Gain in-demand business and bookkeeping skills in this part-time, six month online program. Build a foundation of basic bookkeeping concepts you need to succeed in the field, or with your small business.
2025/2026 online delivery
Our upcoming program begins in September 2025. This program is in high demand and we advise joining our interest list to secure a future seat for September 2025. Email us your name and phone number to be added to our interest list.
Registration opens in June for fall start and in October for spring start. Registration announcements will go to our interest list, in order. Note that we are unable to hold seats.
Self-guided learning
In this program there are six asynchronous (self-guided) courses with weekly assignments.
Final project
Each second level course will have a final project, which is a summary of all work learned in both levels.
Final projects must be written. You must achieve a final mark of 80% or higher to be eligible for a bookkeeping certificate.
SAGE 50/QuickBooks Online pre-requisite
You must complete Basic Elements of Bookkeeping Levels 1 & 2 prior to enrolling in SAGE 50 Accounting and QuickBooks Online.
Basic Elements of Bookkeeping Level 1
Course Code: MSBK 010 F25W70/71
Delivery: Online
Dates: September 8 to September 28
Cost: $365 plus tax
Learn bookkeeping from the ground up. Become trained in journalizing transactions, posting to the various ledgers, creating financial statements and year-end adjustments, and closing the books at year-end. In-class participation is based on practical situations. Valuable if you have a small business, belong to a non-profit group or need to upgrade your job skills. No bookkeeping experience required. Manual included.
Basic Elements of Bookkeeping Level 2
Course Code: MSBK 020 F25W70/71
Delivery: Online
Dates: September 29 to October 26
Cost: $365 plus tax
This course builds on the concepts and skills developed in the popular Bookkeeping Level 1. Continue to record transactions, and expand your skills to include merchandising and manufacturing companies, partnerships and corporations. Sales tax remittances, payroll calculations and remittances, amortization, gain/loss on disposal of capital assets, inventory, interest, some analysis of financial statements and the organization of source documents are topics covered. A comparison of different bookkeeping software packages is presented. Manual included.
SAGE 50 Accounting Level 1 (Desktop version)
Course Code: CMSA 010 F25W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: October 27 to November 16
Cost: $365 plus tax plus additional textbook
Simply Accounting is used by more than 400,000 Canadian businesses. Whether you sell services or products, learn how to manage all your daily accounting needs. Acquire skills in this system’s fully integrated general ledger, inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll modules. Generate meaningful reports, analyze your financial data and improve your business strategies! Best used with Windows-based PC. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: Computer Basics or equivalent, keyboarding skills, plus some experience in bookkeeping. Students are recommended to take Basic Bookkeeping Level 1 and 2 prior to taking this course. Proof of prior bookkeeping experience and approval from the instructor will be required if students have not taken bookkeeping classes.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
SAGE 50 Accounting Level 2 (Desktop version)
Course Code: CMSA 020 F25W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: November 17 to December 14
Cost: $365 plus tax
Building on the skills acquired in Level 1, this course deals with setting up data files, bank reconciliation, credit card usage, security, budgets, projects and extra inventory features. Also covers additional payroll features and foreign currencies. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: Simply Accounting Level 1 or equivalent experience.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
QuickBooks Online Level 1
Course Code: CMQM 030 S26W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: January 12 to February 1
Cost: $365 plus tax
Learn QuickBooks and the fundamentals of accounting for small business for billing, generating estimates, collections, inventory management and payroll. Record daily transactions, avoid costly interest and payroll penalties and deal effectively with GST/PST and Canada Revenue Agency. Learn to reduce audit and accounting costs. This course includes hands-on experience, review tests and spreadsheet submissions. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: Computer Basics or equivalent, keyboarding skills, plus some experience in bookkeeping. Students are recommended to take Basic Bookkeeping Level 1 and 2 prior to taking this course. Proof of prior bookkeeping experience and approval from the instructor will be required if students have not taken bookkeeping classes.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
QuickBooks Online Level 2
Course Code: CMQM 040 S26W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: February 2 to March 1
Cost: $365 plus tax
Building on the skills acquired in Level 1, this course deals with creating new company files, bank reconciliation, credit & debit cards, security, budgets, managing inventory features. Also covers additional payroll features and foreign currencies. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: QuickBooks Level 1 or equivalent experience.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
Basic Elements of Bookkeeping Level 1
Course Code: MSBK 010 S26W70/71
Delivery: Online
Dates: January 12 to February 1
Cost: $365 plus tax
Learn bookkeeping from the ground up. Become trained in journalizing transactions, posting to the various ledgers, creating financial statements and year-end adjustments, and closing the books at year-end. In-class participation is based on practical situations. Valuable if you have a small business, belong to a non-profit group or need to upgrade your job skills. No bookkeeping experience required. Manual included.
