The Virtual Assistant Course for a Career That Works Wherever You Do
CanScribe Career College's 26-week Virtual Assistant course gives you the administrative, bookkeeping, and business skills to work from home as a Virtual Assistant, or in the office as an Administrative Specialist. One program, two career paths.
Why Take a Virtual Assistant Course? Employers Asked Us to Build One
The number one reason we developed this program was that employers were asking us for training that teaches the fundamental skills needed to work from home. They also require a broad range of skills, and CanScribe's Virtual Assistant Course delivers exactly that. The curriculum was designed according to recommendations from industry experts, so new graduates can successfully enter the workforce from day one.
One of the greatest advantages of working as a Virtual Assistant is that you can work in any industry. Your skills transfer from one industry to another, which is great for job security.
- Reviewed by the Canadian Association of Virtual Assistants (CAVA)
- Prepares you for entry into mid-level administrative positions immediately after graduation
- 26 weeks to complete, with extensions available. Study from home or on campus
- Fast-track option: test out of material you already know and graduate in as little as three months
What Is a Virtual Assistant Course?
A virtual assistant course is a structured training program that teaches the administrative, technical, and business skills needed to support clients or employers remotely. Unlike piecing together free tutorials, a designated college program like CanScribe's covers the complete skill set in one place: Microsoft Office, bookkeeping and QuickBooks, project management, business writing, marketing, and human resources. Because the curriculum was built from direct employer feedback and reviewed by the Canadian Association of Virtual Assistants, the skills you learn map directly to the tasks you will be hired to do.
Graduates leave with a recognized certificate from a PTIRU-approved institution, which matters when clients and employers compare candidates whose skills are entirely self-reported against those with verified training. The program also connects you to CanScribe's employment partners who actively recruit graduates, and every graduate receives unlimited lifetime resume and cover letter support through CanScribe Career Services.
Not sure if this program fits your goals? Compare it against other options in our Faculty of Commerce, or review financial assistance options before you apply.
Comprehensive, Practical Training
Training in Microsoft Office, Windows, Bookkeeping, and Project Management (among other things) can greatly improve your employability. Having these skills, and proof that you got them from a thorough training program, puts you at the top of the hiring list.
Graduate Faster
The program is completely self-paced. If you believe you have enough knowledge in a certain area, attempt the quiz and move ahead. There is nothing holding you back from completing your Virtual Assistant Course faster.
Virtual Assistant Course Details, Curriculum & Tuition
What You Will Learn
- Administrative support and reception duties
- Efficient management of office operations
- Organizing meetings, appointments, and meeting minutes
- Maintaining contact lists and producing correspondence
- Producing reports and maintaining records
- Development and maintenance of filing systems
- Basic bookkeeping and accounting skills
- Marketing and event planning basics
- Time management skills
- Grammar and communication in business
- Booking travel
- The Administrative/Virtual Assistant role in today's industry
- Career development
- Text expansion software
- Human Resources
This Virtual Assistant course has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
Virtual Assistant Course Curriculum: 18 Courses, Start to Finish
For complete curriculum details, read the detailed program document.
Virtual Assistant Course Tuition & Fees
The CanScribe Career College Virtual Assistant Course tuition includes everything you need to launch a career as a Virtual Assistant. This even includes unlimited, lifetime graduate support! The cost of the program is only $2,995.00. There are several different payment plans to choose from. We also accept Visa, MasterCard, certified cheques, and money orders.
| Registration Fee | $250.00 |
| Tuition Fee | $1,823.00 |
| Licenses | $672.00 |
| Administration | $250.00 |
| Total | $2,995.00 |
| Registration Fee | $250.00 |
| Tuition Fee | $1,823.00 |
| Licenses | $672.00 |
| Administration | $250.00 |
| eBook Upgrade | $300.00 |
| All-in-One Discount | −$100.00 |
| Total | $3,195.00 |
Optional Upgrades
eBook Upgrade
A digital version of the Virtual Assistant course that you keep forever. Study offline when you do not have internet access, and use it as reference material during quizzes and after you graduate and start working.
