Accounting & Bookkeeping & Small Business Forum

[TonyDent84]

Just wanted to ask for curiosity's sake: how many certifications for bookkeepers exist right now that are nationally recognized in the US? As far as I've seen by reading the posts that were put up quite a while ago, there are three: CB, CPB, and PB. It seems that the one which is most known (at least as far as my research went) was CB (it was mentioned in the bureau of labor manual online).

[cathysbooks]

Hi Tony,

You are correct as far as the three accreditations. However, technically the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) is a license issued by the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB). NACPB was founded by a CPA firm and has a mission to protect the public interest by helping to ensure that only qualified individuals provide public bookkeeping services and to help public bookkeepers develop highly profitable bookkeeping practices. They are developing a true "profession" out of the public bookkeeping profession. Research has shown that the most widely recognized accreditation is the CPB. Primarily because NACPB has a substantial brand awareness campaign to promote the accreditation. Although the CB is recognized in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, no one reads the Manual. NACPB not only markets the brand to small business owners and employees, but also to other professionals such as CPAs and EAs. It appears the CB is primarily for bookkeepers wanting to obtain a bookkeeping job (thus the use of the words "job" and "resume" in their marketing literature). The CPB is exclusively for bookkeepers or accountants who provide public bookkeeping services or bookkeeping services to the public as an independent contractor. I'll let UAC speak of their PB accreditation.

Cathy Hernandez, CPB
Certified Public Bookkeeper
Member: NACPB

[stasia2003]

cathysbooks wrote: Hi Tony,

You are correct as far as the three accreditations. However, technically the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) is a license issued by the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB). NACPB was founded by a CPA firm and has a mission to protect the public interest by helping to ensure that only qualified individuals provide public bookkeeping services and to help public bookkeepers develop highly profitable bookkeeping practices. They are developing a true "profession" out of the public bookkeeping profession. Research has shown that the most widely recognized accreditation is the CPB. Primarily because NACPB has a substantial brand awareness campaign to promote the accreditation. Although the CB is recognized in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, no one reads the Manual. NACPB not only markets the brand to small business owners and employees, but also to other professionals such as CPAs and EAs. It appears the CB is primarily for bookkeepers wanting to obtain a bookkeeping job (thus the use of the words "job" and "resume" in their marketing literature). The CPB is exclusively for bookkeepers or accountants who provide public bookkeeping services or bookkeeping services to the public as an independent contractor. I'll let UAC speak of their PB accreditation.

Cathy Hernandez, CPB
Certified Public Bookkeeper
Member: NACPB

You're being a tad bit biased here Cathy. I know you're trying to promote the CPB but that organization has not been around that long, maybe close to 3 years, it's not all that well known.

I have obtained the PB certification from UAC but I'll be the one to tell you that the CB is the most well known. I am a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. The only bookkeeping certification they recognize to help you qualify for the CFE certification is the CB. So believe me, the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers is the most widely known and accepted. That could be because the AIPB's bookkeeping exam is proctored, meaning that you have to go to a testing center to take the exam. It looks more legitimate that way; it's way harder to cheat.

Even though UAC has been around for over 30 years, they are still not recognized like the AIPB is. That's just life.

I'm being honest and neutral about these certifications. But, I think it's kind of tacky that you are on UAC's board promoting the NACPB's certification. Again, I guess that's life. :shock:

[RobJ]

Personally, my initial reaction to the post was that it was an inappropriate advertisement; however, this is a forum to help others and providing information relative to other eductional/certification programs is useful.

That said, I draw the line when someone compares one program to another when the person doing the comparing has a potential conflict of interest such as Cathy. I would venture to guess that the NACPB website contains all the marketing information that is necessary.

I agree with Statia, to supply any information is good, but to provide any sort of comparison (while there is a potential conflict of interest) does not belong here and, at a minimum, is tacky.

Just my opinion.

Rob

[cathysbooks]

Rob,

I supporting my position in my response to Statia as she did. If I have provided information that is "tacky", please point that out to me and I will edit it out. This forum provides that option. I don't mean to offend, but inform.

Cathy Hernandez, CPB
Certified Public Bookkeeper
Member: NACPB

[stasia2003]

cathysbooks wrote: Statia,

To the best of my knowledge, NACPB has been around for about 5 years.

