The short version
What is the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam and is it worth it?
The NACPB Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license requires passing three online exams — Bookkeeping, Payroll, and QuickBooks Online — each 50 questions in 2 hours at 75%, plus one year of verified bookkeeping experience and the Code of Professional Conduct. NACPB certifications themselves do not expire; the license renews annually with 24 CPE hours.
- Grants the right to use the 'CPB' title after your name
- Three focused online exams (50 Q each) with a clear 75% pass mark
- Verifies real experience (1 year / 2,000 hours), adding employer trust
- Individual certifications never expire; only the license renews annually
- Courses can be waived with an accounting degree or equivalent transcripts
What is it?
What exactly is the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam?
NACPB's CPB license — three online exams plus verified experience that let you place 'CPB' after your name.
The Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) is a U.S. bookkeeping license that lets holders place 'CPB' after their name. It is earned by passing three online certification exams — Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Intuit QuickBooks Online — each 50 multiple-choice questions in two hours at a 75% pass mark, then verifying one year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping experience and agreeing to the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct. A distinctive feature is that NACPB's individual certifications do not expire, while the CPB license itself renews annually with 24 hours of continuing professional education (CPE). The CPB is a strong fit for bookkeepers who want a license (with verified experience) rather than only a course-based certificate.
The path in brief
- Complete (or waive) the Bookkeeping, Payroll, and QuickBooks courses
- Pass the three certification exams (75% each, 3 attempts allowed)
- Verify one year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping experience
- Agree to the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct
- Submit the license application with the $100 processing fee
- Renew the license annually with 24 CPE hours
Before you book
Who is eligible to sit the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam?
The CPB license is open to bookkeepers at any stage. You can substitute the three required courses with an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting (submit transcripts for approval), but you must still pass the three-part Uniform Certified Public Bookkeeper examination. Membership is not required to take courses or exams, but members receive discounts. Candidates who lack qualifying experience can fulfill it through NACPB's bookkeeping experience program.
Who it is for: Working bookkeepers, accounting assistants, and freelancers who want a licensed (experience-verified) bookkeeping credential.
The test itself
What is the format of the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam?
The Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam is administered by National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) and runs 2 hours per exam and requires Minimum 75% on each exam to pass.
| Administered by | National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) |
|---|---|
| Questions | Three exams of 50 multiple-choice questions each (Bookkeeping, Payroll, QuickBooks Online) |
| Time limit | 2 hours per exam |
| Pass mark | Minimum 75% on each exam |
| Exam fee | Each exam $80 member / $100 nonmember; retake $40 member / $50 nonmember; $100 nonrefundable license processing fee |
| Format | Online, computer-based (taken after the corresponding course) |
Content outline
What topics are on the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam?
The Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam covers 4 content domains.
Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.
- Bookkeeping Certification Exam
Accounting as a language, analyzing transactions (T-accounts), journal/ledger, adjustments & worksheet, closing entries, sales/receivables/cash receipts, purchases/payables/cash payments, payroll, accruals/deferrals, financial statements
- Payroll Certification Exam
Payroll practices and systems, gross-pay computations, fringe benefits and voluntary deductions, employee net pay, employer payroll taxes, and the payroll register/accounting entries
- QuickBooks Online Certification Exam
Setting up a company, chart of accounts/lists, daily transactions (sales, expenses, banking), reconciliation, and reporting in QuickBooks Online
- Experience & Code of Conduct (licensure)
Verify 1 year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping experience and agree to the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct to be licensed
The path
How do you register for the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam?
- 1
Enroll and complete the coursesself-paced
Take the Accounting Fundamentals, Payroll Fundamentals, and Intuit QuickBooks Online courses — or waive them with an approved associate/bachelor's degree in accounting (submit transcripts). Membership is optional but gives exam discounts.
- 2
Pass the three certification examswithin enrollment
Schedule and pass the Bookkeeping, Payroll, and QuickBooks Online certification exams online — 50 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours, 75% to pass, up to three attempts each.
- 3
Verify your experiencebefore licensure
Document one year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping experience with the Work Experience Verification form signed by your employer or client(s). The NACPB experience program can substitute for paid experience.
- 4
Agree to the Code of Conductat application
Review and agree to abide by the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct as part of the license application.
- 5
Submit the license applicationat application
Email the completed application forms to NACPB with the $100 nonrefundable processing fee. NACPB verifies experience and may audit.
