Gatlin Education Services or Villanova certificates??

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting a certificate in bookkeeping or accounting, something quick (8-16 weeks) to add a bullet to my resume. I see tons of jobs for bookkeepers and accountants and went on an interview yesterday. They said their biggest concern was that I didn't have any sort of degree or education specific to accounting, other than a few classes that were part of my business program. I have a masters cert in business, but it had only one financial accounting course. I also had Acctng 1,2 and 3 at the undergrad level, but that doesn't seem to count for much.

I am looking at the Gatlin online bookkeeping certificate that is offered through lots of colleges. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this particular program or with any of the other Gatlin programs. Can anyone recommend it or recommend against it?

I am also looking at the Villanova program, "Essentials of Finance and Accounting." Anybody have experience with this program or any of the Villanova programs?

Any other advice for my situation would be much appreciated. Any suggestions of other schools with quick accounting or bookkeeping certificates online would also be welcomed.

I have a B.A. in Communications and a Masters Cert in Business and am looking to start my online MBA program soon, although I haven't made my final choice of school, in case that info is of any relevance.

 

On further research...

On further research, I found that many schools offering the Gatlin certificates are community colleges, so I kind of lost interest in going that route. However, I did find that University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Western Carolina offer the Gatlin Bookkeeping certificate through their extended learning departments. Thus, I am back to square one and am not sure if these Gatlin programs are worth pursuing or not.

 

If it's just a resume-builder you're looking for, Thomson Education Direct offers a bookkeeping program. I'm not sure how long it runs. It is DETC accredited. You can find info here:

http://www.educationdirect.com/bookkeeping/index.html

You may also want to explore whether you have a local vocational or technical school in your area which offers accounting or bookkeeping certification. Some even offer distance education courses.

 

reply.

One point needs to be clarified on Education Direct's bookkeeping course. It's regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. That's for all vocational programs and high school.

 

Well, that's even better if it's RA. If the point is just to get certified as a bookkeeper or an accountant, accreditation may not be the main concern, just the certification.

On a side note, I attended a broadcasting school a number of years ago, when I didn't have a clue about accreditation. The diploma I received from the (unaccredited) school did help me get my first couple of jobs in the business. After that, it was my experience that got me in the door.