Note (October 2026): This guide has been updated. Intuit Academy’s bookkeeping certificate is now a paid Coursera program, and Intuit’s free certification training now runs through ProAdvisor Academy.
The best free QuickBooks training comes from Intuit itself. ProAdvisor Academy offers self-paced courses for QuickBooks Online Certification Level 1 and Level 2 plus a free Intuit Bookkeeping Certification, and Intuit’s Learn & Support center has free how-to videos. Paid options include Intuit Academy’s Coursera certificate and Intuit exams delivered by Pearson VUE, which list at $150.
Key Takeaways
- Intuit describes ProAdvisor Academy as QuickBooks training “at no cost”. It covers Level 1 and Level 2 QuickBooks Online certifications plus specialty tracks for Payroll, Desktop and Desktop Enterprise.
- The Intuit Bookkeeping Certification inside ProAdvisor Academy is free and self-paced.
- As of October 2026, the Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate on Coursera costs $39 a month in the US and Canada after a 7-day free trial.
- Pearson VUE delivers three Intuit exams at a retail price of $150 each, at a test center or online through OnVUE.
- Intuit’s community forum says free live QuickBooks Online classes are not currently offered in the US, so most free training is self-paced.
QuickBooks is Intuit’s accounting software for managing a business’s books online. It can feel complicated at first, but Intuit and the wider QuickBooks community offer many free learning resources. All you need to do is, look at the right places to find the best information about QuickBooks. So if you are unable to find some good sources of information about Online QuickBooks Training, here we have gathered some of the best sources for you. Just take a look at the list below and choose which source suits you the best.
Top Online QuickBooks Training Sources By Intuit
Quickopedia
Quickopedia was a how-to and support resource for QuickBooks Online Accountant, described on a QuickBooks consultant’s blog in March 2014. Its current status could not be confirmed as of October 2026. For up-to-date answers, Intuit’s QuickBooks Learn & Support center offers free self-paced training and step-by-step how-to videos.
Intuit Academy
Intuit Academy runs the Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate on Coursera. It is a four-course, beginner-level series that Coursera estimates takes about four months part-time. You can see it as a source to much more rather than just QuickBooks. As of October 2026, Coursera lists it at $39 a month in the US and Canada after a 7-day free trial, or about $160 for four months. It is therefore not free, although ProAdvisor Academy offers a free Intuit Bookkeeping Certification. Apart from this, you will even find about online management, online growth and some others as well.
QBO Blog
If you want yourself to be fully updated with the history and the updates about QuickBooks, then QBO blog is the best place. Intuit’s blogs carry product updates and training news. For accountants and bookkeepers, the Firm of the Future blog publishes Intuit’s ProAdvisor Academy and annual recertification announcements. If you are thinking to use QBO Blog then be sure that it’s not just about the training but all about QuickBooks.
Social Media and User Groups
There are a lot of people like you and even those who are much experienced in using QuickBooks, so getting along them will always be helpful.
QBO Chat
Intuit employees, QuickBooks experts and third-party developers have held chats on Twitter to discuss QuickBooks. Whether a regular weekly chat still runs could not be confirmed as of October 2026. You should get along there to know more and more about it and if you start to ask your query there then most probably you’ll get the best answer by an expert only. Live answers from experienced users can be practical, but check them against Intuit’s official help articles before you change your books.
Meetups
A lot of meets happen for QuickBooks experts, developers, and users. Now, like every meetup, these are also loaded with informative people and all you have to do is, get some time to go there. This will help you get to ask people about QuickBooks face to face and you’ll get many clear answers rather than searching for an answer by yourself. All these people meet to gather knowledge and help out each other. So, it is the right place for you to get the best suitable answers. Get yourself into the flow.
Facebook Groups
There are some Facebook groups related to QuickBooks which you can search and find. And just like Twitter, you can ask all your queries there or you can read posts by others, which will definitely help you get a lot of information about it.
Best QuickBooks Alternatives
These are the best online QuickBooks training tutorial sources which you can use to gather some quality information about QuickBooks. Used together, these sources can make your training faster and more thorough. All you need to do is, focus on the valuable information provided by these sources. 🙂
Which Free QuickBooks Training Is Official?
Intuit’s own free QuickBooks training is ProAdvisor Academy. Intuit describes it as flexible, in-depth QuickBooks training “at no cost”. Learners reach the certification training modules and exams from the Training tab after signing up for Intuit’s accountant software.
As of October 2026, Intuit’s site says QuickBooks Online Accountant is moving to Intuit Accountant Suite. Intuit says the Core version of Intuit Accountant Suite has no monthly recurring fee, as QuickBooks Online Accountant had none.
