Today's universities train individuals in the complexities of audit, tax, and accounting standards for large corporations. Little is mentioned regarding the day-to-day bookkeeping practices for the small business.
In addition, bookkeepers are taking on more duties. In the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor declares that the “Demand for full-charge bookkeepers is expected to increase as they are called upon to do much of the work of accountants.”
In response to this demand, and to better prepare bookkeepers for their job requirements, the Universal Accounting Center (UAC) offers a Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program that trains individuals in full bookkeeper and accounting services. Upon completion, qualified students receive the PB designation, assuring potential employers and clients that these UAC graduates are qualified to take care of the small business owner's bookkeeping needs.
While many want to increase their incomes, either through better jobs or opening their own bookkeeping services, there are many other benefits in attaining the PB designation.
The PB designation will enable you to do the following:
Demonstrate that you have proven skills in bookkeeping and accounting
Advance your career and potentially increase your compensation
Place “PB” after your name, distinguishing you from other bookkeepers
Raise your value to your company, employer or clients
Becoming a Professional Bookkeeper is essential for those involved in the day-to-day accounting procedures of small to mid-sized businesses. The PB designation is only offered to students of UAC.
The PB Program offers three learning modules in preparation for a final exam. The first module, Accounting Made Easy, will train you in the fundamental principles of accounting for small businesses. The second module, Practical Small Business Application, will train you in the day-to-day procedures used by businesses each month to record and tabulate their financial events. The third and final module, Advanced Accounting, will train you in the more sophisticated issues associated with creating a set of books from scratch, auditing the results internally, and closing out the books at the end of the year.
After approximately 48 hours of focused training in the practical applications of accounting procedure, you will take a final exam. To prepare, you must complete the three modules of the PB Program, including all the learning activities. Doing the workbooks in each section of each course should help you master the subject material and pass the test. Those passing with scores of 90% or greater are certified as Professional Bookkeepers.
The exam questions, all multiple-choice, are taken from material covered in the three modules of the PB Program. The exam measures the skills and knowledge appropriate to a bookkeeper that handles all the bookkeeping and accounting responsibilities in a small business of virtually any industry.
To ensure exam integrity, each test is different. The questions are randomly selected from a pool of exam questions.
Upon completion, you will receive your score immediately, along with the questions you missed and the areas of the program you should review. To receive the Professional Bookkeeper Designation, you must earn a score of 90% or higher. However, to receive a Certificate of Completion, you only need a 65%. If unsuccessful in achieving an adequate score at your first sitting, you may retake the test after 30 days.
90-100%
Professional Bookkeeper Designation
65-89%
Certificate of Completion
0-64%
Fail
You will receive your Professional Bookkeeper Designation or your Certificate of Completion in the mail within four weeks of taking the exam.
Here's what some of our recent graduates have said about the PB Program:
The Universal Accounting course was absolutely wonderful. I learned more in these 4 weeks than I ever imagined. This course is definitely NOT just an introductory course, although it is wonderful even for beginners. It is a comprehensive accounting and bookkeeping course that truly taught me everything I would need. —Jessica Young
This course was fantastic! I already had an associate's degree in accounting and eight years great accounting experience, including four years in small business accounting. I took the class and WOW! I was so excited everyday with how much I was learning, day one on. I would recommend it to anyone. This course is changing my life. It was worth every penny. —Marianne Johnston
I have been bookkeeping for over 6 years and I have learned more over the past 4 weeks than I have in the past 6 years. I now understand what it is I have been doing. I am so excited about being an accountant now and not just a bookkeeper. I feel confident and well prepared to have my own accounting business. Thank you for opening new doors of opportunity. —Nadine Malpas
I was amazed how practical this course was, and surprised how much I learned. Having an accounting degree and over 17 years experience in accounting, I didn't realize how much I didn't know. This is well worth the time and money, and you will be benefited from this class for years to come.
