2023 Best Online Certificates in Accounting

Austin Community College District (ACC) in the capital of Texas is a public, Hispanic-serving institution offering an online Certificate in Accounting Technician Quickbooks Level 1, which students may apply toward an associate degree. It focuses primarily on QuickBooks and Excel. Graduating requires 17 credits, though some prerequisite coursework may also be required. Students can finish in less than a year. ACC accepts all applicants due to its open admission policy. It has a 12% graduation rate, significantly lower than the 32% average.

ACC delivers its online coursework and instruction asynchronously via Canvas. The five online accounting certificate courses include Business Computer Applications, Introduction to Computerized Accounting, Introduction to Account I and II, and Computerized Accounting Applications. Graduates pursue careers as entry-level accountants, bookkeepers, and payroll and timekeeping clerks.

Similarly, ACC offers an online Certificate in Accounting Technician Bookkeeper and an advanced online Certificate in Accounting: Accounting Specialist for students with bachelor's degrees.

As a Hispanic-serving institution, South Texas College (STC) has several campuses throughout the state and a distance learning campus that offers an online Certificate in Accounting Clerk that covers accounting and business principles and culminates in an accounting practicum as a capstone. Students complete 30-31 credits, taking two semesters if attending full-time (15 credits). STC has a 100% acceptance rate and a 31% graduation rate.

STC uses Blackboard for online program delivery. Online accounting clerk certificate courses include Payroll and Business Tax Accounting, Introduction to Computerized Accounting, Principles of Management, and Introduction to Accounting I & II. Students may pursue undergraduate degrees in accounting or business after they earn their certificate online or obtain entry-level accounting positions.

STC also has an online Certificate in Payroll Assistant, which students can finish in one term with a full-time commitment.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) in suburban Annadale is a public, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution with an online Certificate in Accounting - Bookkeeping. This 31-credit program takes about a year to finish if enrolled full-time. NOVA accepts all applicants and has a 26% graduation rate.

NOVA uses Canvas to deliver its distance learning programs asynchronously. Online bookkeeping students take courses such as Economic Essentials: Theory and Application, Quantitative Reasoning, Computerized Accounting, and Spreadsheeting for Business. This fully remote curriculum is designed to provide the essential skills for entry-level bookkeeping and accounting positions.

NOVA also offers an online career-study Certificate in Accounting (CSC) for students with bachelor's degrees who want to become CPAs.

Arizona's Rio Salado College (RSC) in Tempe is a public, Hispanic-serving institution that hosts an online Certificate of Completion in Accounting with three pathway options: Path 1 focuses on managerial accounting, Path 2 on data, and Path 3 offers a more general focus. Students complete 24 to 27 credits when earning certificates, depending on the path chosen. An advisor can help verify course availability before each term. RSC accepts all applicants. It has a 13% graduation rate, significantly lower than the 68% average of comparable schools.

RSC provides access to its RioLearn learning management system for asynchronous course delivery. From there, students gain access to online accounting certificate classes, such as Uses of Accounting Information, Tax Accounting, Computerized Accounting, and Payroll Accounting, based on the path chosen. These paths can help students prepare to become bill and account collectors, bookkeepers, accountants, and auditing clerks once they graduate.

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in midwestern Iowa is a public institution that features an online Certificate in Accounting with credits that can be applied toward an online Diploma in Accounting & Bookkeeping or an online Associate Degree in Accounting. Completing this fully remote certificate program requires 14 credits, though prerequisites may be required. Full-time students can complete the program in two semesters. DMACC has a 100% acceptance rate, and 27% of students graduate.

Canvas is DMACC's LMS for synchronous and asynchronous course delivery. Online accounting certificate classes include Principles of Accounting I & II, QuickBooks Accounting, Excel for Entrepreneurs, and Information Computing. The program curriculum provides foundational training and knowledge for entry-level accounting careers. Job advancement may require additional coursework.

Alternatively, DMACC offers an online Certificate in Accounting for Entrepreneurs and an online Certificate in Payroll Accounting as specialized options.

Florida's Broward College (BC) in Fort Lauderdale is a public, Hispanic-serving institution offering an online Technical Certificate in Accounting Operations as part of its business program. It provides a basic foundation in accounting practices. Depending on a student's courseload, this 18-credit program takes one or two semesters. BC accepts all applicants, and 34% of students graduate.