Basic Elements of Bookkeeping Level 2
Course Code: MSBK 020 S26W70/71
Delivery: Online
Dates: February 2 to March 1
Cost: $365 plus tax
This course builds on the concepts and skills developed in the popular Bookkeeping Level 1. Continue to record transactions, and expand your skills to include merchandising and manufacturing companies, partnerships and corporations. Sales tax remittances, payroll calculations and remittances, amortization, gain/loss on disposal of capital assets, inventory, interest, some analysis of financial statements and the organization of source documents are topics covered. A comparison of different bookkeeping software packages is presented. Manual included.
SAGE 50 Accounting Level 1 (Desktop version)
Course Code: CMSA 010 S26W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: March 2 to March 22
Cost: $365 plus tax plus additional textbook
Simply Accounting is used by more than 400,000 Canadian businesses. Whether you sell services or products, learn how to manage all your daily accounting needs. Acquire skills in this system’s fully integrated general ledger, inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll modules. Generate meaningful reports, analyze your financial data and improve your business strategies! Best used with Windows-based PC. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: Computer Basics or equivalent, keyboarding skills, plus some experience in bookkeeping. Students are recommended to take Basic Bookkeeping Level 1 and 2 prior to taking this course. Proof of prior bookkeeping experience and approval from the instructor will be required if students have not taken bookkeeping classes.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
SAGE 50 Accounting Level 2 (Desktop version)
Course Code: CMSA 020 S26W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: March 23 to April 19
Cost: $365 plus tax
Building on the skills acquired in Level 1, this course deals with setting up data files, bank reconciliation, credit card usage, security, budgets, projects and extra inventory features. Also covers additional payroll features and foreign currencies. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: Simply Accounting Level 1 or equivalent experience.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
QuickBooks Online Level 1
Course Code: CMQM 030 S26W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: April 20 to May 10
Cost: $365 plus tax
Learn QuickBooks and the fundamentals of accounting for small business for billing, generating estimates, collections, inventory management and payroll. Record daily transactions, avoid costly interest and payroll penalties and deal effectively with GST/PST and Canada Revenue Agency. Learn to reduce audit and accounting costs. This course includes hands-on experience, review tests and spreadsheet submissions. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: Computer Basics or equivalent, keyboarding skills, plus some experience in bookkeeping. Students are recommended to take Basic Bookkeeping Level 1 and 2 prior to taking this course. Proof of prior bookkeeping experience and approval from the instructor will be required if students have not taken bookkeeping classes.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
QuickBooks Online Level 2
Course Code: CMQM 040 I26W70
Delivery: Online
Dates: May 11 to June 7
Cost: $365 plus tax
Building on the skills acquired in Level 1, this course deals with creating new company files, bank reconciliation, credit & debit cards, security, budgets, managing inventory features. Also covers additional payroll features and foreign currencies. Textbook purchased separately.
Prerequisites: QuickBooks Level 1 or equivalent experience.
Note that Sage and QuickBooks trial software are not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.
Additional information
Registration
When notified, you will register online for each course duo. Tuition must be paid upon registration.
To enroll in computerized bookkeeping (SAGE 50 & QuickBooks) without taking Bookkeeping Level 1 & 2, contact the Program Coordinator. You will need to show previously achieved learning (i.e., transcript).
If you have completed any of the VIU bookkeeping courses within the last three years (Since September 2021) and would like to complete the bookkeeping certificate, contact the Program Coordinator.
Supplies
Courses now take place online exclusively. Please ensure you have a working Windows computer with Windows 8 or higher. This course is currently no compatible with Macs, Chromebook or Tablets.
Textbook and Course Materials
One textbook will need to be purchases for Sage 1 & 2, directly from Pearson Canada.
Computer requirements
Courses are now online. Please ensure you have a Windows computer running Windows 8 or higher. Our courses are currently not compatible with Macs, Chromebooks or tablets.