Dropshipping Website Upgrade
A fully functioning dropshipping website: logo, URL, full Shopify website, products, and Google search engine optimization throughout. Available within your first month in the program. Start working with and advertising your new business as soon as you receive ownership. Earn passive income and start your own dropshipping business.
Payment Plans & Funding
Spread your tuition over interest-free monthly payments, or explore scholarship options before you enroll.
Enroll at the same time as a friend and you will both receive a 5% discount on tuition costs. Contact an Admissions Representative for current payment plan details.
How CanScribe’s Virtual Assistant Course Compares
Virtual Assistant training ranges from $30 video courses to $5,000+ college certificates. Here is where a designated, employer-built program sits against the rest.
↔ Scroll the table sideways to see every option
| What Matters | Best Overall Value CanScribe Virtual Assistant Course Designated career college, BC | Online VA Bootcamps & Coaching ProgramsCohort-based creator programs | Course Marketplaces & Self-Paced CertificatesUdemy, single-provider certificates | Public College VA CertificatesSemester-based college programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total tuitionWhat you actually pay | $2,995 All-inclusive. Textbook up to $200 extra, at a student discount. | ~$300–$2,500 Wide range; upsells for coaching or templates are common. | ~$30–$300 Cheapest option, and the least depth. | ~$5,000+ Comparable BC college certificate listed above $5,100. |
| Sales tax on tuitionGST / PST | No tax on tuition | Usually taxable | Usually taxable | No tax on tuition |
| Tuition tax creditOfficial tax receipt | Yes: claim your tuition and lower what you owe at tax time | No: not a designated institution | No | Yes |
| Program lengthTime to finish | 26 weeks. Finish in as little as 3 months by testing out of what you already know, or take longer with an extension | Typically 4–10 weeks of content, often on a fixed cohort calendar | A few hours to a few weeks of video | Two or more semesters on the college’s schedule |
| Learn on your own schedulePace and start date | Fully self-paced, start any month, study from home or on campus | Mixed: live calls and weekly releases tie you to a schedule | Self-paced, but no deadlines and no accountability | Set intake dates and scheduled live classes |
| How you learnPractical vs. theory | Hands-on the whole way through: you do the work in Word, Excel, Outlook and QuickBooks Online, not just read about it | Varies widely by creator; often heavy on client-getting, light on the actual admin skills | Mostly watch-and-listen with little graded practice | Hands-on, with academic coursework alongside it |
| What’s coveredBreadth of skills | 18 chapters: Microsoft Office, bookkeeping and accounting, QuickBooks Online, business writing, project management, HR, marketing, event and travel planning, research, career development | Usually a focused slice: systems, client onboarding, pricing, niching | One tool or one topic per course | Broad, with general-education courses included |
| Support after you graduateResume, cover letters, job search | Unlimited and for life: resume and cover letter help plus active job-search support whether you come back in 2 years or 20 | Access usually ends with the cohort or after 12 months | None | Campus career centre, typically time-limited |
| Employer connectionsWho is hiring grads | Employment partners who actively recruit CanScribe graduates | Private community or job board, if any | None | Varies by campus |
| Credential you earnOversight and recognition | Certificate from a PTIRU-approved institution, curriculum reviewed by the Canadian Association of Virtual Assistants | Self-issued certificate, no regulatory oversight | Completion badge only | Public college certificate |
| Interest-free payment plansSpreading the cost | 3, 6 or 9 months interest-free, government student loans, plus scholarships and a 5% refer-a-friend discount | Often available, sometimes at a premium | Not needed, but no funding support either | Student loans and grants |
| Two career pathsRemote or in-office | Qualifies you for both Virtual Assistant and in-office Administrative Specialist roles | Freelance VA focus only | Skill top-up only | Both, depending on the program |
Recognized training, lifetime support, and $2,995 all in
Talk to an Admissions Representative about start dates, payment plans and whether the fast-track option is right for you.
