How to Become a QuickBooks ProAdvisor in 6 Simple Steps

Becoming a QuickBooks ProAdvisor starts with signing up for a free QuickBooks Online Accountant account, completing Intuit’s ProAdvisor training, and passing the certification exam. I earned my QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certification in 2023, and today I run my own bookkeeping practice where I use QuickBooks Online Accountant to manage the books of US-based clients.

I’ve completed the certification process and continued using QuickBooks in real client work. With these hands-on experiences, I’ll walk you through the current steps to become a QuickBooks ProAdvisor — from setting up your Accountant account and completing the training to taking the certification exam and maintaining your credentials.

Step 1: Sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant

Start by creating a free QuickBooks Online Accountant account, which is different from a regular QuickBooks Online subscription. Go to the QuickBooks Online Accountant website and select Sign up for free. You’ll provide some basic information about yourself and your practice, but you don’t need to purchase a QuickBooks Online subscription to get started.

Your Accountant account gives you access to the ProAdvisor program, training, and certification resources, as well as tools for managing QuickBooks clients.

Step 2: Open your ProAdvisor dashboard and head to the Academy

Once you're signed in to QuickBooks Online Accountant, select ProAdvisor under Your Practice in the left navigation menu. This opens the ProAdvisor dashboard, where you can view your points, membership tier, benefits, and training.

To access the certification courses, select Training and launch ProAdvisor Academy. The Academy is organized into sections such as My Hub, Programs, Learn, My History, and Resource Hub. For certification, go to Programs, where you can enroll in and complete the available certification training.

At the time of writing, the QuickBooks Online Level 1 program includes four main training areas:

• Getting started: Covers the certification process and QuickBooks Online fundamentals.
• Sales and customers: Covers managing customers and setting up products and services.
• Expenses and vendors: Focuses on managing vendors and contractors and handling bills accurately.
• Banking and accounting: Covers bank rules, reviewing bank transactions, reconciliations, and other accounting workflows.

The Academy also displays available CPE credits for eligible courses, along with your completion status, so you can track your progress as you work through the program.

Step 3: Take the course and prep for the exam

Once you're enrolled, you can work through the training at your own pace. The My Hub tab lets you start or continue enrolled courses and keep track of your progress, making it easy to stop and return later.

If you're already experienced with QuickBooks Online, ProAdvisor Academy may also let you test out rather than complete all the training first. This lets experienced users move more quickly toward certification.

Before you sit the exam, a few things to know going in:

• You need a score of at least 80% to pass and get certified.
• The exam is split into multiple sections.
• Once you submit a section, you can't go back and change your answers. Double-check before you hit submit.
• You can flag a question and return to it later, but only within the same section.
• You can't skip an entire section. You must answer every question before you move on.
• If you don't pass within three attempts, you'll need to wait 30 days before retaking it.

Step 4: Take the exam

Once you’re ready, you can take the QuickBooks Online Certification Level 1 exam directly from ProAdvisor Academy. Intuit also lets experienced QuickBooks users skip the training and go straight to the test-out exam, although completing the training first can help you prepare for workflows you may not use regularly.

The exam is open-book, so you can refer to your notes, ProAdvisor training materials, and other QuickBooks resources while working through the questions. I still recommend reviewing the training beforehand rather than relying on references for every answer. Knowing the workflows already will make it much easier to work through the assessment efficiently.

Step 5: Get your certification and badge

Once you pass the exam, your QuickBooks Online certification is added to your ProAdvisor Academy history. Go to My History to download your certificate and access your certification badge. Intuit says your badge should appear within about 60 minutes of passing the exam.

You’ll also need to sign in to Credly using the same email address associated with your ProAdvisor Academy account to accept and manage your digital badge. Once accepted, you can use the badge to promote your QuickBooks expertise on places such as your website, business card, or professional profiles, as long as your certification remains current.

After earning Level 1, you can continue to QuickBooks Online Certification Level 2, which Intuit previously called Advanced Certification. Level 2 builds on the knowledge covered in Level 1 and gives experienced ProAdvisors another credential to demonstrate deeper QuickBooks expertise.

Step 6: Complete your ProAdvisor profile

After earning your certification, the next step is to build out your ProAdvisor profile and keep your credentials active. Your profile can include details such as your services, industries served, certifications, and business information, which helps prospective clients understand the type of QuickBooks work you handle.

If you qualify for the Find-a-ProAdvisor directory, you can publish your profile so businesses searching for QuickBooks help can find you. Directory eligibility depends on your current ProAdvisor status and tier, so certification alone may not automatically make your profile visible.

You should also keep an eye on your certification status. Intuit periodically updates the certification program, and ProAdvisors need to complete the required recertification to keep their credentials current.

Keeping your QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification active

QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certifications must be renewed every year during a recertification window that runs between May 1 and June 30.

• Retake the updated exam annually. This confirms you're current on whatever changes QuickBooks Online rolled out that year.
• Don't wait on Intuit's notice. It typically flags the window once it opens, but setting your own reminder ahead of time keeps you from scrambling.
• Falling off the current-version list drops you from the top of the Find-a-ProAdvisor directory until you recertify, so don't let this slide if you rely on that listing.
• If you're a CPA, confirm CPE eligibility with your state board before assuming it applies. QuickBooks Online modules typically carry 1–2.5 credits each, but not every state board recognizes every module.

Benefits of becoming a QuickBooks ProAdvisor

Certification opens up more than a line on your resume. Here's what it actually gets you:

• A recognized QuickBooks credential. Once certified, you can use your ProAdvisor certification and digital badge to demonstrate your QuickBooks knowledge to prospective clients.
• Eligibility for the Find-a-ProAdvisor directory. ProAdvisors who meet Intuit's current eligibility requirements can create a public profile that helps businesses looking for QuickBooks assistance find them.
• ProAdvisor points and tier benefits. You can earn points through qualifying certifications and client activity.
• Product discounts and ProAdvisor benefits. Depending on your tier and eligibility, Intuit offers benefits such as discounts on QuickBooks products, training resources, and support.
• Additional certification opportunities. After Level 1, you can continue developing your QuickBooks expertise through Level 2 and other certifications available in ProAdvisor Academy.
• Ongoing QuickBooks training. ProAdvisor Academy gives you access to courses and resources that can help you stay current as QuickBooks introduces new features and workflows.

QuickBooks ProAdvisor vs. QuickBooks Certified User

QuickBooks ProAdvisor and QuickBooks Certified User (QBCU) credentials both demonstrate QuickBooks knowledge, but they're designed for different types of users.

If you're building a bookkeeping practice or plan to manage QuickBooks for clients, ProAdvisor is the more relevant path — and it's the certification I pursued. If you simply want to demonstrate your ability to use QuickBooks, QBCU may be a better fit. To learn how that certification works, read our guide to becoming a QuickBooks Certified User.

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