# Frequently asked questions

Answers about the courses, the jobs platform, payment and your account. If you would rather ask, our assistant can help straight away.

## Courses and getting started

**Q: Who is the course for?**
A: The course is for anyone who wants a structured route into virtual assistant work. Career switchers, freelancers who want to formalise their skills, and graduates all do well, and most students start with no admin or VA experience.

**Q: Do I need previous experience?**
A: No. Starter begins with VA Basics and builds from there, Professional adds VA Skills, and Ultimate also includes future courses. You do not need any background in admin or virtual assistant work to begin.

**Q: What level of English do I need?**
A: Comfortable, everyday English is enough. Lessons are in English and there is no language test or certificate requirement. For client work you will want clear written English, and the course gives you practice at exactly that.

**Q: What is included in my package?**
A: Every package includes its listed courses, lifetime access with updates, and a certificate for each course you complete. Jobs platform access and how many roles you can apply to depend on the package you choose.

**Q: How long does the course take?**
A: You study at your own pace, so the time it takes depends on the courses in your package and how much time you can give it each week.

## Studying with us

**Q: Can I study at my own pace?**
A: Yes. Every lesson is self-paced, there are no live sessions to attend and no deadlines. You can pick up where you left off whenever it suits you.

**Q: How long do I keep access to the course?**
A: Every included course has lifetime access, including updates. Jobs platform access is included for the period shown on your package: 3 months with Starter, 6 months with Professional, and unlimited with Ultimate. When your included period ends, you can keep using the jobs platform by extending your access.

**Q: How many hours per week should I expect to spend?**
A: That is up to you. The course is fully self-paced with no deadlines. A few focused hours per week is enough to make steady progress, and more time simply gets you there faster.

**Q: Can I do the course alongside a full-time or part-time job?**
A: Yes. There are no live sessions and no schedule to follow. Most students study around an existing job in the evenings, at weekends, or whenever suits them.

**Q: Which devices are supported?**
A: The course runs in any modern browser on a desktop, tablet or phone. There is no app to install, so you can log in and continue from any device.

**Q: Do I receive a certificate?**
A: Yes. You receive one certificate for each course you complete.

## Jobs and working as a VA

**Q: What equipment or software do I need?**
A: Essentials: a computer, a reliable internet connection, and a modern browser. That is enough for the course and most VA work. Depending on the work you take on, clients may expect a headset for calls or specific tools like shared calendars and document apps. The course shows you the common tools before you need them.

**Q: How does the jobs platform work?**
A: It is a self-serve job board. Employers post vacancies and search VA profiles, and VAs create a profile and apply to roles directly. There is no agency in between, and VA International does not assign work or match candidates for you.

[How the platform works for VAs](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/how-the-platform-works-for-vas)

**Q: Can I find VA work if I live in my country?**
A: VA work is remote by nature, and our jobs platform lists remote roles you can apply to from anywhere. Whether a specific role is open to your country depends on the employer and the role's requirements, so check each listing. Many are open worldwide.

**Q: What happens if I finish the course but don't find work right away?**
A: Keep applying. Finding clients can take time and we don't promise a job. Your course access is lifetime, your certificate stays valid, and your profile stays on the jobs platform for your access period, so you can keep improving it and responding to new roles as they appear.

**Q: How much can a virtual assistant earn?**
A: There is no single answer, because rates vary a lot with experience, skills, specialisation, the client's market, and where you both are based. New VAs typically start at modest hourly rates and raise them as they specialise and build a track record. We don't publish income figures because we can't promise them.

[How much can a VA earn](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/how-much-can-a-virtual-assistant-earn)

**Q: Do I need to pay to use the jobs platform?**
A: Creating a profile is free. Applying and messaging are included with every package.

[Pricing and billing](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/pricing-and-billing)

**Q: Does VA International take a cut of what I earn?**
A: No. Employers and VAs agree payment directly between themselves, and VA International does not process those payments or take a percentage. There are no placement fees either.

[What the platform is and is not](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/what-the-platform-is-and-isn-t)

## Payment and billing

**Q: How does payment work?**
A: Packages are one-time purchases. Where available, you can pay in full or choose a fixed instalment plan. Instalments are not an automatically renewing subscription. Payment is handled securely by Stripe. If a charge fails, you have a 7-day grace period to update your payment method; after that, access may be paused until payment resumes, while the remaining balance stays due.

**Q: Is payment in instalments available?**
A: Available payment plans are shown for each package. They spread a fixed total across near-equal monthly instalments, with any remainder cents included in the first payment.

**Q: What happens after I pay?**
A: Your payment is confirmed on screen and paid access starts immediately. Verify your email and finish course-login setup so we can deliver your courses and confirmation emails.

**Q: Can I pay in my local currency?**
A: Prices are in euros (EUR). Cards in any currency work. Your bank converts the amount at its own exchange rate, and some banks add a small foreign-exchange fee. Prices shown exclude tax, and local taxes where they apply are calculated by Stripe Tax at checkout, so the final amount on the payment page is what you pay.

**Q: Can I upgrade my package later?**
A: Yes. You can upgrade from Starter to Professional or Ultimate at any time from your account, and your courses and progress are kept when you upgrade.

[Can I upgrade my package later](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/1786107633-can-i-upgrade-my-package-later)

**Q: Is my payment secure?**
A: Yes. Payments are handled by Stripe, and your card details never touch our servers.

[Is my payment secure](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/1786107968-is-my-payment-secure)

## Account, support and contact

**Q: How do I access my account?**
A: Use the email and password you set at checkout to log in from the Log in link in the site header. From there you can reach your courses, payments and settings.

**Q: How do I contact support?**
A: Start with our assistant using the chat button on this page, since it can answer most questions straight away. You can also use the contact form on this site, open Messages in your jobs platform dashboard to talk to support, or email support@virtualassistantinternational.com. We usually reply within one business day.

**Q: Where can I find guides and answers?**
A: Our help center has guides on the courses, the jobs platform, payments and more. Browse it for detailed answers to common questions.

[Visit the help center](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/)

**Q: How do I report a problem or a suspicious job post?**
A: Use the report option on the message, profile or job listing in question, and it goes straight to our team. For anything else, contact support and include the relevant page or listing.

[Reporting a problem](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/reporting-a-problem-or-a-suspicious-job-post)

**Q: Can I delete my account?**
A: Yes. You can delete your account yourself from your account settings, which removes your profile and account data. If you would rather talk it through first, contact support before you do.

[Privacy and your data](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/hc/documentation/articles/privacy-and-how-we-handle-your-data)

## Still need help?

Our assistant answers most questions straight away. You can also use the contact form, message support from your jobs platform dashboard, or email support@virtualassistantinternational.com.

[Visit the help center](https://support.virtualassistantinternational.com/)