About this comparison: The three comparison columns describe general categories of Virtual Assistant training, not any single named provider. Price and length ranges were researched in July 2026 from publicly listed programs and reflect what was advertised at that time; individual programs vary and change their pricing often. Tax treatment depends on your personal situation, so confirm your eligibility with the Canada Revenue Agency or your tax preparer. CanScribe figures reflect the Standard tuition plan; see the Tuition tab for full details.
Admissions Requirements
Students must have a minimum typing speed of 30 net-words-per-minute and pass an entry-level grammar assessment. Students must also be a mature student, 19+, or have a high school diploma.
English Requirements
Prior to admission, applicants must meet at least one English language proficiency requirement, through education (secondary or post-secondary schooling where English is the principal language of instruction) or a recognized standardized assessment such as IELTS Academic (5.5), Duolingo English Test (95), TOEFL iBT (46), CAEL (40), CELPIP, PTE Academic (43), or an equivalent B2-level qualification. Ask Admissions for the full list of accepted tests and minimum scores.
Technical Requirements
If you take the course on campus, everything is provided.
For distance learning, we recommend a Windows PC. Apple computers are compatible; however, Microsoft Office training is taught from the point of view of a Windows computer. You are required to have the Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, and Excel) installed, along with a computer with speakers.
Canada: Glassdoor estimates the Canadian national average for an Administrative Assistant is around $44,000 per year, with a range between $30,000 and $57,000 depending on your training and experience. With experience you can move into the Executive Assistant role, with a median salary of $54,000 and a range between $37,000 and $84,000. Virtual Assistants are more often paid hourly as contractors working from home; Payscale estimates the median hourly starting wage for a VA at around $20.00 per hour, varying by specialization.
United States: Payscale reports a median hourly wage of around $15.00 for Administrative Assistants (range $11.44 to $21.36) and $15.80 for Virtual Assistants, with VAs commonly earning up to $29.84 within the first few years.
Many VAs find work through websites such as UpWork, which connects companies to Virtual Assistants looking for freelance work. Other companies include FancyHands, AssistantMatch, Zirtual, Virtual Gal Friday, and Worldwide 101, to name a few. Another great route is leveraging your network to find "friends of friends" who need assistance at their company. You can even create your own company, become an entrepreneur, and hire other Virtual Assistants as you grow.
Yes! This is one of the many perks of working from home as a Virtual Assistant. You can write off part of your lease/rent, internet, paper, pens, office supplies, and even part of your cell/home phone bills. This helps you save money on your taxes every year!
We are very proud to offer unlimited resume and cover letter assistance to our AA/VA graduates. Whether you come back to us 2, 5, 10, or 20 years after graduation, we will be here to help. Unlimited truly means for life!
CanScribe follows the tuition refund requirements set for designated institutions in British Columbia, covering withdrawal before and after the contract start date, dismissal, distance education programs, and study permit refusals for international students. Refunds owed are paid within 30 days. Read the full refund policy here.
Administrative Specialist or Virtual Assistant?
The most significant difference between the two positions is where you work. Administrative Assistants work in an office, and Virtual Assistants work from home. This program gives you the flexibility to choose one or the other, or do both!
Become an Administrative Specialist
- Go into an office and work with people face-to-face
- Work the coveted 9-to-5 schedule
- Receive extended health benefits
Become a Virtual Assistant
- Choose your hours
- Find the clients you want to work with
- Be your own boss
Is a Virtual Assistant Career Right for You?
Take the CanScribe Career College Career Training Readiness Quiz. It is important that you discover whether or not the Virtual Assistant course is right for you before you enroll.
What Our Students Say
Train Online for a Career with Lots of Flexibility
A helpful CanScribe Career College Admissions Representative will be happy to answer any questions, from career paths to financial aid.
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