You state that the CB is the most well known because the CB is the only bookkeeping certification recognized by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners to help you qualify for the CFE certification. That may be so, but that does not support your claim.

I stated that my position is based on research. For the past two years NACPB has conducted an annual survey asking small business owners and bookkeeping and accounting professionals which public bookkeeping accreditation they recognized. In 2007 the CPB was more recognized in 4 out of 5 regions of the US. The same was reported in 2008 with a national average increase over the two other accreditations of 8% over 2007.

As I mentioned, as far as I know NACPB is the only organization out of the three organizations providing a bookkeeping accreditation that has a brand awareness marketing campaign that specifically builds the CPB brand among small business owners and bookkeeping and accounting professionals and not just to prospective CPB, CB, or PB candidates.

As far as AIPB’s “proctored” exam. Certain parts of the exam are, but not all. However, that’s old school. Intuit (Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor), Microsoft, and most colleges and universities provide identical online programs.

As far as your comment about my sitting on UAC's [NACPB’s] board promoting NACPB's certification. I don’t. But, I do sit on several of their voluntary committees such as the one that conducts the annual survey.

Cathy Hernandez, CPB
Certified Public Bookkeeper
Member: NACPB

Can you prove to me again that you are not promoting NACPB on this board :?: Since you provided alleged statistics for them, it just proved to me that you are biased on your position. I see no neutrality. But, I guess we're all entitled to our opinions. :o

[cathysbooks]

Hi Statia,

I didn't say I wasn't biased. I'm a CPB and a proud member of NACPB. As I stated, I serve as a volunteer on several of their committees including the committee that conducts the annual survey I referred to. However, I'm not going to get on this Forum and proactively promote NACPB. But, I'm happy to answer any questions that some on this Forum may have regarding NACPB or its membership, training, certifications, or licensing such as Tony did.

Have a great weekend!

Cathy Hernandez, CPB
Certified Public Bookkeeper
Member: NACPB

[RobJ]

cathysbooks wrote: NACPB was founded by a CPA firm and has a mission to protect the public interest by helping to ensure that only qualified individuals provide public bookkeeping services and to help public bookkeepers develop highly profitable bookkeeping practices. They are developing a true "profession" out of the public bookkeeping profession. Research has shown that the most widely recognized accreditation is the CPB. Primarily because NACPB has a substantial brand awareness campaign to promote the accreditation. Although the CB is recognized in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, no one reads the Manual. NACPB not only markets the brand to small business owners and employees, but also to other professionals such as CPAs and EAs. It appears the CB is primarily for bookkeepers wanting to obtain a bookkeeping job (thus the use of the words "job" and "resume" in their marketing literature). The CPB is exclusively for bookkeepers or accountants who provide public bookkeeping services or bookkeeping services to the public as an independent contractor.
Cathy,

I didn't mean to offend you, but everything that appears above sounds like an advertisement and although not directly stated, it is certainly implied that any other designation falls far short of CPB. The fact that you serve as a volunteer is, in my eyes, a conflict of interest.

I appreciate that you are informing the members of this forum of another avenue to pursue, but I take offense when other designations are demeaned, regardless of purported research presumably conducted by or paid for by the NACPB.

Rob

[dp1903]

I think Stasia may have a point about who the CFE recognizes. Here's a link from the AICPA. It states that the AICB is the national association and certifying body for bookkeepers.

http://www.aicpa.org/Magazines+and+Newsletters/Newsletters/The+Practicing+CPA/March+2006/Hiring+Summer+Help+Better+Know+the+Law.htm

I'd call several CPA firms to see what they have to say if it were me.

[stasia2003]

cathysbooks wrote: Hi Statia,

I didn't say I wasn't biased. I'm a CPB and a proud member of NACPB. As I stated, I serve as a volunteer on several of their committees including the committee that conducts the annual survey I referred to. However, I'm not going to get on this Forum and proactively promote NACPB. But, I'm happy to answer any questions that some on this Forum may have regarding NACPB or its membership, training, certifications, or licensing such as Tony did.

Have a great weekend!

Cathy Hernandez, CPB
Certified Public Bookkeeper
Member: NACPB

LOL...ok.

