Questions we getasked all the time
Everything you need to know about our courses, fees, and how VA Academy works. Straight answers, no jargon.
No, and we want to be upfront about that. VA Academy is not a registered or accredited institution.
What we are is a practical skills training provider. Our courses are built for people who want to start earning as a virtual assistant, not for people chasing a certificate to hang on a wall.
The international clients and South African businesses that hire VAs do not ask for accreditation. They hire based on what you can do. That is exactly what we focus on.
We are a South African company, proudly built for South Africans. Our training is delivered completely online, which means you can join from anywhere in the country.
We also understand the South African context. Things like load shedding, data costs, and the local job market are part of how we think about our students and what we teach.
We exist because the way people work is changing fast. More businesses are moving their support functions online and hiring virtual assistants instead of full-time staff. That creates real opportunities for people who have the right skills.
VA Academy was built to close that gap. We teach the skills that are in demand right now, and we update what we teach as the market moves. There is no room for outdated training here.
Yes, completely. There are no physical classes, no commuting, and no fixed hours that clash with your life. You access your training online and work through it at a pace that suits you within the cohort schedule.
All you need is a device, a stable internet connection, and the motivation to show up.
We currently offer three courses:
- Appointment Setter VA for people who are confident, target-driven, and enjoy speaking to people to book meetings for businesses.
- Social Media Management VA for people who are creative, understand online content, and want to manage social media for clients.
- Customer Support VA for people who are patient, good with people, and want to handle queries and support for businesses remotely.
Not sure which one fits you? Take our free quiz on the website and it will point you in the right direction.
No formal qualifications are needed. Our courses are designed for people who are starting fresh or looking to change direction.
What you do need is a willingness to learn, a reliable device and internet connection, and a genuine interest in the track you choose. The rest we teach you.
Each course runs over two months. The structure is designed so that by the time you finish, you have practical, usable skills and not just theory.
Contact us directly if you need more specific details about the weekly time commitment for a particular course.
This is something we take seriously. We do not teach the same content on repeat and hope for the best. What we teach is based on what clients and businesses are actually asking for right now.
As the market changes, so does our training. We are a skills-first training provider, which means we move with the industry instead of falling behind it.
Future-focused is not a buzzword for us. It is the whole reason we exist.
Yes, you receive a VA Academy certificate of completion. It is not a government-accredited qualification, but it shows clients and employers that you have completed structured, practical training in your chosen VA track.
In the freelance world, your portfolio and what you can actually do will always carry more weight than a piece of paper. We focus on making sure you have both.
We open three times a year, in February, May, and September. Our next cohort starts on 7 September 2026.
Seats are limited per cohort, so if you are serious about joining, do not wait until the last minute. A R1 500 registration deposit locks in your spot.
The course fees are:
- Appointment Setter VA — R7 500
- Social Media Management VA — R6 700
- Customer Support VA — R4 750
All three courses can be paid in a payment plan or upfront. Paying upfront gets you a 10% discount.
It works in three steps:
- You pay a R1 500 registration deposit to secure your seat.
- The first payment of the remaining balance is due before the course starts.
- The second and final payment is due on the 1st of the second month of your course.
So the balance after your deposit is split equally over those two payments.
Yes. If you pay the full course fee upfront in one payment, you get 10% off the total. The deposit is not required when paying upfront.
- Appointment Setter VA — R6 750 upfront (save R750)
- Social Media Management VA — R6 030 upfront (save R670)
- Customer Support VA — R4 275 upfront (save R475)
If you miss a payment, your access to the course may be paused until the payment is made. We strongly recommend that you get in touch with us before a payment is due if you are having difficulty. We would rather work something out than have you fall behind.
Please contact us directly to confirm accepted payment methods. We will walk you through the process once you have chosen your course and are ready to register.
We will always be honest with you. We cannot guarantee that you will find work, and anyone who makes that promise to you is not being straight with you.
What we can guarantee is that we give you real, practical skills that are in demand, and we prepare you to go out and get clients. The effort you put in after training plays a big role in the outcome.
Our courses are designed for the freelance market, which means you are building a business for yourself, not waiting for someone to hire you.
Absolutely, and this is one of the biggest advantages of being a VA. Because the work is done remotely, you can take on clients in the UK, the US, Europe, Australia, or anywhere else.
For South Africans in particular, working for international clients in stronger currencies can make a significant difference to your income. We keep this in mind when we design what we teach.
A VA is a freelancer. You work for yourself and take on clients who pay you for your services. You are not an employee, which means you have flexibility over your hours and who you work with, but you are also responsible for finding your own clients and managing your own income.
It suits people who want independence and are willing to put in the work to build something for themselves. It is not a passive income, it is a real skill-based career.
Yes, many of our students do exactly that. The online format is designed to fit around real life. You do not need to quit your job or take a break from studying to join.
That said, you will get out what you put in. If you are stretched thin, try to carve out consistent time each week so that you actually absorb what you are learning and can apply it.
Take the free quiz on the VA Academy website. It asks you 15 short questions about how you communicate, what kind of tasks you enjoy, and how you handle different situations. At the end it tells you which track suits your personality and strengths.
You can also reach out to us directly and we will help you think it through.