Correspondence schools have been around for decades and offer a variety of programs to help students prepare for various careers. Distance-learning programs in bookkeeping teach the basics needed to work as bookkeeper. Core subjects include payroll accounting, assets, liabilities, equity, general journal and ledger entries and how to prepare balance sheets and income statements.
Some correspondence schools still offer an older style of distance learning that involves learning bookkeeping through workbooks, lecture materials, tests and assignments that are mailed back and forth between the student and the school. The majority of correspondence schools, however, have turned to the Internet. Information, assignments and tests are all done online. Instructors normally only communicate with their students through email and at times through scheduled teleconferences.
The cost of a bookkeeping correspondence course can vary by school and location. Penn Foster Career School, for example, has an online bookkeeping course that costs $698 for tuition and registration, with interest-free monthly payments. Stratford Career Institute's bookkeeping program will cost $889 for tuition but can be broken down into 15 monthly payments. The majority of these programs will include all the books, software, materials and course supplies necessary to complete the program.
The benefits of completing a correspondence bookkeeping program include earning a certificate or degree in bookkeeping, the ability to obtain bookkeeping certification and the skills gained from completing a program. Choosing a correspondence school over a traditional school will enable you to further your education while still carrying on with your life and commitments.