Applications for StrongerBC future skills grant funding for this program are now closed for Fall 2024. To pay for a program seat, please see tuition costs below.
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
Applications for StrongerBC future skills grant funding for this program are now closed for Fall 2024. To pay for a program seat, please see tuition costs below.
Office Administration
If you are organized, focused, and detail-oriented, a career in bookkeeping can offer you great benefits, such as flexible working hours, the option of working from home, and a steady income.
UFV’s seasoned instructors teach you how to keep track of expenses, generate cash flow statements, keep on top of payroll demands, and complete taxation forms. When you graduate, you are ready to keep the books for small or home-based businesses and bring clarity to their financial statements. Since bookkeeping professionals are employed in almost every industry, you have an excellent breadth of employment options.
To register, phone 604-854-4501 or toll free at 1-888-823-8734.
Credential: Certificate
Format: Full-time or part-time
Delivery: Choice of fully online or hybrid (combination of in-person and online). Online courses are held at scheduled meeting times, not self-paced.
Duration: 12 weeks (full-time) or 6 months (part-time)
Tuition*: $3402 (books, supplies, and practicum not included)
Practicum available? Yes
Application deadline:
You do not have to apply for entrance to this program. Register anytime before the start date as long as there is space.
* Tuition subject to change without notice. Textbooks are not included in tuition.
It is recommended that students entering this program have the following:
Students will need a computer or laptop (PC or Mac) with secure internet access. A webcam and microphone are not required, but they are recommended if you would like to communicate directly with the instructor.
The accounting software studied in this program (Sage 50 or QuickBooks) is not Mac-compatible. Students working on Mac can still complete the program, but will need to remote into one of Continuing Education's computer labs to work with this software. Please note that other programs such as Excel may also display differently on Mac.
In order to remotely access a computer lab, please ensure that your computer is running MacOS 12 or newer, or Windows 10 or 11 with the latest OS update.
The part-time bundled option allows you to register for all the required courses at once and complete the program in 6 months.
The part-time unbundled option allows you to start taking courses anytime throughout the year. You can complete the program in 6 months, but you have up to 3 years if needed.
The accelerated option is full time and allows you to complete the program in 12 weeks.
Please note that students in the accelerated program cannot swap accelerated courses for part-time courses.
View a schedule of current and upcoming Bookkeeping courses here, including dates, times, formats, and course descriptions.
Part-time bundled program (6 months)
Part-time unbundled program (6 months to 3 years)
Accelerated program (3 months)
All versions of this program are regularly offered in a fully online format. Please note that all online classes are synchronous, meaning that students must attend online classes via video call at the scheduled times.
To earn the Bookkeeping for Small Business certificate, you must successfully complete the following six courses:
*Choose between Computerized Accounting and QuickBooks. Computerized Accounting Level I and Level II study Sage 50. QuickBooks Level I and QuickBooks Level II study QuickBooks Online.
You must achieve a minimum grade of B in each course to progress to the next course. Students who do not achieve a minimum grade of B in a course may repeat the course.
You must complete all required courses within three years in order to earn the certificate.
This program has an optional practicum. After you have completed all six courses, you can register for the practicum to gain workplace experience and practice the skills you learned in the classroom. Please note the practicum's tuition fee is not included in the bundle costs.
Practicum schedule
Your practicum schedule will reflect the business hours and practices of your practicum host, so it will vary depending on where you are placed.
Practicum location
If you live in the Lower Mainland, Continuing Education will provide you with a practicum placement. While we try to place students near their city of residence, we cannot guarantee a practicum placement in a specific city. For example, students who live in Chilliwack may need to travel to Abbotsford to complete their practicum. Transportation to the practicum site is your responsibility.
Practicums for distance students
If you live outside the Lower Mainland, you will need to locate an appropriate practicum site in your area and submit their details to the Continuing Education department for approval.
Bookkeepers work for a range of businesses and organizations including:
Many bookkeepers choose to start their own business and provide services to multiple clients.
The BC Labour Market Outlook projects that from 2022 to 2032, there will be 9,520 job openings for bookkeepers and accounting technicians in British Columbia. For more information, visit WorkBC.
To register for Bookkeeping courses or any of the program bundles, phone the Office of the Registrar at 604-854-4501 and select option 1.
To find your textbooks, use the UFV Bookstore's textbook search tool. Select "CE - Continuing Education" as your area of study.
In addition to textbooks, students will also require the following materials:
Phone: 604-851-6324
Toll free: 1-888-504-7441 ext. 6324
Email: [email protected]
“I selected UFV Continuing Education’s Bookkeeping for Small Business certificate because it was the best fit at the best price. Some programs were double the price and were not as comprehensive in what they covered. And UFV’s program is based on Sage, which is the software I’m using where I work.”