Do You Need Certification To Become a VA?
Posted on 20th September 2021 at 17:34
Do You Need Certification To Become a VA?
Many are drawn to the flexibility and freedom of working as a virtual assistant. The industry is expanding, and the number of VAs is growing. Because of this, when you first get started as a VA, there are certain things you can do to stand out in this growing field.
Do you need a certification to work as a VA?
The short answer is no. You don’t have to have certification to become a VA. The same way you don’t need to have specific running shoes to run a marathon – but it will certainly help.
From networking and finding your niche to improving your skills, there are many benefits to having a certification when you are working as a virtual assistant.
This article will discuss the advantages of having a certification and training to become a VA, as well as provide details on where to look for a training course if you’re interested.
If you're new to the world of being a virtual assistant, you might also be interested in our blog about our free online tools for VAs!
The field of virtual assistants is expanding and will only increase in the future. VAs are in high demand but as the industry grows, so does the amount of potential competition.
Having a certification will help you stand out. You can use a certification as a marketing tool and to add credibility to your work. It proves that you are good at what you do and makes you a far more trustworthy candidate.
A client is more likely to choose a VA who has a certification over one that doesn’t!
It is never a bad idea to improve your skills and learn new ones. The more strings you add to your bow, the more jobs you will be able to take on!
You may choose to gain certification in a niche area (eg. finance) or you could gain certifications in multiple areas so you can cover a broad range of tasks.
A certification can also help you in justifying your rates – after all, being a VA is like any other job and it needs to be profitable. If you do choose to concentrate on a specific niche, you can justify higher rates than normal because you are offering specialized knowledge and experience.
Training isn’t just useful once you’ve competed it and are holding the certificate in your hand. Many courses offer the opportunity for networking during the course. You’re likely to meet others who are working as virtual assistants and occasionally potential clients too.
The more VAs you know, the more you can all share your knowledge together. You never know – further down the line there could be a VA who can’t take on a certain job but might recommend you for it instead.
Having a certification will no doubt improve your confidence in yourself. If you are assured in your abilities, your clients will probably have more confidence in you too!
Having training will give you assurance that you know what you’re facing, especially if you’re new to working as a VA. Knowing as much as possible about your industry will make sure that you are able to tackle your first job head-on.
Researching training courses can be overwhelming. It may seem obvious, but it’s worth taking the time to research the course you are considering, making sure it fits your budget and interests.
Here are a few things you can consider when deciding which course is right for you:
• Look at reviews from other participants – did they have any issues?
• Consider how the course is run – is it run virtually or in-person?
• Is the course going to give you the practical skills you’re looking for?
• Does the course offer training in a specialist area?
• Does the course suit your budget?
• How credible is the course? Is the certification or qualification verified?
• How long is the training course? Is it too short (and possibly doesn’t go into enough depth) or is it too long-winded?
The Society of Virtual Assistants (www.societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk) is a great place to start researching. The website has an unbiased list of approved training programs for VAs in the UK.
If you’re working to a tight budget, the Open University has hundreds of free, short courses via their online program called OpenLearn. It may be a good way of dipping your toe into certain areas before undertaking an expensive course.
VAs continue to make a good income without having a certification. However, in this growing industry, having a certification will certainly make sure you get the best advantage possible.
Even if you can’t afford training right now, it may be a good idea to consider this for the future. The more you invest in yourself and your skills, the more you’re likely to get back in return!
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