11 Best Accounting Certifications for Beginners in 2025
Getting started in accounting can feel overwhelming, but the right certifications can give you a strong foundation.
As a financial controller, I know how important it is to have the right knowledge from the start. Accounting isn’t just about numbers—it’s about accuracy, compliance, and financial services strategy—and certifications can help beginners develop the skills they need to work efficiently and avoid costly mistakes.
This guide rounds up the best accounting certifications for beginners, making it easy to find the right fit for your goals. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level credential or a stepping stone to more advanced certifications, you’ll get a clear breakdown of the best options to help you get started.
Best Accounting Certifications for Beginners Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best accounting certifications for beginners I think are worth looking into:
- Basic Accounting Certificate - Best for foundational accounting skills
- Certificate Program in Accounting - Best for online flexibility
- Basic Accounting - Best for comprehensive beginner learning
- Certificate in Accounting - Best for practical application
- Basic Accounting Certificate - Best for career starters
- Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization - Best for finance integration
- Basic Accounting - Best for free access
- Certificate Program in Financial Accounting - Best for financial accounting focus
- Accounting: Principles of Financial Accounting - Best for business school insight
- Accounting Foundations: Bookkeeping - Best for bookkeeping basics
- Financial Accounting Fundamentals - Best for essential financial concepts
Overviews of the Best Accounting Certifications for Beginners
Below are my detailed summaries of the best accounting certifications for beginners who made it onto my shortlist.
1. Basic Accounting Certificate - Best for foundational accounting skills
This certification is an online undergraduate program for establishing a solid foundation in accounting principles. It provides an understanding of accounting processes, like analyzing financial statements, preparing budgets, and applying laws and regulations to business and accounting scenarios.
Issued by: Cambridge College
Focus:
- Financial statements
- Bookkeeping
- Accounting software
- Tax preparation basics
Prerequisites:
- Education: Requires at least one of the following:
- High school transcript, GED, or HiSet certificate
- Completion of state-approved homeschool
- Enrollment in an eligible career pathway program
- Passed an approved-to-benefit test
- Nine credit hours of Cambridge College coursework
- 24 or more credits earned from an accredited college
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price:
- Cost per Credit: $502
- Total Tuition Cost: $10,542
Who It’s For: If you're starting your accounting journey, this certification equips you with essential skills to handle basic accounting tasks efficiently.
2. Certificate Program in Accounting - Best for online flexibility
This accounting certification is a six course program that covers essential undergraduate-level accounting courses that are prerequisites for most graduate accounting programs. The program’s curriculum includes preparation for financial statements, professional auditing standards, and the Internal Revenue Code. Additionally, completing this certificate with additional business courses allows you to sit for the CPA exam in Massachusetts.
Issued by: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Focus:
- Managerial accounting
- Financial reporting
- Taxation principles
- Cost accounting
Prerequisites:
- Education:
- A non-accounting U.S. undergraduate degree or any degree from a non-U.S. institution
- Must complete Financial Accounting (ACCT.2010) and Managerial Accounting (ACCT.2020)
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price:
- Cost per Credit: $385
- Cost per 3-Credit Course: $1,155
Who It’s For: This program is ideal if you need flexibility in your learning schedule while seeking to gain essential accounting skills.
3. Basic Accounting - Best for comprehensive beginner learning
The Basic Accounting certificate emphasizes critical thinking, decision-making, and cost assignment. It provides hands-on experience with tools like Excel and QuickBooks and equips learners with budgeting, asset management, and financial analysis skills. Additionally, it integrates into the Applied Business Management degree, allowing for higher educational advancement.
Issued by: BYU Pathway Worldwide
Focus:
- Accounting fundamentals
- Financial statements
- Bookkeeping
- Accounting software
Prerequisites:
- Education:
- Must be at least 17 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, OR must be 18 years or older (with or without a high school diploma)
- Must complete an English proficiency assessment (only for non-native English speakers)
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications: Not required
- Others:
- Must be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or have a close tie to the Church
- Must attend weekly gatherings during the first three terms of the program
- Completed an English proficiency assessment
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price: $83 per credit
Who It’s For: This certification is perfect if you're starting out and want to gain a strong understanding of accounting basics for your career development.
4. Certificate in Accounting - Best for practical application
This accounting certificate program provides a deep understanding of business transactions and financial statements for learners to identify appropriate financial measures for various events. It has 4 courses covering essential accounting topics such as preparing financial statements from ledgers and journals and financial statement analysis. It also offers a QuickBooks course for hands-on learning of the tool and a payroll fundamentals course for administrating employees’ wages and benefits.
Issued by: Hunter College
Focus:
- Financial accounting
- Managerial accounting
- Tax accounting
- Computerized accounting
Prerequisites:
- Education: At least a bachelor’s accounting degree with an average of B
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price: $2,400 + $25 registration fee (one-time payment)
Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for newer accounting professionals or individuals who want to apply accounting skills practically in your work, enhancing your ability to handle financial tasks.
5. Basic Accounting Certificate - Best for career starters
This certification is a structured introduction to accounting principles and practices. It includes 2 key courses, covering fundamental accounting concepts and more advanced topics such as adjustments, payroll accounting, and accounting for partnerships and corporations. It combines theory and practical applications, providing learners with hands-on experience in financial reporting and understanding financial regulations.
