Education · 1 of 4

The path

A short program or on-the-job training, then software skills. No licence.

1. 1

   High school

   Grade 12

   Accounting, math and business courses. A high school diploma is the only hard requirement.

2. 2

   Certificate or diploma

   0 to 2 years

   A 1-year bookkeeping certificate (Conestoga's is fully online) or a 2-year accounting diploma. Some skip this and start as a clerk.

3. 3

   First job

   Right after

   Accounts payable or receivable clerk, payroll clerk, or junior bookkeeper at a small firm.

4. 4

   Learn the software and the rules

   1 to 2 years

   QuickBooks, Sage or Xero, plus sales tax, payroll deductions and year-end. This is where you become useful.

5. 5

   Optional certification

   After a few years

   The CPB (Certified Professional Bookkeeper) designation from CPB Canada, or a payroll designation from the National Payroll Institute.