—Philip Luflair
While graduates have found the program useful, employers have also noted the value of the PB designation. Employers have said the following about their experience with Professional Bookkeepers:
I have had the opportunity of not only interviewing, but in many cases placing graduates of the UAC's training program. I truly look forward to each graduating class and the opportunities that come from working with these candidates. —Sue Ellen Chaney
This economy has a need for well-trained accounting personnel and Universal Accounting is supplying just that. The intensive training your graduates receive is a highly marketable asset in today's market. Dollar for dollar I have found no better educational value than Universal Accounting Program. Your candidates are a valuable resource to our operation and are easily place-able in the majority of positions. —Brett Thompson
I have experienced difficulty finding "full-charge" bookkeepers. I have found that many individuals who claim to be bookkeepers have experience with some aspect of accounting but they do not have a knowledge of the complete accounting cycle. After reviewing The Professional Bookkeeper Program I have concluded that it will give students the knowledge of the accounting cycle that is needed to serve my clients. —Michael A. Fisher, CPA
Our in-class, hand-posted and computerized accounting and bookkeeping courses and home study programs are designed for anyone wanting to increase their income, either through getting a better job or through opening their own bookkeeping service. Through taking our courses, students will learn the methods of full-charge bookkeeping (taking the accounting process from data entry through preparation of financial statements), while gaining the ability to establish and keep accounting books through manual and computer methods.
Through completing this program, you will learn:
How to use double entry debit/credit bookkeeping journals, subsidiary ledgers and the final general ledger closing.
How to make original and final entries, posting to journals, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, general ledger, and customer statements.
How to create complete accounting and bookkeeping systems, through both manual and computer methods, including financial reports that contain balance sheets, profit/loss statements, and customer billings.
How to enter and develop a career that potentially pays you higher earnings, due to the training you receive and the new skills you gain in full-charge accounting.
This one-week course (available in DVD format) is designed to train you in the fundamental principles of accounting for small businesses. Through completing the course, you will gain an understanding of the tools, procedures, and underlying principles that make up the bookkeeping processes of small businesses. Furthermore, you will develop your skills and abilities by drilling with the daily transactions that all small business accountants have mastered.
Course Curriculum
The key components of the accounting process including General Ledgers, Specialty Journals, and Subsidiary Ledgers.
The various accounts used by specialty industries such as Flooring Payable, Contracts in Transit, and Bank Reserve Accounts.
The assessment of a company's financial position.
The uses and methods of calculating depreciation, and allowance for bad debts.
Various collection techniques for slow-paying accounts that will improve success.
Mastering debits and credits through recording hundreds of daily and monthly transactions.
Total Course Hours (in-class): 12 Hours
Estimated Time of Completion: 14 Hours
Course Tuition and Fees (including books and materials): $485
Course Attendance Schedule
In-class: Three hours per class period for four days. Morning classes (when available) meet from 9 a.m. to noon; evening classes meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Upon registration, you will be notified as to the exact meeting times for your course.
Distance learning: You will receive four 2-hour DVD's in an attractive album for easy storage along with a companion workbook.
Potential Occupations
This course prepares you for employment in the following occupations:
This one-week course (available on DVD) is designed to train you in the day-to-day procedures used by businesses each month to record and tabulate their financial events. During this course you will complete books for four different businesses, implementing the entire accounting process from entering data to the preparation of the financial reports. In addition, you will learn the process of preparing payroll, including calculation of payroll taxes.
Course Curriculum
The eight-step process of maintaining the financial records of a business, including collecting the information, entering it into specialty journals, and preparing the financial statements of a business.
The complete accounting cycle for four different businesses, including a furniture store, a convenience store, a clothing store and a bakery.
How payroll is calculated including gross pay and tax considerations. You will learn when to consider, and how to calculate and report the seven state payroll taxes including the rules of contractor versus employee status and how to apply them.
The three methods of calculating Cost of Goods Sold, as well as how and when to use each.
