Certified Public Bookkeeper License

Assure Clients of Your Bookkeeping Knowledge, Skill, Experience, and Ethics

Overview
NACPB protects the public interest by helping to ensure that only qualified bookkeepers provide public bookkeeping services and assures the public that members are trusted and competent bookkeepers.

NACPB helps to protect and assure the public that members are trusted and competent bookkeepers by offering the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license. Public bookkeepers use the CPB license to gain a competitive edge by distinguishing themselves from other public bookkeepers.

NACPB’s CPB license provides clients assurance that you are trustworthy and competent and possess the knowledge, skill, experience and ethics to provide public bookkeeping services.

Certified Public Bookkeeper License
The Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license communicates your bookkeeping knowledge, skill, experience, and ethics. The license enables you place “CPB” behind your name and communicate that you are a true bookkeeping professional. “CPB” is in the bookkeeping profession what “CPA” is in the accounting profession.

You obtain and maintain your CPB license by passing a four part Uniform Certified Public Bookkeeper Examination, verifying bookkeeping experience, agreeing to abide by a professional code of conduct, and maintaining 24 hours of continuing professional education each year.

Become a Licensed Certified Public Bookkeeper

You obtain the CPB license by:

1. Passing the Uniform Certified Public Bookkeeper Examination,
2. Possessing One-year (2,000 hours) of Bookkeeping or Accounting Experience,
3. Agreeing to Abide by the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct,
4. Obtaining 24 hours of CPE (certified professional education) credit each year, and
5. Completing and Submitting the CPB Application for Licensure.

Uniform Certified Public Bookkeeper Examination
The Uniform Certified Public Bookkeeper Examination (Exam) is the examination administered to bookkeepers who want to become licensed Certified Public Bookkeepers.

The Exam is developed, maintained, and administered by NACPB. The Exam is used and recognized throughout the United States and its properties.

Bookkeepers who pass the Exam, possess one-year of bookkeeping or accounting experience, agree to abide by the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct, and complete and submit the CPB Application for Licensure are able to distinguish themselves and build credibility by having authorized use of the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) accreditation behind their names (John Doe, CPB) and CPB logo on their website or marketing materials.

The Exam consists of four parts:

Part 1: Uniform Bookkeeper Certification Examination
Part 2: Uniform Payroll Certification Examination
Part 3: Uniform Tax Certification Examination
Part 4: NACPB Code of Professional Conduct

The Exam may be taken one part at a time.

For more information on each part of the exam, click the certification links above.

Note: Beginning January 1, 2013 the Exam will be proctored at authorized testing centers throughout the United States. If you purchase the Exam after December 31, 2012, you will be required to take the Exam at an authorized testing center.

CPB Application for Licensure
You should not complete the CPB Application for Licensure (Application) until you have passed the Uniform Bookkeeper Certification Examination, possess one-year of bookkeeping or accounting experience, and agree to abide by the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct and obtain 24 hours of CPE credit each year.

This document is available as a downloadable PDF file. PDF reader software, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, is needed to view or print the document. The Reader is available as a free download from the Adobe website.

To download the Reader, click here.

To access the Application, click CPB Application for Licensure.

Application Fee Payment
$100

To pay the CPB Application for Licensure fee by credit card, click the Fee button below.

Renewal Information

For license renewal information, click here.

Submit our Online Form, email, or call us to learn how NACPB helps you provide public bookkeeping services more efficiently and effectively. Online Form info@nacpb.org 866-444-9989