice tests available for QBCU certification?
Yes. Certiport offers CertPREP, powered by GMetrix, for practice exams that will prepare students for their QBCU certification exam. You can get more details about QBCU practice tests here.
Have additional questions about the QBCU certification? Reach out to your Certiport Territory Manager here.