Overview
This non-credit Bookkeeping Essentials Certificate program is for students who want to begin a career in bookkeeping. The program consists of three four-week courses; there are no prerequisites. Each course is held entirely online using Canvas, Penn State’s learning management system. For each of the courses, students will complete four hours of work each week (18 hours per course). Courses should be taken in order.
Objectives
Upon completion of the Bookkeeping Essentials program, students will be able to create meaningful journal entries, close out their books at end-of-month or end-of-year, and analyze financial statements. They will be able to:
- Understand bookkeeping basics and recording journal entries
- Define debits and credits
- Understand month-end procedures
- Write general ledger transactions
- Understand closing procedures
- Prepare a financial statement
- Understand how to prepare books for a new year
Who Should Attend?
This program is appropriate for individuals who want to sharpen their understanding of the basics of bookkeeping terminology, procedures, and processes.
Cost
Cost for completing the three-course program: $975.
Participants who do not want to take the entire sequence are welcome to take just the course(s) that interest them.
Course Descriptions
The Bookkeeping Essentials Certificate program consists of three 18-hour courses offered in succession. Courses are delivered in an online asynchronous format. Upon completion of all three courses, a non-credit certificate will be awarded. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded based on a standard of one unit per ten (10) hours of classroom contact.
Understanding Debits and Credits
This course teaches the method of double entry bookkeeping and the process of recording debits and credits. Students will learn how to identify, analyze and record transactions using journal entries. Students will learn about the accounting equation and the 5 categories involved in bookkeeping for every business. They will learn to create a chart of accounts that matches the needs of business. (18 hours)
Class: | Understanding Debits and Credits |
Delivery: | Online - asynchronous via Canvas Two Zoom sessions: August 4 and August 18 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
Dates & Times: | August 4 - August 31 |
Cost: | $ 325 |
Register: | Register for Understanding Debits and Credits |
General Ledger and Month-End Procedures
In this course, you will learn how to post journal entries to the correct general ledger accounts impacted by each transaction. This course will show you how to make sure your general ledger balances at the end of each month by preparing an unadjusted trial balance. You will learn how to look for errors when you don't balance, and how to determine correcting entries. After posting correcting entries and/or adjusting entries, you will verify debits and credits equal with an adjusted trial balance. This course also teaches the stops of performing monthly bank reconciliations. (18 hours)
Class: | General Ledger and Month-End Procedures |
Delivery: | Online - asynchronous via Canvas Two Zoom sessions: September 8 and September 22 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
Dates & Times: | September 8 - October 5 |
Cost: | $ 325 |
Register: | Register for General Ledger and Month-End Procedures |
Closing Procedures and Financial Statements
This course shows you how to use a worksheet to prepare the financial statements after the final month end of the year. The final step covered in this course is closing your books and preparing them for the next accounting period; this is done by journalizing and posting closing entries. (18 hours)
Class: | Closing Procedures and Financial Statements |
Delivery: | Online - asynchronous via Canvas Two Zoom sessions: October 6 and October 20 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
Dates & Times: | October 6 - November 2 |
Cost: | $ 325 |
Register: | Register for Closing Procedures and Financial Statements |
Cancellations and refunds
Payment is due upon registration. Students may request a registration cancellation through the start date of the course. A $25 cancellation fee will apply. No refunds will be given for withdrawal requests after the course start date. The University reserves the right to cancel course selections. If the course is cancelled, the student will be issued a full refund.