Issued by: Okanagan College
Focus:
- Financial accounting
- Bookkeeping techniques
- Accounting software
- Payroll basics
Prerequisites:
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price: $675.32
Who It’s For: This certification is perfect for you if you're starting your accounting career and need foundational skills to enter the field confidently.
6. Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization - Best for finance integration
This specialization provides a clear introduction to understanding how money flows through businesses and financial decision-making. It covers key topics like valuing assets, managing cash flows, and analyzing financial information systems. With hands-on Excel exercises, learners gain practical skills to interpret data and make informed choices.
Issued by: University of Pennsylvania
Focus:
- Financial accounting
- Corporate finance
- Investment strategies
- Financial statement analysis
Prerequisites:
- Education: A basic understanding of high-school-level mathematics is recommended
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price: Free
Who It’s For: This is perfect if you’re seeking a foundational understanding of corporate finance and accounting, helping them apply financial principles to personal finance, corporate decision-making, and financial reporting.
7. Basic Accounting - Best for free access
This certification provides a foundational understanding of accounting principles, focusing on core concepts and techniques. It's designed to equip you with essential skills needed for basic accounting tasks, and offers a flexible learning path, accessible at no cost.
Issued by: Great Learning
Focus:
- Accounting fundamentals
- Financial statements
- Bookkeeping basics
- Accounting software
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price: Free
Who It’s For: This certification is best for students, small business owners, and professionals who want to understand fundamental accounting principles and manage personal or business finances effectively.
8. Certificate Program in Financial Accounting - Best for financial accounting focus
This certification covers fundamental accounting concepts, principles, and policies. It explains double-entry accounting, subsidiary books, trial balances, and final accounts receivables to ensure accurate and reliable information for decision-making.
Issued by: Manipal Global
Focus:
- Financial reporting
- Accounting principles
- Financial statement analysis
- Cost accounting
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price: $34.52
Who It’s For: This certification is perfect if you're aiming to deepen your financial accounting knowledge, enhancing your ability to manage financial data effectively in your work.
9. Accounting: Principles of Financial Accounting - Best for business school insight
This course covers the essentials of financial accounting, helping you understand and interpret financial statements. It provides a strong foundation in accounting concepts for business analysis and decision-making to help participants build proficiency and deepen their knowledge in accounting and finance.
Issued by: IESE Business School
Focus:
- Financial statements
- Accounting cycle
- Revenue recognition
- Expense reporting
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications: Not required
Renewability: No, it does not expire.
Price: Free
Who It’s For: This certification is perfect for you if you want to understand financial accounting principles, interpret financial statements, and enhance your ability to analyze business finances effectively.
10. Accounting Foundations: Bookkeeping - Best for bookkeeping basics
This certification covers bookkeeping basics, including collecting, recording, and organizing financial information for better decision-making. It teaches the four key steps: analyzing transactions, recording effects, summarizing effects, and preparing financial reports. You will also learn about debits, credits, and how accountants use ledger data to create financial statements with the help of computer programs.
Issued by: LinkedIn Learning
Focus:
- Bookkeeping introduction
- Financial transactions
- Ledger management
- Financial statements
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications: Not required
Price: 30-day free trial
Who It’s For: This course is ideal for individuals who want to learn bookkeeping basics, including aspiring bookkeepers, small business owners, and professionals looking to build foundational accounting skills.
11. Financial Accounting Fundamentals - Best for essential financial concepts
This certification teaches the fundamentals of financial accounting, including how to manage financial records transactions and prepare financial statements. It covers the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows, helping you analyze a company’s financial health. Through interactive exercises, you’ll gain practical skills in journal entries, t-accounts, and financial statement preparation.
Issued by: University of Virginia
Focus:
- Financial statements
- Accounting principles
- Revenue and expense recognition
- Financial analysis
Prerequisites:
- Education: Not required
- Work Experience: Not required
- Other Certifications: Not required
Price: Free
Who It’s For: This is perfect if you want to learn the basics of financial accounting, including recording transactions, preparing financial statements, and analyzing a company's financial health.
FAQs About Accounting Certifications for Beginners
What are the benefits of accounting certifications for beginners?
Entry-level accounting certifications for beginners give your team a solid foundation in accounting principles. They help enhance skills, making your work more efficient and accurate. These certifications can boost your team's confidence and credibility in handling financial tasks, such as portfolio management, internal auditing, and financial management.
Moreover, they can open up opportunities for career path advancement. With a certification, it’s easier to gain trust and responsibility in your accounting role. It's a practical step towards professional growth in the finance field.
How do I choose the right accounting certification for my team?
Start by assessing your team's specific needs and goals. Identify the areas where they need improvement or new skills. Look for certifications that cover those topics.
Consider factors like the certification's focus, prerequisites, and cost. Check if the forensic accounting degree program or master’s degree fits your team's schedule and learning style. Also, think about the long-term benefits, such as career goal advancement or skill enhancement.
Most beginner advanced accounting certifications don't require formal continuing education/bachelor’s degree or work experience. They're designed for those new to the field.
Are there any prerequisites for beginner accounting certifications?
However, some programs recommend having basic math skills or familiarity with accounting concepts. Always check the specific prerequisites for each certification. This ensures your team is prepared and can make the most of the learning experience, with or without higher education.
Other Useful Resources
Looking for additional resources on accounting for beginners? Here are a few more to check out:
- The best accounting certifications for upskilling
- Learn from these accounting courses
What’s Next?
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