Comments on: Should a virtual assistant be certified? Yes or No

By: VA Certification - Yes or No? « Halo

VA Certification - Yes or No? « Halo — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:11:55 +0000

[...] business, certification, experience, paralegal, va, virtual assistant A resounding NO to this question from me! I’m of the opinion that experience in an administrative setting is the key to being [...]

By: Rhianna Clarke

Rhianna Clarke — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:49:00 +0000

Teresa, I agree certifications are not necessary. There are many VA associations you can join that are respected and bring validation to your business.

By: Dorothy Stahlnecker

Dorothy Stahlnecker — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:38:13 +0000

Teresa, I agree the certification does not necessarily mean success.
There are two questions I ask where the answers are very important…

What were your last accomplishments? Give details and dates.. in case they were 20 years ago things have changed..

What references may I call which are former clients? And do follow up with calls.

If you should choose someone with no experience, and that can sometimes work be sure of the work ethic, and have personal references which are not family. Be specific… and let them know, teachers, ministers, will do.

My best, great article..

Dorothy from grammology
remember to call gram
grammology.com

Dorothy Stahlneckers last blog post..Helping another blogger and prayer for my Grandson returning to Iraq

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:36:21 +0000

Hi Teresa, I agree with you. Certification in any profession does not necessarily make you more skilled. It is nice to have credentials to provide a competitive edge but not essential. Karen Swims last blog post..Are you a commitment phobe?

By: Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary

Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:04:08 +0000

Hi Teresa, I always enjoy reading your posts. I thought I’d comment on this one. I had 23 years’ corporate experience prior to setting up my own business over 14 years ago. I had to learn on my own because there were no VA networks or forums or anything of that nature all those years ago. But as the industry grew and developed I became aware of the need to show professionalism for the industry. In 2001 I launched one of the VA industry’s very first certification programs – co-incidentally the same month that vacertification.com was launched by Fred Gandee. Fred and I chatted with one another over the phone and via email shortly thereafter, totally unaware of what each other had been planning, researching and setting up over the previous 2 years, but very aware of the need for the industry to develop a professional outlook. We could have collaborated had we known. His certification program is probably more well known than mine as I’m in Australia and not as ‘visible’ in some ways.

However, I agree that certification isn’t necessary and many very successful VAs out there don’t have it, but it can assist.

Unlike you I have had clients enquire about credentials from time to time.

I would like to point out here (for the benefit of your readers) that there is a difference between training and certification. Many newbies entering the industry need VA coaching or training as they are coming into the industry with much less office experience, unlike you and I. But others don’t. It really depends on their background experience.

Certification isn’t about training people, it’s about acknowledging what they already have done and achieved and many like to have that acknowledgment on show.

By: Gavin 'Outsource Success' Allinson

Gavin 'Outsource Success' Allinson — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:45:15 +0000

I agree NO.

I think a lot of VA’s based in the western countries spend too much time trying to defend hhe need for a certificate.

all it means is that you can pass a few tests, no indication of how good you are.

Gavin

Gavin ‘Outsource Success’ Allinsons last blog post..Can dial up increase your productivity?