Intuit's QuickBooks ("Intuit/QB") is the dominant bookkeeping software for small to medium-sized businesses. Aspiring CPAs have a real interest in learning it — with one exception: if you're Big 4 focused, this may not be a priority (more on that in a separate post).
If you are an aspiring CPA and want to explore the small to mid-sized market, take advantage of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Academy as a way to break into the bookkeeping market, earn money, and build toward the CPA license.
For the very basics, here is a suggested pathway:
Step Two
Take the "Bookkeeping Foundations" course if you're new or need a refresher
Let your curiosity guide you — links are provided throughout to encourage further exploration.
1. Create an Intuit/QB "Online Accountant" Account (it's free)
Nothing in life connected to money is ever truly "free." So what's the catch? Why is Intuit/QB allowing you to create a free account? It's good to scrutinize and have eyes wide open from the start.
Intuit is a publicly traded company registered with the SEC (find their 10-K annual report here). From their business overview:
"Intuit is a global financial technology platform with a mission to power prosperity around the world. Serving approximately 100 million consumers, small and mid-market businesses, and accountants worldwide, Intuit's platform brings the power of AI and human intelligence together to fuel customers' success. With TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Intuit Enterprise Suite, we help put more money in customers' pockets, save them time by eliminating work, and help ensure they have complete confidence in every financial decision they make."
Intuit is a software firm and it is in their interest to keep as many small and medium-sized businesses and accountants using their software as possible. To support this, they have a sales funnel including training platforms and "stackable" CPE-based credentials. Transparently, I'm participating in that sales funnel simply by writing this post.
Why I use Intuit/QB
I use it because:
- I need software common across all my clients for scale and systems-based efficiency essential to my margin.
- I've used other platforms (e.g. Xero) and find Intuit/QB more robust.
- I like the integration with TurboTax, which I use for personal taxes.
What I don't like:
- Too much cross-selling within the software.
- Automation is overhyped — it lulls business owners into thinking bookkeeping is easier than it really is.
- The dashboards can be confusing.
End of day: there are trade-offs, and for me the pros outweigh the cons given the context of my current business model.
2. Bookkeeping Foundations Course
Intuit/QB offers a foundations bookkeeping course akin to "Principles of Accounting 101." Key points:
- No prerequisites — this is the baseline. If you're an undergrad accounting major or recent graduate, it's a helpful review. If you've never seen a debit or credit, it may be too advanced.
- Intuit offers details about bookkeeping credentialing here. If you're an accounting grad going for the CPA license, a bookkeeping credential may be unnecessary — but know that the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) from AIPB and the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) from NACPB exist if you want to explore further.
- Important: Intuit's bookkeeping course provides zero CPE credits. This matters for the next section.
What Intuit is doing here: presuming its core users already have a baseline knowledge of debits and credits. The course is a refresher, not a foundation. If you're a recent accounting graduate, take it as a baseline to support what you've been able to accomplish within the Intuit/QB ecosystem.
3. QuickBooks Level 1 & Level 2 Certifications — These CPEs Do Matter
What is CPE Credit?
"CPE" stands for Continuing Professional Education — credits required for maintaining your CPA license. In NJ, for example, every three years I must complete 120 CPE credits, with a minimum of 20 per year. Licensure is state-based; learn more about NJ's CPE standards here.
Intuit/QB offers free certification that doubles as CPE credit, verified and validated by NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy). Intuit explains it in their article Get CPA Credits for ProAdvisor Training Courses.
Source: Intuit/QB — Get CPA Credits for ProAdvisor Training Courses
Level 1 and Level 2 at a glance
Intuit explains the curriculum here. See also this helpful overview from Insightful Accountant.
- Level 1 (7.5 CPE credits) — builds on the Introduction to QuickBooks and takes users up to period-end working in QuickBooks.
- Level 2 — the next step up from Level 1, taking users to year-end working in QuickBooks.
You can also attempt to test out of the courses by taking the exam directly.
Your badges
Once you complete each level, you receive a CPE certificate and a badge you can display on your website or LinkedIn profile.
A frame for accounting graduates
If you are an accounting student or graduate aiming for the CPA license, think of Intuit/QB as stackable credentials you earn along the way. They will help you integrate real-world accounting knowledge, give you marketable skills, and build your confidence — without competing with your long-term goal.
The CPA license is the pinnacle credential. Go for it. Commit to it. Prioritize it. Do not let Intuit/QB crowd it out. Rather — let it support the goal and expand your optionality for the years ahead.
