Virtual Assistant Certification

It is not 100% necessary to be certified in order to become a Virtual Assistant but it does help with building up your credibility. Depending upon your experience, skills, and education will determine your ability to start your own professional virtual business. To compete in an industry that is growing quite quickly your services are still high in demand but you must show your potential clients you are that much better than your competitors.

Certifications/Schooling

There are many companies advertising their certification programs that may not necessarily be reputable and provide the courses or certificate you need to add to your professionalism. Do your research, ask other VA's, ask potential clients what their needs are and what is the best way you can serve them. That will give you the information needed to determine whether you need upgrading or training. Just because someone touts themselves as offering a certificate program does not necessarily make them good.

A small sampling of reputable schools or training organizations include:

1. The International Association of Virtual Office Assistants (IAVOA): They are dedicated to the professional education and development of member of the Virtual Assistant profession. They are also interested in educating the public on the role and function of a VA.


2. Red Deer College VA Certificate Program - this Canadian College has an excellent program and is highly recognized.


3. The International Real Estate Assistant Assoc. Training - for those who wish to specialize in working with Realtors this organization should be researched.


4. REVA Training Center


5. University of Virtual Assistants


6. Vaclassroom - this is an excellent resource for targeted programs that relate strictly with this profession. Examples include social media specialist and event planning.


7. VBSS - this is a start up system that guides you from beginning to end in starting your business. This comes with a mountain of material that is extremely helpful from creating your business name to finding clients and learning how to market yourself.


8. Virtual Assistant University - Technology changes at a rapid pace and it's important to stay up to date with classes that will help you improve your services. The most used programs of administrative assistants or office clerks are MSOffice - Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Bookkeeping programs, Simply Accounting or QuickBooks are extremely popular and useful both for your own business and potential clients.

Other related classes may include event planning, organization, photography, time management, WordPress, web design, social media, HTML code, accounting, graphic design, desktop publishing, and anything else remotely related to providing a service or assisting the VA in her own business.

Although certification is not necessary a business owner who wishes to succeed should believe in continuing to better themselves and give themselves the tools to provide better service to their customers. Certification or any training that relates to operating a Virtual Assistant business will only enhance your professionalism.