Today, I’ll walk you through how to become a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. I’ll explain the steps I took from creating a QuickBooks Online Accountant account to completing the ProAdvisor certification exam and setting up my profile. I’ll also highlight the key benefits of becoming a ProAdvisor and share a few tips that helped me pass the exam successfully.
Step 1: Sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant
First, visit the QuickBooks Online Accountant website and click on the Sign up for free button to create an account. Signing up and creating a profile is free, and no credit card or other sensitive information is required.
Sign up for a QuickBooks Online Accountant
Step 2: Go to ProAdvisor
From my QuickBooks Online Accountant dashboard, I clicked on ProAdvisor in the left menu bar, as shown below.
QuickBooks Online Accountant dashboard
Navigate to the ProAdvisor tab
This tab represents the progress and rewards system within the QuickBooks ProAdvisor program. The points bar at the top functions like a loyalty tracker, moving you through membership tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Elite) based on how active and credentialed your practice is. In this case, I have zero points because I don’t have active clients or trainings.
ProAdvisor Tab
The points breakdown below reveals how QuickBooks incentivizes both training and client acquisition. Lower-value actions, like maintaining small business clients or basic payroll subscriptions, yield 25 to 50 points each, while advanced certifications and premium client subscriptions generate significantly more. This design encourages accountants not just to use QuickBooks but to deepen their expertise and expand their client base within the Intuit ecosystem.
Step 3: Access ProAdvisor Academy
In the Training tab of QuickBooks Online Accountant, you’ll be brought to the ProAdvisor Academy website. This platform serves as your learning hub for earning certifications, tracking progress, and accessing continuing education materials.
The image below shows the My Hub section of my ProAdvisor Academy account. At the top, the Certification enrollments panel displays the active certification (e.g., QuickBooks Online Certification Level 1) with a progress bar currently at 0%. This indicates that the certification process has been started but has not yet been completed.
ProAdvisor Academy window
Each course includes a brief description, estimated duration, and the number of CPE credits earned upon completion. These credits count toward professional education requirements for accountants and bookkeepers.
The modules cover the following topics:
- Getting started – Level 1: Introduces the certification process and foundational concepts, such as navigation and setup within QuickBooks Online.
Period end – Level 1: Focuses on closing processes, report creation, and using tools like the Books Review feature to ensure accuracy before period-end reporting. - Expenses and vendors – Level 1: Explains how to record and manage bills, payments, and vendor transactions to maintain clean expense tracking.
- Sales and customers – Level 1: Teaches how to set up customers, create invoices, manage receivables, and process payments efficiently.
- Banking – Level 1: Covers reconciling accounts, using bank feeds, and applying automation through rules to streamline reconciliation.
Step 4: Take the course & prepare for the exam
After enrolling in a course, learners can study the training materials at their own pace to prepare for the exam. Through the My Hub tab, they can click Start or Continue to access lessons, track progress, pause and resume anytime, and revisit specific sections to focus on areas that require more review.
Turn on Test out to skip the course and proceed to the ProAdvisor exam
Before you take the exam, take note of these important pointers:
- To pass the exam and become certified, you need to achieve a score of at least 80%.
- Each question offers multiple answers; select the indicated number of answers and then click the Next button in the top right of the questionnaire to continue to the following item.
- The exam is divided into multiple sections (e.g., the QuickBooks Online Certification Level is divided into five sections). At the end of each section, you must submit your answers.
- Once a section is submitted, you cannot go back to change your answers, so double-check before submitting.
- At the top of the questionnaire, there’s an option to flag a question and revisit it later.
- You must answer all questions in a section before moving on; you can’t skip entire sections.
- If you don’t pass the exam within three attempts, you’ll need to wait 30 days before you can retake the exam.
Step 5: Take the exam
Once I started the exam, the time ran in the background. It continued to run even if I closed the tabs, so I had to dedicate a couple of hours to complete the exam in one sitting. Note that if you run out of time, all the attempted questions will be automatically submitted.
The ProAdvisor exam relies heavily on practical, scenario-based questions that simulate real client situations, such as categorizing bank feed transactions, reconciling accounts, troubleshooting sales tax and reporting issues, setting up lists and automation rules, and completing multi-step workflows.
