Bookkeeping certificate
Facts checked 7 September 2026
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Part of the route toBookkeeper·Certificate
A five to ten-month applied college program teaching double-entry bookkeeping, payroll compliance, QuickBooks, and sales taxes.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
WorkBC training funding
Up to $7,500 tuitionIf you are out of work or underemployed, a WorkBC case manager can approve and pay for this training. Get approval before you pay.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
BC Access Grant
Up to $4,000 a yearFor low and middle income students in full-time programs under two years at public schools. Assessed when you apply through StudentAid BC.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- Foundations of Math 11 or Workplace Math 11 with a minimum grade of C
- Workplace Mathematics 11 or higher with a minimum of 60%
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- BC High School Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Douglas College, Langara College, and 1 others). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
- English 12. Requirement varies by school (University of the Fraser Valley, Okanagan College). Strictest requirement: C.
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Basic computer keyboarding and digital spreadsheet literacy
- Public college offering; no official regulator list exists in BC not yet verified
- Basic computer keyboarding and digital literacy proficiency
- English language proficiency (Level 3 or equivalent)
- Basic numeric literacy and comfort with spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel)
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply online via EducationPlannerBC or directly through college admissions portals
- Submit high school transcripts verifying English and mathematics prerequisites
- Intakes offered in Fall (September), Winter (January), and Spring (May)
- Arrange access to personal Windows PC or laptop suitable for accounting desktop software
Step 5 of 8
Bookkeeping certificate
⏱ 5–8 months- 5 to 10 months of coursework in applied bookkeeping, accounting cycles, and financial statements
- Hands-on computerized accounting using Intuit QuickBooks Online and Sage 50
- Canadian payroll legislation, CPP, EI, income tax withholdings, and Record of Employment filings
- Provincial sales tax (PST) and goods and services tax (GST/HST) remittances to Canada Revenue Agency
- Year-end working paper files, bank reconciliations, accounts receivable aging, and internal controls
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 5 schools in BC- Douglas College — 1 year (Tuition not yet verified)
- Langara College — 6–12 months (About $3,200 for the whole program)
- Okanagan College — 8 months (About $5,300 for the whole program)
- University of the Fraser Valley — 10 months (Tuition not yet verified)
- Vancouver Community College — 5 months (Tuition not yet verified)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- Optional: CPB Canada National Certified Professional Bookkeeper Examination
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Bookkeeper
- Explore Bookkeeper wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(5 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.