I've learned so much in the last day!!!! After reading some of the post in reference to having a VA certification, I've decided to take another route.

Check your local community colleges for classes to help you build your business and receive certification.

I've found that these VA training programs are very expensive and you can get the same training at your local community college for a fraction of the cost. Most classes are in the evenings or on Saturdays and run for a couple of weeks.

They offer everything from Facebook to Quickbooks!

I'm not sure how you all learn but I know me personally, I need to be in a classroom.

Another great resource is your local library. They offer FREE classes on things like Word, Excel if you need to brush up on the lastest versions, etc.

So give your local community college(s) and libraries a chance, they are great resources!!!

Local community colleges, Small Business Development Centers, and Chambers of Commerce are also GREAT places for VA's to teach classes on these same subjects.

I've NEVER been turned down when offering to teach a class or seminar. Coordination and lead time can be a bit of a pain as can curriculum development but once you've do it once you can pretty much just "rinse and repeat" month after month or year after year.

PLUS the marketing those venues provide can be invaluable.

Leslie

Two of my top three programming professors taught at a community college! Oops, make that three of three. My online guru also teaches live classes at a local community college in PA.

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

this is great info, I have not even thought of taking classes at my local community college or even the my community library.. Thanks for the tip
Pat

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Pat@vizionva.com

I often so to my local community college. Also, if you go to Ed2Go, they have a great selection of online classes (non-credit) and if you take them by registering at you local community college, the price is discounted by $15-$20.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

That is true there are alot of training out there that is either free or inexpensive so I would advise anyone to do the research on what is out there before spending alot of money on anything.


Diane

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Diane Clark-Ragans
www.outofofficevirtualassistan t.com[/url]

I too looked at some of the certification courses but I have yet to have a potential client or current client ask me anything about certification. It seems to me that in the VA world experience and ability are more important than certification. Now, when you get into things like real estate assistance or bookkeeping I think it's a different ball game.

Dawn

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Dawn Kramer
www.midwestvagroup.com