- 6
Renew the license annuallyongoing, yearly
Each year complete 24 hours of approved CPE and submit the annual license renewal application (and fee) by December 31 to keep the CPB active.
The fine print
What are the retake and renewal rules for the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam?
- Proctoring & delivery
- The NACPB certification exams are delivered online after course completion; they are not administered at third-party testing centers. The CPB license itself is granted on verified experience and the Code of Conduct rather than a single proctored sitting.
- Retake policy
- Each certification exam allows up to three (3) attempts. If you do not pass, retakes cost $40 for NACPB members and $50 for nonmembers per exam.
- Score reporting
- Exam results are scored electronically and provided immediately after completion. License status and CPE reporting are tracked through your NACPB account.
- Recertification
- NACPB certifications do not expire. The CPB license, however, expires December 31 each year and must be renewed annually by completing 24 hours of approved continuing professional education (CPE) and submitting the annual renewal application and fee.
- Refunds & rescheduling
- The $100 CPB license processing fee is nonrefundable. NACPB also offers a 14-day refund on many course and exam purchases if you are not satisfied (see the NACPB refund policy).
Context
Bookkeeping credentials compared
| Credential | Issuer | Exam | Experience | Renewal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NACPB CPB (license) | NACPB | 3 online exams (50 Q, 75%) | 1 yr (2,000 hrs) | License annual (24 CPE/yr) | |
| AIPB CB | AIPB | 4 parts (2 Prometric + 2 workbook) | 2 yr / 3,000 hrs | 60 CPE / 3 yr | |
| Intuit QuickBooks ProAdvisor | Intuit | Single software exam (tiered) | None | Annual (software update) |
What it pays
How much does this credential pay?
$49,210 median annual wage for bookkeeping clerks (BLS, May 2024)
The Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) maps to the same federal group as the AIPB CB — "Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks" (SOC 43-3031) — because the U.S. government does not isolate credentialed bookkeepers in a separate wage series. BLS puts the median annual wage at $49,210 (May 2024): the lowest 10 percent earn under $34,600 and the highest 10 percent exceed $72,660. What differs from the AIPB path is the CPB's explicit QuickBooks Online exam and its annual licence framing, which positions holders for outsourced and cloud-bookkeeping practices where software fluency is the differentiator. The same honest macro caveat applies: BLS projects a -6 percent decline in this occupation from 2024 to 2034 as automation absorbs routine transaction work, across roughly 1.6 million jobs. The CPB does not reverse that trend, but its QuickBooks Online component and the annual renewal signal current, software-up-to-date competence — exactly the parts of the job least exposed to automation. Candidates should read the credential as a currency-and-tooling signal (especially for solo and small-firm bookkeepers selling cloud services) rather than a guaranteed wage premium, and should expect geography and niche to move the number more than the letters "CPB" alone.
| Measure | Figure | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $49,210 | BLS OOH, Bookkeeping/Accounting/Auditing Clerks (SOC 43-3031), May 2024 |
| Lowest 10% | < $34,600 | BLS OOH, SOC 43-3031, May 2024 |
| Highest 10% | > $72,660 | BLS OOH, SOC 43-3031, May 2024 |
| Employment | 1,613,400 | BLS OOH, SOC 43-3031, May 2024 |
| Projected change 2024-2034 | -6% (decline) | BLS OOH — automation/cloud accounting absorbing routine work |
Job growth.Projected -6% decline 2024-2034 (BLS OOH), same occupational group as the AIPB CB. The CPB's QuickBooks Online exam and annual licence emphasize cloud-bookkeeping currency. Note the name is misleading: the CPB is a voluntary private credential, not a state-issued licence — no U.S. state requires bookkeepers to be licensed, so it signals competence, not legal authority to practice.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Your odds
What are the pass rates?
Pass mark: 75% on all three exams (no published pass rate)
NACPB does not publish a candidate pass rate for the CPB exams — there is no official first-time or cumulative percentage available, so any specific "X% pass" claim is unsourced. What NACPB publishes is the uniform pass MARK of 75 percent across all three exams: Bookkeeping, Payroll, and QuickBooks Online, each a 50-question, two-hour online test. Unlike the AIPB CB, which uses a 75/70 split and mixes Prometric with open-book finals, the CPB applies one consistent bar and is taken entirely online through NACPB's testing center. Retake rules are published and cheaper than AIPB's: a failed exam may be retaken for $40 (member) or $50 (nonmember), versus the $60 Prometric retake at AIPB. You keep credit for any exam you pass, so a single weak area does not void the others. Plan to clear 75 percent on each of the three; the QuickBooks Online exam is the one many pure "write-the-books" bookkeepers underprepare for, because it tests software mechanics, not just accounting theory. Treat 75 percent as your floor and target low-80s so a few ambiguous items do not drop you below the line.
