Re: What is the best training and certification?
When you consider certifications, you have to look at a variety of factors behind it and how they relate to your goals and experience. What's involved in getting that certification? Does it involve simply sitting through a course? Are you required to take an exam? Where does the training for this exam come from?
Some certifications are based on exams for which they teach you the material...and the course is meant to teach you how to pass. Other certifications have no training at all and rely strictly on your current training and experience as a measure of the standard. Some of those require an exam, others don't. There's one out there right now that does not require an exam or a course, but they evaluate you based on material you present to them as well your online presence in the VA community. They're all so very different.
Then there are certifications that are specific to job roles or software suites. Those are often the most difficult exams, but the most desirable.
When looking at an organization for training you should consider these things. Where is their authority to issue a certification? Is it recognized anywhere? Can you use it to promote your business? Does it fit your business model?
For most VA's your clients aren't going to care too much if you're a Certified VA. I am, and have been asked in the past about it... but many have not. Your clients are going to appreciate specific certifications, like Microsoft Office Specialist or Adobe Certified Associate/Expert. Then there are VAs who do bookkeeping who become Quickbooks Advisors.
In the end, where the training comes from isn't nearly as important as what you make of it and how it will help you advance your career as a VA. Plus, how does it coincide with your previous education? There are VAs who have a GED/HS diploma and others who have doctoral degrees. I can tell you from experience, though... that the fancy of piece of paper doesn't often say much... it's what you can do with it and your abilities. The certifications are usually gravy.
There are some clients who come along who may be picky... I know a couple months back a potential client contacted me and the conversation didn't last long because he said he wouldn't hire a VA who didn't have a specific Microsoft designation for database administrators.
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