Does the NACPB not have a forum board like this one? Why on earth would I want to ask you questions about the NACPB if I'm obviously on Universal Accounting Center's website? Maybe you're not aware that the NACPB and the UAC are competitors? Or, maybe you don't know what the word bias means. I highly doubt that but I am tempted to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I still say tacky... :wink:

[stasia2003]

oops. Hit the wrong button.

[stasia2003]

duplicate

[cathysbooks]

dp1903,

The link takes you to a March 2006 article written by Steven Sahlein, co-president of the AIPB. It is not an AICPA statement or endorsement.

Cathy Hernandez, CPB
Certified Public Bookkeeper
Member: NACPB

[Richard Noot]

For_Immediate_Release:
United States of America (Press Release) November 19, 2007 -- NATIONAL CERTIFIED PUBLIC BOOKKEEPER LICENSE

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, November 19, 2007: The National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers’ (NACPB) Certified Public Bookkeeper Licensing Board announced the nation’s first and only national bookkeeper license. The Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license serves to protect the public interest by helping to ensure that only qualified individuals become licensed.

More than a certification, the CPB license enables bookkeepers to become employed or engaged as full-charge bookkeepers performing bookkeeping for businesses and non-profit organizations. The CPB license provides assurance that CPBs are trusted and competent bookkeepers.

CPBs are distinguished from other bookkeepers by stringent licensing requirements. They have extensive bookkeeping knowledge, skills, and experience. In order to qualify for the CPB license, CPBs must possess bookkeeping education, pass a national certification exam, meet experience requirements, and obtain a minimum of 24 hours of Continuing Professional Education annually.

CPB License Requirements
Bookkeepers qualify for licensure by endorsement or by education, examination, and experience.

CPB Licensure by Endorsement
Licensure as a CPB by endorsement requires the following:

1. Bookkeeping/accounting education or three-years of bookkeeping/accounting experience.
2. Bookkeeper certification such as NACPB’s Bookkeeper Certification (BC), AIPB’s Certified Bookkeeper (CB), or Universal Accounting’s Professional Bookkeeper (PB) certifications.
3. Pass the NACPB Professional Ethics Examination.
4. One year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping/accounting experience.

CPB Licensure by Education, Examination, and Experience
Licensure as a CPB by education, examination, and experience requires the following:

1. Bookkeeping/accounting education or three-years of bookkeeping/accounting experience.
2. Pass the Uniform CPB Examination.
3. Pass the NACPB Professional Ethics Examination.
4. One year (2,080 hours) of bookkeeping/accounting experience.

NACPB’s Certified Public Bookkeeper Certification program, giving bookkeepers the right to hold themselves out as Certified Public Bookkeepers, has been replaced with the CPB License. Bookkeepers must now obtain their CPB license to hold themselves out as Certified Public Bookkeepers. The Certified Public Bookkeeper Certification program has become the Bookkeeper Certification program for bookkeepers who want to obtain a bookkeeper certification.

Bookkeepers who have completed or will complete the Certified Public Bookkeeper Certification program requirements by September 30, 2008 will automatically receive their CPB license.

Bookkeepers are no longer required to be members of NACPB or a NACPB state association to obtain or maintain their CPB license. However, only licensed CPBs who are members of NACPB will be listed on NACPB’s National and State Professional Bookkeeper directories.

For more information or to obtain a CPB Application for Licensure, go to www.nacpb.org/licenses.cfm

[dp1903]

It is, however, on the AICPA website, and, therefore, I would view it as recognition by the AICPA of the organization's credibility.

I'm not saying your organization isn't just as credible. I don't know, that's the problem. It would be good if there were one nationally recognized association and accredidation. Three creates confusion for me. Why three and what's the difference between the three is my thinking.

I Quote: I stated that my position is based on research. For the past two years NACPB has conducted an annual survey asking small business owners and bookkeeping and accounting professionals which public bookkeeping accreditation they recognized. In 2007 the CPB was more recognized in 4 out of 5 regions of the US. The same was reported in 2008 with a national average increase over the two other accreditations of 8% over 2007.

The main problem with this is that the research has been conducted by NACPB, not an independent company free of bias. There is an appearance of a conflict of interest, bias at the least as a result. Credibility is gained by other reputable organizations recognizing your organization, i.e. references.

To me, the CFE recognition bears more weight. I assume it is independent of the AIPB?