How to maintain Subsidiary Ledgers for Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Payroll.
Total Course Hours (in-class): 12 Hours
Estimated Time of Completion: 16 Hours
Course Tuition and Fees (including books and materials): $485
Course Attendance Schedule
In-class: Three hours per class period for four days (typically Monday through Thursday). Morning classes (when available) meet from 9 a.m. to noon; evening classes meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Upon registration, you will be notified as to the exact meeting times for your course.
Distance learning: You will receive four 2-hour DVD's in an attractive album for easy storage along with a companion workbook.
Potential Occupations
This course prepares you for employment in the following occupations:
This one-week course (available on DVD) is designed to train you in the more sophisticated issues associated with creating a set of books from scratch, auditing the results internally, and closing out the books at the end of the year. In addition, you will learn the unique issues associated with accounting for an inventory-financed dealer, a construction company, a manufacturing company, and a not-for-profit institution.
Course Curriculum and Schedule
Total Course Hours (in-class): 12 Hours
Estimated Time of Completion: 18 Hours
Course Tuition and Fees (including books and materials): $485
Creating a set of books from scratch quickly and efficiently for three accounting scenarios: New Business, Replacing Previous Accountant, and Existing Business with No Prior Accountant.
The practical steps of internal auditing to ensure the accuracy of the financial reports of the business.
Choosing the right method of accounting for your business, including Cash and Accrual methods, and how to convert from one to another for greater efficiency and accuracy.
Closing out the books at the end of the year. You will also understand the ‘why's’ and ‘when's’ of choosing between a fiscal and calendar year.
The unique issues associated with inventory financing (dealerships), job cost accounting (construction), and cost accounting (manufacturing).
Accounting for not-for-profit institutions.
Course Attendance Schedule
In-class: Three hours per class period for four days (typically Monday through Thursday). Morning classes (when available) meet from 9 a.m. to noon; evening classes meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Upon registration, you will be notified as to the exact meeting times for your course.
Distance learning: You will receive four 2-hour DVD's in an attractive album for easy storage along with a companion workbook.
Potential Occupations
This course prepares you for employment in the following occupations:
Accountant
Controller
Full-charge Bookkeeper
Internal Auditor
General Ledger Accountant
Office Manager
PB - Professional Bookkeeper Program (Module 1-3)
Become proficient in the practical application fo the accounting processes in small to mid-sized businesses by mastering the principles of Full-Charge Bookkeeping.
Course intended for US, Canada, and anywhere people have accounting needs.
Modules 1-3: 12 DVD's & 3 Manuals
More...
Master the tools, procedures, and underlying principles that make up the bookkeeping processes of all businesses. Understand the core building blocks of Accounting and Bookkeeping. -- 4 DVDs & Manual. See Sample
Apply your understanding of the core accounting principles to specific industries. You will learn to set up books from scratch, do payroll like a seasoned pro, and much more. -- 4 DVDs & Manual.See Sample
Sure ways to set up complete bookkeeping systems and manage the books for a variety of more sophisticated industries. -- 4 DVDs & Manual.See Sample
$495
•
Three Months Additional Follow-up Support (Free Promotional Offer)
for a total of 6 months follow-up support
$297
•
Two Additional Practice Sets (Free Promotional Offer)
Practice makes perfect. The modules already contain practice sets for nine different businesses. With your purchase you'll receive two more practice sets, giving you eleven in all. This will give you even more confidence and experience in various industries and the opportunity to work with additional types of clients.
If, after completing the course, you feel the course didn't live up to your expectation, simply return the materials to Universal, for a 100% refund of any monies paid.
Universal Accounting Center's
Today's universities train individuals in the complexities of audit, tax, and accounting standards for large corporations. Little is mentioned regarding the day-to-day bookkeeping practices for the small business.
PB - Professional Bookkeeper Program (Module 1-3) 
Order or Ask Questions by Phone 1-800-343-4827