BC uses Desire2Learn (D2L) for asynchronous online program delivery and Zoom for synchronous delivery. Online accounting operations technical certificate students complete courses such as Managerial Accounting, Computer and Internet Literacy, Computerized Accounting Applications, and Principles of Accounting I & II. Potential job titles include accounts receivable or accounts payable coordinators, bookkeepers, credit and collections coordinators, and payroll coordinators.

Additionally, BC offers an online Technical Certificate in Accounting Specialist and an online Technical Certificate in Accounting Technology Management.

Well-known for its online programming that caters to working professionals, the University of Phoenix (UP) is a private, for-profit institution offering an online Graduate Certificate in Accounting for students with bachelor's degrees seeking a job change or career advancement. Due to its six-week class format, this five-course (15 credit) online program is designed to be completed in as few as seven months.

UP delivers its online curriculum via Blackboard. Online accounting courses in this certificate program include Managerial Accounting & Legal Aspects of Business, Accounting Theory & Research, Accounting Information Systems, Auditing, and Financial Reporting. Future careers may include accounting, auditing, cost accountancy, and general accountancy.

Tidewater Community College (TCC) in Norfolk, Virginia, is a public institution offering an online Certificate in Accounting Specialist designed for students with bachelor's degrees who are seeking career advancement or want to become CPAs. This four-semester program requires completing 36-45 credits and takes a year of full-time study if prerequisites are met. TCC accepts all applicants and has a 20% graduate rate.

TCC distance learners use Canvas to access their classes asynchronously. TCC's online accounting specialist students take courses such as Principles of Federal Taxation I & II, Cost Accounting, Introduction to Business Statistics, Auditing I, and Computerized Accounting. It's important to note that TCC's information on its online programming is unclear. Always check with an admission advisor first to verify availability.

As an alternative option, an online Career Studies Certificate in Accounting Technician is available in two tracks: (1) general accounting as well as (2) accounting information systems and data analytics.

Raleigh, North Carolina's Wake Technical Community College (WTCC) is a public institution with an online Certificate in Accounting Core to help prepare students with core accounting, business concepts, and the required coursework to transfer to an undergraduate accounting degree program. Completion requires 14 credits and students may graduate in as little as one semester. WTCC has a 100% acceptance rate and a 26% graduation rate.

Blackboard is WTCC's LMS for asynchronous online program content delivery. Distance learners in the accounting core certificate program take the following four courses: Principles of Financial Accounting, Writing and Inquiry, Principles of Managerial Accounting, and Business Law I.

WTCC offers seven other accounting certificate programs that are more specialized, such as an online Certificate in Accounting Software Apps, an online Certificate in Bookkeeping, and an online Certificate in Payroll Accounting Clerk.

Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) in Melbourne is a public institution offering an online College Credit Certificate in Accounting Technology Management, Operations, or Specialist, depending on career goals. Each requires completing 27, 18, and 12 credits, respectively — taking full-time students between one and two semesters. Due to its open admission policy, EFSC accepts all applicants. It also has a 42% graduate rate, higher than the 32% average for similar schools.

EFSC uses Canvas for distance learning. Depending on the certificate chosen, online accounting certificate students enroll in courses such as Microcomputer Applications, Federal Tax Accounting I, Financial Accounting, and Computerized Accounting. Students use these certificates to enhance job skills or obtain entry-level accounting positions.

Washtenaw Community College (WCC) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a public institution with an online Certificate in Accounting for Business providing accounting, computer, and office support skill development. Students complete 21 credits (in a total of eight courses), taking as few as two terms if they maintain full-time attendance. WCC accepts all applicants, and 28% of students graduate.

WCC delivers its online program content via Blackboard, which distance learners in the business accounting certificate program use to access courses such as Payroll Accounting, QuickBooks Software, Spreadsheet Software Applications I, and Income Taxes for Individuals. The curriculum is designed to help prepare students for entry-level positions in bookkeeping, accounting, and office support.

Maryland's Prince George's Community College (PGCC) is a public, predominantly Black institution offering an online Certificate in Accounting. It may be ideal for those interested in government work because it may meet the requirements to enter into the governmental accounting series. It requires completing 24 credits, which may be done in a year. PGCC has a 100% acceptance rate, and 13% of students graduate.