Read this before quoting the number.NACPB publishes no candidate pass rate. Only the 75% pass mark and the $40/$50 retake fees are official. Do not cite a specific percentage pass rate for this exam.
Your schedule
How long should I study for it?
60-90 hours total (three online exams) of focused study
Most candidates budget roughly 60-90 total study hours across the three CPB exams, lighter than the AIPB CB because all three are online, open-resource-friendly, and share conceptual ground with everyday bookkeeping. The schedule below assumes 6-8 hours per week over about 10-12 weeks, sitting Bookkeeping, Payroll, and QuickBooks Online in that order. Bookkeeping is the broadest and carries the most recall; Payroll overlaps heavily with the AIPB-style form calendar but is tested at the 75 percent bar; QuickBooks Online is the wildcard and deserves a real software environment, not just reading. Because the exams are online and self-scheduled, the risk is not the test center — it is never booking them; set three firm dates up front. The CPB experience requirement (1 year or 2,000 hours supervised by a CPA, CPB, or accountant) is shorter than AIPB's two-year rule, and the licence (not the certificates) is what expires annually, so plan the 24 CPE/year from year one. If you work full-time, stretch to 14-16 weeks at 4-6 hours per week; if you use QuickBooks daily, compress the third exam hard.
- Weeks 1-4 — Bookkeeping exam6-8 hrs/week
Journal entries, the accounting cycle, financial statements, bank rec
- Rebuild the full accounting cycle from source docs
- Drill adjusting entries and the adjusted trial balance
- Practice bank reconciliation cold
- Weeks 5-8 — Payroll exam6-8 hrs/week
Classification, withholding, deposits, Forms 941/940/W-2/W-3, payroll journal
- Compute employee and employer payroll taxes
- Memorize deposit frequencies and form deadlines
- Post payroll entries to the ledger
- Weeks 9-12 — QuickBooks Online exam6-8 hrs/week
Company setup, lists, transactions, reports, bank feeds
- Build a sample QBO company and run the cycle
- Reconcile accounts and produce reports in software
- Practice the exam in a live QBO session, not from notes
Adjusting the pace
Working full-time.Stretch to 14-16 weeks at 4-6 hrs/week; set three firm online exam dates up front to avoid drift.
Daily QuickBooks user.Compress the QBO exam to 1-2 weeks; spend the saved time on payroll form deadlines, the weakest area for software-native bookkeepers.
How to study
How do I prepare most effectively?
The CPB is an online, self-scheduled credential, so the biggest lever is environment discipline, not test-center logistics. First, book all three exam dates before you start studying — the online format removes the external deadline that forces AIPB candidates to show up at Prometric, and unbounded scheduling is how CPB candidates stall. Second, prepare for QuickBooks Online in the actual software: the exam tests where buttons live and how flows connect, which reading alone never teaches. Third, drill the payroll form calendar (941 quarterly, 940 annual, W-2/W-3 by Jan 31, deposit schedules) exactly as you would for any bookkeeping exam — it is tested at the same 75 percent bar. Fourth, use NACPB's own courses and the Consortia Accounting School materials, since the exams are written to that curriculum and the bundle pricing rewards buying the set. Fifth, track CPE from day one: unlike the AIPB CB where certificates and renewal move together on a three-year clock, the CPB splits never-expiring certificates from an annual licence requiring 24 CPE per year, so letting December 31 pass without CPE lapses the licence even though your certificates remain valid. That split is the most misunderstood part of the program.
Book all three online exam dates before studying
With no test center deadline, self-scheduled exams get postponed indefinitely. Lock three dates up front so the online convenience does not become procrastination.
Prep QuickBooks Online inside the software
The exam tests real QBO mechanics — company setup, lists, bank feeds, reports. Build a sample company and run the full cycle; reading the curriculum will not teach button placement.
Own the payroll form calendar
941 (quarterly), 940 (annual), W-2/W-3 (Jan 31), and deposit frequencies are tested at the 75% bar. A one-page deadline sheet drilled from memory removes the easiest avoidable losses.