The 2025 updates have made these scenarios more complex and time-sensitive to better reflect real-world conditions. While the online exam remains open-book by allowing the use of notes and in-product help, it is designed to test whether candidates can efficiently locate features and apply the correct accounting treatments within realistic QuickBooks workflows.
Step 6: Receive your certification
After passing the QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor exam, you’ll receive a digital copy of my certification and badge in my email inbox. I was given the option to download my certificate and badge from the ProAdvisor Academy, under the My History tab.
Step 7: Complete your ProAdvisor profile
Be sure to complete your profile as soon as possible. It includes the certification badges you have earned, an “About me” section, the number of years in business, the services you offer, any industries that you have experience in, and your social media links.
Below is a screenshot of a QuickBooks Advisor profile (view the ProAdvisor profile of Sina Keeley, CPA).
Sample QuickBooks ProAdvisor profile page
Tips for passing the ProAdvisor Certification exam
- Review the course material thoroughly. While you can skim through the content and skip some parts, I suggest going through each section thoroughly, as each part builds on previous knowledge. You can skip the course if you’re actively using QuickBooks, but if you only have casual knowledge, then it’s safer to go through the courses.
- Don’t waste too much time on a single question. If you’re unsure about a question, you can use the flag feature to keep moving forward. You can return to it later and answer the question.
- Double-check answers before submitting. Note that once you submit a section, you won’t be able to make changes, so you must review all answers thoroughly before submitting them. Do a quick scan to ensure you haven’t overlooked any questions or answers.
- Maximize your time effectively. As I mentioned earlier, you have up to five hours to complete the exam. Ideally, this is plenty of time, so don’t rush through each question. Also, have some short breaks, but be mindful of the time.
- Avoid any distractions. Choose a quiet environment so that you can stay focused. Close unnecessary apps or websites while taking the exam.
QuickBooks ProAdvisor recertification
To keep your QuickBooks Online certification valid, you need to take a short recertification exam between May 1 and June 30. I recommend that you take the updated exam each year to stay current. Members who are certified on the latest version of QuickBooks Online are listed in the top section of the QuickBooks Find a ProAdvisor website.
Earning CPE credit for QuickBooks Online
CPAs can earn CPE credits by completing QuickBooks Online training. The number of credits varies by program and may include free, simulation-based courses and interactive lessons delivered through webinars, virtual conferences, or in-person events.
For instance, QuickBooks Online modules typically offer between 1 and 2.5 credits each. However, eligibility for CPE credit depends on state regulations, as each state board of accountancy determines whether QuickBooks ProAdvisor training qualifies. It’s essential to verify with your state board how many credits, if any, can be applied.
Benefits of becoming a QuickBooks ProAdvisor
- Gain valuable knowledge of the most popular small business accounting software
- Get discounts on Intuit products and services, and dedicated telephone and chat support
- Get added to the Find a ProAdvisor online directory listing — this allows you to connect with potential clients, build your client list, and earn their trust
- Can display your ProAdvisor certification badge on your website, emails, and business cards
- Boost your credibility and increase your profile ranking
- Distinguish yourself as a true expert with QuickBooks software
- Access unlimited United States-based phone support from QuickBooks experts
- Receive free or discounted products and supplies
- Unlock the QuickBooks Online Advanced Certification exam, which helps improve your visibility on the directory, giving you more opportunities to connect with new clients
- Advance in rankings (your ProAdvisor Profile climbs in the ranking as you earn more points), and as you do, you can grow your business and take advantage of more features of this program, discounts, product support, and training opportunities
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
A QuickBooks ProAdvisor is a certified professional who can advise and assist clients with QuickBooks products, particularly QuickBooks Online. Earning this designation shows expertise and can help you attract clients who need help with their accounting software.
The time frame depends on your existing knowledge and how much time you can dedicate to studying. Intuit offers a variety of resources, including self-paced courses and live webinars, to help you learn at your own pace.
Yes, it will, and recertification frequency depends on the type of certification you hold. QuickBooks Online ProAdvisors need to recertify each year, typically between May 1 and June 30.