PGCC uses Canvas for asynchronous online program delivery. Online accounting certificate courses include Computer Accounting with Sage, Federal Income Tax Credits, Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, and Payroll Accounting. This program can help prepare students for entry-level accounting positions.

Trident Technical College (TTC) in historic Charleston, South Carolina, is a public institution with an online Certificate in Applied Science in Professional Accountancy. This program generally requires 24 credits, though students may need more to advance in civil service positions. Full-time students can complete this program in a year. TTC is affordable, and students may also be eligible for free tuition. It accepts all applicants and has a 21% graduation rate.

TCC delivers its online curriculum to distance learners via Desire2Learn. Online professional accountancy students take courses in Auditing, Business Taxation, Accounting Applications, and Not-for-Profit Accounting. These online accounting courses can help students prepare for entry-level accounting, tax preparation, and bookkeeping positions in various settings.

An online Certificate in Bookkeeping and an online Certificate in Tax Preparer are also available.

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is a public institution offering an online Technical Certificate in Accounting Technology Management, Operations, or Specialist, with the management certificate being the most comprehensive. Completion requires 12 to 27 credits, depending on which certificate is chosen. They take full-time students between one and two semesters to finish. Everyone who applies to FSCJ is accepted, and 37% of students graduate.

Online courses at FSCJ are offered asynchronously via Canvas. Depending on the certificate, courses may include Introduction to Forensic Accounting, Payroll Accounting, Individual Taxes, and Microcomputer Applications for Business and Economics. Potential entry-level careers for graduates may include those in the fields of forensic accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and auditing.

Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) in Sanford is a public institution with an online Diploma in Accounting & Finance. It requires completing 38 credits, which can be done in three semesters of full-time study. CCCC has a 100% acceptance rate and a 31% graduation rate that's on-par with average.

Blackboard is CCCC's learning platform for asynchronous distance education. Students can "test drive" Blackboard to get a feel for it before classes start. Those in the online accounting and finance certificate program take courses such as Personal Finance, Survey of Economics, Payroll Accounting, and Business Income Taxes. Employment opportunities may include auditing, bookkeeping, accounts receivable/payable, and tax preparation.

Additionally, CCCC offers an online Certificate In Income Tax Preparer and an online Certificate in Payroll Accounting for students interested in those disciplines within accounting.

Nebraska's Central Community College (CCC) in Grand Island is a public institution offering an online Diploma in Accounting. It requires completing 33 credits and takes about a year of full-time study online. There is a suggested course sequence students should follow for one skill to build on another. CCC accepts all applicants and has a 52% graduation rate.

CCC delivers its online coursework and curriculum via Canvas. Distance learners in the online accounting certificate program access Canvas to take courses, such as QuickBooks Accounting, Excel - Business Applications, Applied Accounting, and Payroll Accounting. They also take eight credits of electives from disciplines such as economics, entrepreneurship, and information technology. This curriculum covers General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to help prepare students for entry-level accounting work.

An online Certificate in Bookkeeping that provides fundamental recordkeeping skills is also available.

Pitt Community College (PCC) in Winterville, North Carolina, is a public institution with an online Certificate in Accounting and Finance - Basic Accounting designed to help students build skills in assembling, analyzing, processing, and communicating financial operations data. Completion requires 16 credits and takes two semesters. All applicants are accepted at PCC, and a quarter of students graduate.

PCC's distance learners access Moodle to participate in their online classes. The five courses in the online basic accounting certificate program include Principles of Financial Accounting, Introduction to Business, Introduction to Computers, Principles of Managerial Accounting, and Accounting Software Applications. The curriculum helps students build fundamental accounting skills for entry-level accounting positions or can be applied toward an undergraduate accounting degree.

Florida's St. Petersburg College (SPC) is a public institution in the Sunshine State offering an online Certificate in Accounting Technology Operations that covers the theories and procedures of organizing and maintaining business and financial records and financial report preparation. Students complete 18 credits, taking about two semesters. It culminates in either a capstone or an internship, based on preference. SPC has a 100% acceptance rate and a 35% graduation rate.

SPC distance learners use the MyCourses LMS to log into their classes. The online accounting technology operations certificate program classes include Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Accounting Software Applications, Computer Applications, and Introduction to Business. Completing the accounting software course allows students to sit for the QuickBooks certification exam. Job-related opportunities after graduation often include accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and small business accounts receivable/payable professionals.