Buy the bundle, not single exams
The CPB License Bundle (about $1,077.60 member / $1,347 nonmember) covers the courses and exams far cheaper than piecemeal, and the exams track that curriculum.
Track CPE from year one — the licence expires, certificates do not
CPB certificates never expire, but the licence lapses every Dec 31 without 24 CPE/yr. Log CPE continuously so the annual renewal is automatic, not a scramble.
What to buy
Which study resources are worth paying for?
NACPB sells a stack of separate products, and the most common mistake is confusing them (see Common Mistakes). The building blocks are three individual certification exams — Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Intuit QuickBooks Online — each $80 (member) / $100 (nonmember) and each earning a certificate that never expires. Stacking all three, plus one year of supervised experience and a $100 application fee, produces the CPB LICENCE, which is the only piece that expires (annually, with 24 CPE/yr and an $80 member / $100 nonmember renewal). The practical low-friction route is the CPB License Bundle, which bundles the three courses, the three exams and the three certificates for $1,077.60 (member) / $1,347 (nonmember); single exams are $80/$100 with $40/$50 retakes. For candidates who want the whole path — courses, exams, two QuickBooks training modules, supervised experience and the licence application — in one 12-month programme, NACPB's CPB Program (via Consortia Accounting School) runs $4,320 one-time (member) / $5,400 (nonmember), or $400/$500 per month. Membership is $200/yr and yields the ~20% bundle discount; NACPB has announced that from 1 Jan 2027 only licensed CPBs may hold membership. There is no Prometric fee and no paid workbook, unlike the AIPB CB. Third-party CPB-specific prep is thin, so most candidates use NACPB's own materials. We do not rank by commission.
| Resource | Price | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPB License Bundle (member) | $1,077.60 | Online courses + 3 exams + 3 certificates | Best value for new candidates (incl. ~20% member discount) |
| CPB License Bundle (nonmember) | $1,347.00 | Online courses + 3 exams + 3 certificates | Candidates who skip the $200/yr membership |
| Single certification exam (Bookkeeping/Payroll/QBO) | $80 member / $100 nonmember | Online exam only | Retakers or those with prior prep; retake $40/$50 |
| CPB Program (Consortia, all-in-one) | $4,320 / $5,400 one-time; or $400/$500 per month | 12-month program: courses + exams + 2 QBO training modules + supervised experience + licence application | Candidates wanting the full path with built-in experience |
| CPB licence — application | $100 (nonrefundable) | One-off, after exams + experience | Required to place "CPB" after your name |
| CPB licence — annual renewal | $80 member / $100 nonmember + 24 CPE/yr | Every Dec 31 | The part that expires; the certificates do NOT |
| NACPB membership | $200/yr | Association membership | Unlocks ~20% bundle discount; from 2027 members-only for licensed CPBs |
Prices checked 2026-08 from NACPB public storefronts and the Consortia CPB Program page (list). The $1,077.60/$1,347 bundle and the $4,320/$5,400 program are both current NACPB offerings — the program is the all-in-one 12-month path that also supplies the supervised-experience requirement. Exam fees are per exam; retakes are $40/$50. The licence application ($100) is separate from the annual renewal ($80/$100). We do not rank by commission.
Avoid these
What mistakes do candidates most often make?
CPB candidates fail in ways that mirror the credential's structure — especially the certificate-versus-licence split and the all-online format. The dominant error is letting the licence lapse while assuming "I'm certified forever": the certificates never expire, but the licence expires every December 31 and needs 24 CPE per year, so a holder can be "certified but not licensed" without realizing it. Second is software neglect on the QuickBooks Online exam — bookkeepers who only read theory cannot navigate the live interface and miss mechanics questions. Third is payroll-form drift, the same weakness seen on every bookkeeping exam. Fourth is never scheduling the online exams, since the absence of a Prometric deadline removes the forcing function. Fifth is buying single exams piecemeal instead of the bundle, paying more for the same coverage. None of these are competence gaps; they are planning and structure misunderstandings, and the candidates who stumble usually knew the accounting but misread the programme's rules.
