Best Online Courses & Certifications for Virtual Assistants
Introduction
The virtual assistant (VA) industry is growing rapidly, with businesses worldwide hiring remote professionals to manage administrative, creative, and technical tasks. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced VA looking to upgrade your skills, online courses and certifications can help you stand out in the competitive remote job market.
In this guide, we'll explore the best online courses and certifications for virtual assistants, covering essential skills, pricing, and what to expect from each course.
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1. Why Should Virtual Assistants Take Online Courses?
✔ Gain In-Demand Skills
Virtual assistants handle a wide range of tasks, including:
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Administrative support (email management, scheduling)
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Social media management
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Content writing & marketing
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Bookkeeping & invoicing
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Customer support & CRM management
Taking specialized courses helps you develop these in-demand skills and offer high-value services to clients.
✔ Increase Your Credibility
A certification from a reputable platform boosts your professional credibility, making you more attractive to potential clients and employers.
✔ Stay Competitive in the VA Industry
With more professionals entering the VA field, certifications give you a competitive edge by proving your expertise in various virtual assistant services.
2. Best Online Courses & Certifications for Virtual Assistants
A. General Virtual Assistant Courses
1. Fully Booked VA by Gina Horkey
📍 Platform: Horkey Handbook
💰 Price: $997 (payment plans available)
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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How to set up a VA business
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Finding and pitching clients
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Essential VA skills (admin, email management, writing, etc.)
✅ Best for: Beginners looking to build a successful VA business from scratch.
2. 90 Day VA by Esther Inman
📍 Platform: 90DayVA
💰 Price: $997 (payment plan available)
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Setting up a VA business
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Social media, blogging, and podcast management
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Finding high-paying VA clients
✅ Best for: Beginners who want structured training with community support.
B. Administrative & Productivity Courses
3. Virtual Assistant Certificate Course
📍 Platform: Udemy
💰 Price: $10–$50 (varies with discounts)
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Administrative VA skills
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Productivity and time management tools
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Client communication and organization
✅ Best for: Beginners who want a budget-friendly introduction to the VA profession.
4. Remote Administrative Support Professional Certificate
📍 Platform: Coursera (offered by University of California, Irvine)
💰 Price: Free with a Coursera subscription ($39/month)
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Office administration and customer service
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Time management and productivity tools
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Remote work best practices
✅ Best for: Those who want a university-backed certification in virtual administration.
C. Social Media Management Courses for VAs
5. Social Media Marketing Specialization
📍 Platform: Coursera (Meta)
💰 Price: Free with Coursera subscription
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Social media content creation
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Paid advertising strategies
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Analytics and growth techniques
✅ Best for: VAs looking to specialize in social media management.
6. Social Media Manager Course
📍 Platform: HubSpot Academy
💰 Price: Free
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Social media strategy and content planning
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Scheduling and engagement tactics
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How to measure social media success
✅ Best for: VAs who want a free certification from a well-known platform.
D. Bookkeeping & Finance Courses for VAs
7. Bookkeeping Basics: Understand Financial Statements
📍 Platform: Udemy
💰 Price: $10–$50 (varies with discounts)
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Managing business finances
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Creating and analyzing financial statements
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Budgeting for clients
✅ Best for: VAs who want to offer basic bookkeeping services.
8. QuickBooks Online Certification
📍 Platform: Intuit QuickBooks
💰 Price: Free
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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How to use QuickBooks for bookkeeping
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Managing invoices and expenses
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Creating reports for clients
✅ Best for: VAs looking to offer bookkeeping and accounting services.
E. Customer Support & CRM Courses for VAs
9. Customer Service Fundamentals
📍 Platform: LinkedIn Learning
💰 Price: Free with a LinkedIn Learning subscription
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Handling customer inquiries
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Managing difficult customers
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Using CRM tools like HubSpot and Zendesk
✅ Best for: VAs interested in customer service roles.
10. CRM Management for Virtual Assistants
📍 Platform: Udemy
💰 Price: $10–$50
📖 What You’ll Learn:
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Managing CRM tools like Salesforce and HubSpot
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Organizing customer databases
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Automating follow-ups
✅ Best for: VAs looking to specialize in CRM management.
3. How to Choose the Best Course for You
🔹 Identify Your Niche: Do you want to specialize in social media, bookkeeping, customer service, or general administration? Choose a course that aligns with your career goals.
🔹 Consider Your Budget: Free courses are great for beginners, while paid courses offer in-depth training and certifications.
🔹 Check Course Reviews: Look for student feedback on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning.
🔹 Look for Certification: Some courses offer official certifications that add credibility to your resume.
4. Bonus Tips for Virtual Assistants Taking Online Courses
✔ Take Notes & Apply What You Learn – Don’t just watch videos; practice new skills immediately.
✔ Join VA Communities – Facebook groups like Virtual Assistant Savvies provide networking opportunities.
✔ Build a Portfolio – Show potential clients what you’ve learned with sample projects.
✔ Stay Updated – Online tools and remote work trends change quickly—keep learning!
Conclusion
Taking online courses and earning certifications can boost your virtual assistant career, making you more skilled and attractive to potential clients. Whether you choose free courses on Udemy or invest in premium VA training programs, continuous learning is key to staying competitive in the remote work industry.
🚀 Key Takeaways:
✔ Invest in courses that match your career goals (social media, admin, bookkeeping, etc.).
✔ Free courses (LinkedIn, HubSpot) are great for beginners, while paid courses (Udemy, 90 Day VA) offer in-depth training.
✔ Certifications boost your credibility and help you stand out in job applications.
✔ Apply your skills immediately to build a strong portfolio and attract clients.
💡 Which course interests you the most? Drop a comment below!