West Virginia's American Public University System (APUS) is a private, for-profit institution with an online Graduate Certificate in Accounting for bachelor's and master's degree holders seeking career advancement or who want to prepare for the CPA exam. However, students are encouraged to check with their state's certification board to determine which classes are needed to sit for the CPA exam. Certificate completion requires 18 credits. APUS accepts up to nine transfer credits for this program, which can save time and money. APUS accepts all applicants and has a 25% graduation rate.

APUS uses Brightspace to deliver distance learning. Online accounting certificate courses include International Accounting, Advanced Federal Taxation, Individual Tax Research and Planning, and Forensic Accounting.

The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) in Maryland is a public institution offering an online Certificate in Accounting and an online Certificate in Business Accounting. While each certificate can stand alone, the accounting certificate requires less coursework (18 credits) and can be applied to the business accounting certificate (33 credits), which also covers managerial and tax applications, if students want to earn more than one. Either program can be finished in one or two semesters. CCBC accepts all applicants and has an 18% graduation rate.

CCBC uses Brightspace to provide students access to its asynchronous online curriculum. Those in the online accounting certificate program take courses such as Business Law I, Technology and Information Systems, Tax Accounting I & II, Advanced Accounting I & II, and Computerized Accounting.

Hawaii's Leeward Community College (LCC) in Pearl City on the island of Oahu is a public Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution. It offers an online Certificate of Achievement - Accounting to help prepare students for entry-level accounting positions. It requires completing 31 credits, which often takes at least two semesters of full-time study. Everyone who applies to LCC is accepted, and it has a 25% graduation rate.

LCC uses the Laulima learning management system for asynchronous distance learning and Zoom and Google Meet for web conferencing. Online accounting certificate courses include Business Calculations, Introduction to Financial Accounting, Introduction to Statistics and Probability, Using QuickBooks in Accounting, and Professional Business Preparation. Upon completion, students may pursue careers in accounts receivable/payable, payroll, inventory, or bookkeeping.

LCC also has an online Certificate of Competence - Small Business Accounting worth 12-15 credits.

Texas' Lone Star College System (LSCS), based in The Woodlands, is a public, Hispanic-serving institution with an online Certificate Level I in Accounting that can be applied toward an accounting associate degree if desired. Completion requires 21 credits, which full-time students can accomplish in less than a year. All applicants are accepted at LSCS, and it has a 17% graduation rate that is about half of average.

LSCS uses Brightspace for the delivery of its asynchronous remote learning curriculum. Online accounting certificate students take courses that blend fundamental business knowledge with accounting, such as Business Computer Applications, Federal Income Tax: Individual, Intro to Computerized Accounting, and Human Relations. Completing this certificate can help students prepare for entry-level accounting roles or continued education.

Ohio's Columbus State Community College (CSCC) is a public institution with an online Certificate of Accounting Concentration (CPA Exam Prep) for students with bachelor's or graduate degrees in areas other than accounting who want to sit for the CPA exam. It requires 39 credits and takes about two years of part-time study (two to three classes per term). CSCC has an open admission policy, and 21% of students graduate on average.

CSCC uses Blackboard for its asynchronous online courses and web-conferencing platforms such as Zoom for real-time interaction. Online accounting certificate courses include Cost Accounting, Accounting Systems, Public Administration/Fund Accounting, and Federal Taxation I & II.

Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC) in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a public institution offering an online Certificate in Accounting Specialist designed for working professionals to broaden and bolster accounting and taxation skills. Students take 18 credits (six courses) to earn certificates, generally taking one or two terms. PSCC has a 100% acceptance rate and a 31% graduation rate.

Brightspace is the LMS PSCC uses to deliver its asynchronous online program remotely. The six online accounting specialist courses include Principles of Accounting I & II, Tax Accounting, Payroll Accounting, Forensic Accounting, and Accounting System Applications. The program curriculum aims to help students feel prepared to apply for entry-level accounting, payroll, and taxation positions.