Free and Paid QuickBooks Training Compared
| Source | Who runs it | Cost (as of October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProAdvisor Academy (Level 1 and Level 2) | Intuit | Free | Accountants and bookkeepers who want QuickBooks Online certification |
| Intuit Bookkeeping Certification | Intuit (ProAdvisor Academy) | Free, self-paced | Beginners learning bookkeeping basics |
| QuickBooks Learn & Support how-to videos | Intuit | Free | Business owners learning everyday tasks |
| QuickBooks Community forum | Intuit and users | Free | Specific questions and troubleshooting |
| Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate | Intuit Academy on Coursera | $39 a month after a 7-day free trial | Career changers who want a structured course |
| Intuit certification exams | Pearson VUE | $150 retail per exam | Students who want a proctored credential |
How Does QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification Work?
QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification has two groups. Foundation programs are QuickBooks Online Certification Level 1 and Level 2, which replaced the older Core and Advanced tiers. Specialty programs cover QuickBooks Online Payroll, QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise.
- Level 1 covers essential QuickBooks workflows across five core courses.
- Level 2 adds deeper product knowledge, advisory skills and a Custom Reporting course.
- Tracks: both levels offer a regular track and a test-out track.
- Pass mark: Intuit’s FAQ says that if your overall score is below 80%, you retake the whole exam. After a third failed attempt you are locked out for 30 days.
- CPE credits: Intuit says the number and type of CPE credits vary by training. Its NASBA sponsor number is 103311.
Do ProAdvisors Have to Recertify?
Yes. Level 1 and Level 2 ProAdvisors must pass a short recertification exam every year to keep their status and ProAdvisor rewards. Intuit opens recertification each May and June. In 2026 the window ran from April 28 to June 30. That year’s training covered Intuit Accountant Suite, the interface and Intuit AI features, sales and customer workflows, Bill Pay, and AI-powered banking tools.
What Intuit Certification Exams Can You Take?
Pearson VUE delivers three Intuit certification exams: Intuit QuickBooks Online Certified User, Intuit Certified Bookkeeping Professional and Intuit Personal Finance. Pearson lists a retail price of $150 per exam. You can test at a Pearson test center or online through OnVUE with a remote proctor.
These exams are separate from ProAdvisor certification. ProAdvisor status is aimed at accounting professionals who serve clients. The Pearson exams suit students and job seekers who want a proctored credential.
A Simple Free QuickBooks Study Plan
- Learn the bookkeeping basics first: debits and credits, the chart of accounts, and cash basis versus accrual accounting.
- Work through the free how-to videos in Intuit’s QuickBooks Learn & Support center for core tasks such as invoicing, expenses and bank reconciliation.
- If you work with clients, sign up for Intuit’s accountant software and take ProAdvisor Academy’s free Intuit Bookkeeping Certification, then Level 1.
- Post specific questions in the QuickBooks Community forum and check answers against Intuit’s help articles.
- Decide whether a paid credential is worth it: the Coursera certificate for a structured course, or a $150 Pearson VUE exam for a proctored credential.
Related Guides
If QuickBooks is not the right fit, compare QuickBooks alternatives for small business and our overview of accounting software for businesses. New bookkeepers can start with the basics of bookkeeping for small business, see how to make money bookkeeping, or try the free invoice generator for quick billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is QuickBooks training free?
Yes, much of it is. Intuit describes ProAdvisor Academy as QuickBooks training at no cost, its Intuit Bookkeeping Certification is free and self-paced, and Intuit’s Learn & Support center has free how-to videos. Paid options include the Coursera certificate and Pearson VUE exams.
How do I get QuickBooks certified for free?
Sign up for Intuit’s accountant software, open the Training tab and complete the ProAdvisor Academy modules and exam. Intuit’s FAQ says you must score at least 80% overall, and certified ProAdvisors recertify every year.
Does Intuit offer free live QuickBooks classes?
Not in the US at the moment. A QuickBooks Community answer from Intuit says free live training classes for QuickBooks Online in the US region are not currently available. It points users to free self-paced training and how-to videos instead.
How much does the Intuit bookkeeping certificate cost?
It depends on the route. As of October 2026, the Intuit Bookkeeping Certification in ProAdvisor Academy is free. The Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate on Coursera costs $39 a month in the US and Canada after a 7-day trial. The proctored Intuit Certified Bookkeeping Professional exam lists at $150 through Pearson VUE.
How long does it take to learn QuickBooks?
It depends on the course. Coursera estimates about four months part-time for the four-course Intuit Academy bookkeeping certificate, or four weeks at 10 hours a week. Intuit’s ProAdvisor Academy courses are self-paced.
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