What is a Virtual Assistant?

"Patty is a joy to work with, and does the work given to her in a fast and professional manner." — Kim Haynes, OPC Area Program, Chapel Hill, NC

The term Virtual Assistant describes a profession which is new but growing rapidly. For today's entrepreneurs and small business owners, using the Internet and telephone to collaborate with administrative assistants is a smart, efficient and cost-effective strategy. Having a Virtual Assistant allows the business person with only a basic physical office to benefit from the same support and help which previously required him to provide extra office space, a desk, computer, and telephone. Using a Virtual Assistant also allows the small business owner to enjoy the services of an administrative assistant without having to deal with payroll, withholding, benefits, or compliance with Federal and State regulations.

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, defines the term this way: "A Virtual Assistant (or simply VA), is an independent contractor providing administrative, technical, or sometimes creative assistance to clients--usually to other independent entrepreneurs and solo and small business practices..."

There is no official certification for Virtual Assistants, but a number of organizations have sprung up to promote the profession. Below are definitions of the term from several of the more prominent of these organizations.

From The International Virtual Assistants Association:

"A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an independent entrepreneur providing administrative, creative and/or technical services. Utilizing advanced technological modes of communication and data delivery, a professional VA assists clients in his/her area of expertise from his/her own office on a contractual basis."

From AssistU.com:

"Virtual Assistance is a fairly new administrative profession. The professionals are called Virtual Assistants, or VAs. VAs are micro business owners who provide administrative and possibly personal support while working in long-term collaborative relationships with only a handful of terrific clients. Using phone, fax, email, as well as other emerging technologies, VAs support their clients' needs, across the board, without having to ever step foot inside the clients' offices."

From The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce:

"A Virtual Assistant (or VA) is a service provider who specializes in providing administrative support services and works with clients in an ongoing, collaborative professional relationship. Virtual Assistants are business owners who work from their own offices and utilize today's technology to deliver their services and communicate with clients.

A Virtual Assistant's support is foundationally administrative, secretarial and clerical in nature. However, many Virtual Assistants offer additional specialties that fall under creative and technical services. Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the single-most important qualification to become a Virtual Assistant is at least five (5) years administrative experience earned in the real (non-virtual) business world working in upper level capacities such as administrative assistant, executive assistant, secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, office manager, etc. From this level of experience, a VA is expected to possess the skill sets, training and business knowledge which are the hallmark of a truly qualified Virtual Assistant."