Sanford's Seminole State College of Florida (SSCF) is a public, Hispanic-serving institution with an online Technical Certificate in Accounting Operations as part of its distance learning programming compatible with SSCF's associate degrees in accounting technology or administrative office management. Students must complete 18 credits to earn this certificate, which takes about two semesters of full-time enrollment. SSCF accepts all applicants and has a 43% graduation rate.

SSCF provides distance learners with Canvas access to take asynchronous online courses. The six online accounting operations certificate courses include Office Accounting I, Office Accounting II Using QuickBooks, Keyboarding and Document Processing, Business Communication, Microsoft Excel, and Business Mathematics. Upon completing this online certificate program, students may enter the workforce or seek career advancement in accounting.

An online Technical Certificate in Accounting Specialist and an online Technical Certificate in Accounting Applications are also available at SSCF.

Southern California's Saddleback College (SC) in Mission Viejo is a public, Asian American, Native American Pacific Islander, and Hispanic-serving institution. It offers an online Certificate of Achievement in Accounting to help students prepare for entry-level accounting positions. It also meets a substantial portion of the 24-unit accounting course requirement to take the California CPA exam. A 26-credit minimum is required to earn this certificate, which takes less than a year. All SC applicants are accepted, and 31% of students graduate.

SC uses Canvas to deliver its online learning materials and asynchronous instruction. Online accounting certificate students take courses such as Partnership and Corporate Taxation, Auditing, Legal Environment and Business Law, and Auditing. Potential job titles may include accounts payable/receivable clerk, general ledger clerk, or bookkeeper.

Located north of the state capital of Austin, Central Texas College (CTC) in Killeen is a public institution offering an online Certificate of Completion in Business Management - Accounting Technician (BMAT) stackable towards an associate degree in accounting. It requires completing 30 credits and takes less than a year. CTC has a 100% acceptance rate and a 14% graduation rate, less than half average.

CTC's asynchronous online program content is delivered via Blackboard. Online BMAT courses include Business Law/Contracts, Contemporary Mathematics (quantitative reasoning), Office Management, and Principles of Finance. The curriculum in this online certificate program can help students prepare for entry-level accounting degrees.

CTC also has an online Certificate of Completion in Business Management - Accounting Specialist (BMAS) that only requires 18 credits.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is a branch of the public UM system offering an online Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting Foundations that doesn't require a degree. Students take one to two semesters to complete the required 18 credits. UMGC has an open admission policy that enables it to accept all applicants. It has a 30% graduation rate.

UMGC uses the Learning Experience Online (LEO) learning management system for distance learning. The online accounting foundations curriculum courses include Data Literacy Foundations, Principles of Microeconomics, Introduction to Statistics, and Introduction to Problem Solving and Algorithm Design. These courses are designed to help students pursue entry-level accounting jobs or enhance their business management and operation skills.

Students with bachelor's or graduate degrees may pursue an online Graduate Certificate in Accounting Information Security for advanced, specialized accounting skills.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) in Salisbury, North Carolina, is a public institution offering an online Certificate of Accounting and Finance Services. It requires completing 16 credits and generally takes two semesters. RCCC accepts all applicants and has a 22% graduation rate.

Blackboard is RCCC's LMS for asynchronous course delivery. The five courses in the online accounting and finance services curriculum include Principles of Financial Accounting, Individual Income Taxes, Personal Finance, Financial Planning, and Business Finance. After certificate completion, students may pursue entry-level accounting positions or apply credits toward undergraduate accounting or business degrees.

RCCC also offers online certificates in Accounting and Finance Tax, Accounting and Finance Government, Accounting Finance Foundations, and two online diplomas in Accounting and Finance and Accounting and Finance CPA Exam.

New York's hamlet of Seldon is home to Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) on Long Island. It's a public institution offering an online Certificate in Accounting designed for working adults who plan on attending SCCC part time. It takes approximately four semesters to complete this 34-35-credit online accounting certificate program. Some collegiate accounting courses in the curriculum must be taken in sequence so students can build on skills previously learned. All SCCC applicants are accepted, and 33% of students graduate.

SCCC's distance learners log into Brightspace to participate in their classes asynchronously. Those enrolled in the online accounting certificate program take courses such as Financial Accounting I & II, Business Law I, Computer Accounting Principles, and Introduction to Business. They must also complete 6-7 economics and accounting electives. Certificate coursework can be applied towards associate degrees, or students may use their new skills in their current roles or seek career advancement.