✕Conflating NACPB's products — a certificate is not the licence
✓NACPB sells three standalone certificates (Bookkeeping, Payroll, Intuit QuickBooks Online) plus the CPB LICENCE. Passing the three exams earns three certificates that never expire; the CPB licence additionally needs 1 year supervised experience + a $100 application and is the only piece that expires (24 CPE/yr, $80/$100 renewal). You can hold all three certificates and still not be "licensed." Know which you are buying.
✕Assuming "CPB" is a government-issued licence
✓Despite the name, the CPB is voluntary — no U.S. state requires bookkeepers to be licensed, and it confers no legal authority to practice. It is a private credential that lets you use "CPB" after your name. Do not market it to clients as a state licence.
✕Studying QuickBooks Online from a book
✓The exam is software-mechanical. Practice in a live QBO company — setup, lists, bank feeds, reports — so button placement and flows are automatic.
✕Neglecting the payroll form calendar
✓941/940/W-2/W-3 deadlines and deposit schedules are tested at 75%. Drill them from memory; they are the easiest points to lose.
✕Never booking the online exams
✓With no test-center deadline, set three firm dates before you study. The online convenience becomes procrastination without self-imposed dates.
✕Buying exams one at a time
✓The License Bundle ($1,077.60 member / $1,347 nonmember) is far cheaper than three single exams plus the licence fee; the CPB Program ($4,320/$5,400) adds the supervised experience. Buy the set unless you only need a retake.
What you'll face
What question types will I see?
The CPB is three separate online exams — Bookkeeping, Payroll, and QuickBooks Online — each a 50-question, two-hour multiple-choice test with a uniform 75 percent pass mark, delivered through NACPB's online testing center (no Prometric, no open-book finals, unlike the AIPB CB). The Bookkeeping exam covers the accounting cycle, journal entries, adjustments, the trial balance, financial statements, and bank reconciliation. The Payroll exam covers worker classification, withholding, employer taxes, deposit rules, and the W-4/941/940/W-2/W-3 cycle. The QuickBooks Online exam covers company setup, the chart of accounts and lists, day-to-day transaction entry, bank feeds and reconciliation, and report generation inside the software. Because all three are closed-book and online, the questions test recall and application under a two-hour clock; the QuickBooks exam additionally tests procedural knowledge of the software. Separately, earning the licence (as opposed to the three standalone certificates) also requires two QuickBooks training modules — Bookkeeping with QuickBooks Online and Payroll with QuickBooks Online — each passed at 75%; these are coursework assessments, not the public certification exams. Samples below are editor-written to match the certification blueprint and are not live exam items.
Accounting cycle, journal entries, adjustments, financial statements, bank reconciliation. 75% to pass.
Classification, withholding, deposits, Forms W-4/941/940/W-2/W-3. 75% to pass.
QBO setup, lists, transactions, bank feeds, reports. Software-mechanical; 75% to pass.
Try these
Q1A company receives a $1,200 utility bill for December but will pay it in January. At December 31, the correct adjusting entry is:
Answer:B
B is correct: the expense is incurred in December (accrual), so debit Utilities Expense and credit the liability Accounts Payable. A is wrong because cash has not been paid. C treats it as prepaid, which it is not. D reverses the correct accounts.
Q2Under the monthly deposit schedule, an employer must deposit withheld federal income and FICA taxes by:
Answer:A
A is correct for monthly-deposit-status employers: deposits are due by the 15th of the month after the payroll. B confuses payment timing with deposit timing; C is the reporting form, not the deposit deadline; D is irrelevant.
Q3In QuickBooks Online, which action records a customer's invoice payment received via bank deposit?
Answer:B
B is correct: in QBO you use Receive Payment to close the open invoice and then match it to the downloaded bank deposit. A bypasses A/R linkage; C is for immediate sale-with-payment, not invoice settlement; D is unrelated.
Samples are editor-written illustrations of the published NACPB CPB blueprint, not live exam items.
The big day
What should I expect on exam day?
All three CPB exams are taken online through NACPB's testing center, so "exam day" is a scheduled session at your own computer rather than a Prometric visit. You pick the time, which removes travel and check-in friction but also removes the external deadline — book the slot as you would a real appointment. You will need a stable internet connection and a quiet space; NACPB's online proctoring rules (if remote proctoring is used for your attempt) generally require a webcam and a clear desk, with phones and notes out of reach. Have your NACPB login and the exam confirmation ready, and confirm your system meets the testing-center requirements before the clock starts. Each exam is 50 questions in two hours, closed-book. Because it is online and self-paced in scheduling, the real discipline is starting on time and not pausing to look things up — the exam is monitored, and leaving the screen is flagged. After finishing, you typically receive a result through the NACPB portal; retakes (if needed) are $40/$50 after you rebook.
