How to Become a Bookkeeper in North Dakota

Almost every company needs someone to take care of their money.

This task is handled by a bookkeeper or an accountant.

Although these roles share similarities, they’re not exactly alike.

To become a bookkeeper in North Dakota, you should grasp business, accounting, or bookkeeping.

Having good math skills and paying close attention to details are crucial for success in this profession.

If you’re curious, read on to learn more!

How to Become a Bookkeeper – Step by Step

Getting a license is a smart move, opening up many job opportunities for you.

But how do you become certified?

There are two main ways:

• Through Learning
• Through Doing

Even though these routes differ, they involve some similar steps.

Let’s take a closer look at what these steps involve.

Step 1 – Earn Your High School Diploma

Completing high school is necessary.

Those who can’t get a high school diploma can get a GED instead.

No matter what, this is an essential step if you want to be successful as a bookkeeper in North Carolina.

Step 2 Education – Earn a Degree

Getting a degree is great because it shows how serious you are about your job.

With a degree, it’s easier to find work since bosses like to hire skilled bookkeepers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), if you’re going the education route, aim for a degree.

You can pick from:

• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree

You might not go for a master’s, but it’s good to know about it.

Soon, you’ll also see some programs where you can learn and get trained.

Step 3 Education – Train on-the-job

Before anything else, it’s important to get trained.

During this training on the job, you’ll spend about six months learning.

This type of training is different from practicing, as it’s shorter and focused on real work.

If you’re taking the education path, you need to understand how the company’s bookkeeping software works.

You’ll also need to pick up speed to keep pace with the firm’s transactions.

Step 2 Practice – Gain Experience

If you go the practice route, now you must accumulate some experience.

You do this by getting hired on entry-level positions where your responsibilities will be limited but related to the field.

You must earn between at least 1 and 2 years before you can consider the next step.

Step 3 Practice – Earn the Credentials

You can get one of the following credentials:

• The license from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB)
• The certification from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB)

These licenses are recognized everywhere in the country.

For each certification, you’ll need to pass four tests.

If you go for both, that’s eight tests total.

You can take two of the exams at Prometric testing centers.

The other two are open book, so you can use your manual.

You can start getting certified while you’re still studying.

After you’re licensed, you’ll need to do 24 hours of learning each year to keep working in the field.

Bookkeeping Programs in North Dakota

Check out the programs where you can train in North Dakota.

Dakota College at Bottineau

Offers 2 programs for future bookkeepers:

• Accounting Technology
• Bookkeeping

Accounting Technology – AAS

This program helps students learn how to do bookkeeping for businesses.

Its duration is of 2 years. and it would be best if you accumulated at least 30 credits per year.

They’ll learn about double-entry accounting, keeping records, and using computerized accounting systems.

Keep in mind that you can attend classes in person, but also online, if you already have a job or other responsibilities.

Bookkeeping – Certificate

This program is available at 2 campuses as well as online.

Some of the included classes are:

• Double-entry accounting systems,
• Record-keeping systems
• Computerized Accounting

This program has a duration of 2 semesters.

Bookkeeper Salary in North Dakota

Now that you’ve learned about training, let’s see how much money bookkeepers in North Dakota can make.

Based on info from salary.com, the average yearly salary for bookkeepers in North Dakota is around $43,877 per year.

This amount can change from year to year due to different reasons.

Have a look at the table below to find out which cities usually pay bookkeepers higher salaries.

Regional Salary in North Dakota

Bookkeeper Schools by State