Bring
- A computer with stable internet and the NACPB testing-center requirements met
- Your NACPB login and exam confirmation
- A valid photo ID if remote proctoring is required
Leave at home
- Phones, notes, and reference books within reach during the session (online proctoring requires a clear desk)
- Unapproved browser tabs or second monitors, if proctoring prohibits them
How the day runs
Rules in the room
- Closed-book; online proctoring (if applied) requires a webcam and clear desk.
- You keep credit for any exam passed at 75%; retake a failed exam for $40 member / $50 nonmember.
Afterwards.Result appears in the NACPB portal. After all three pass plus the 1-year/2,000-hour supervised experience, pay the $100 nonrefundable licence fee; renew the licence annually (Dec 31) with 24 CPE/yr, while the underlying certificates never expire.
Reference
What are the key facts about the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam?
Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam is a certification credential; awarded by National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB); the exam fee is Each exam $80 member / $100 nonmember; retake $40 member / $50 nonmember; $100 nonrefundable license processing fee; typical preparation is Self-paced courses + three 2-hour exams; experience within the licensure process.
| Credential | Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CPB |
| Type | Certification |
| Profession | Accounting & Tax |
| Specialty | Accounting & Audit |
| Awarded by | National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Typical prep time | Self-paced courses + three 2-hour exams; experience within the licensure process |
| All-in cost | $340–$400 (exams) + $100 (license) |
| Credential | Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) License |
| Issuing body | National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) |
| Exam structure | 3 online exams (Bookkeeping, Payroll, QuickBooks) · 50 Q · 2 hr · 75% |
| Experience | 1 year (2,000 hours), verified |
| Certifications | Do not expire |
| License renewal | Annually — 24 CPE hours/year + renewal fee |
| Scope | National / Multi-state |
Real questions
Frequently asked questions about the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam
How is the CPB license exam structured?
The license is built on three online certification exams — Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Intuit QuickBooks Online — each with 50 multiple-choice questions, a 2-hour limit, and a 75% passing score. Each exam allows up to three attempts, and you can take them after completing (or waiving) the matching course.
How much does it cost?
Each of the three exams is $80 for NACPB members and $100 for nonmembers (retakes $40/$50). The nonrefundable CPB license processing fee is $100. Course bundles and member discounts reduce the total, so confirm current pricing on nacpb.org.
Do NACPB certifications expire?
No — NACPB states its individual certifications do not expire. However, the CPB license does expire annually on December 31 and must be renewed each year with 24 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) and an annual renewal fee.
What experience do I need for the license?
You must verify one year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping experience performed under appropriate supervision, plus agree to the NACPB Code of Professional Conduct. Candidates without qualifying paid experience may fulfill it through NACPB's bookkeeping experience program.
Can I skip the courses?
If you hold an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, you can submit transcripts for approval to waive the three courses — but you must still pass the three-part Uniform Certified Public Bookkeeper examination and meet the experience and ethics requirements.
Do NACPB certifications expire?
No. NACPB states its certifications do not expire. Only the CPB license expires annually and must be renewed each year with 24 CPE hours and a renewal fee.
Is the CPB license the same as a course certificate?
No. A certification confirms knowledge in one area (e.g., Bookkeeping). The CPB license requires all three certifications plus verified experience and the Code of Conduct, and it lets you use the 'CPB' title.
Can I get the license without a degree?
Yes. There is no degree requirement; you complete the three courses (or waive them with an accounting degree) and verify one year of bookkeeping experience. NACPB's experience program can substitute for paid experience.
In short
Is the Certified Public Bookkeeper Licence Exam worth it?
- CPB license = three online exams (Bookkeeping, Payroll, QuickBooks), 50 Q each, 75% to pass, plus 1 year verified experience.
- NACPB certifications never expire; only the CPB license renews annually (24 CPE hours/year).
- Exam fees are $80/$100 each (member/nonmember); the license processing fee is $100.
- Accounting-degree holders can waive the courses but must still pass all three exams.
Trust
Where does this information come from?
Everything above is taken from the awarding body's own published material. Fees, question counts and domain weights are revised regularly — check the official page before you pay.
Research confidence: high · Last reviewed 2026-08