In today’s challenging business climate, one thing is certain – every FSTE 100 company executive has a personal assistant (PA). Why? Because behind every great business story, there’s a great PA. PAs are the eyes, ears and the glue that holds the best managers together by eliminating inefficiencies and contributing to overall business success. PAs are intuitive, proactive and reliable and they’re adept at problem-solving, multi-tasking and providing observations and insights into the business. If you have these key traits, every business owner wants you now! If not, our Personal Assistant Course teaches you the skills required for a long career in this role.
Personal assistants enjoy a varied day. It’s not just administration, arranging meetings and booking travel. As the role develops and you gain more experience, you could be running corporate events, organising marketing campaigns, and arranging global webcasts. Experienced PAs can also move into Executive PA (EA) roles for top bosses, which can lead to even greater career opportunities. If this sounds exciting to you, why not start your journey with our personal assistant course from home, which teaches you the essentials, such as diary management, duties of the role, business networking, business travel and how to get a role as a personal assistant.
When you study our Personal Assistant Course Level 3 Certificate, you’ll learn about:
- The role and responsibilities of a personal assistant
- Providing administrative support to staff in an organisation
- The skills required to become a personal assistant
- Crucial soft skills and hard skills which all assistants need
- Varying sectors to work in, such as public, private or not-for-profit
- Developing the craft of diary management
- Benefits of joining a professional association
- Identify potential networking opportunities
- And so much more…
In today’s challenging business climate, one thing is certain – all FSTE 100 company executive has a personal assistant (PA).
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Study with winnersWe’re an award-winning learning provider and have been recognised for our cutting-edge learning techniques.
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At your own pace
Study this course as quickly or slowly as you wish; we’ll work at a speed that suits you.
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Unlimited Tutor Support ™
Get as much help and support as you want from your personal course tutor via email and phone.
- Awarding body: NCFE Customised Qualifications
- Our course code: X334
- Official Qualification Title: Personal Assistant Level 3 Certificate
With a heritage stretching back over 150 years, NCFE is one of the largest awarding bodies in the UK. Over 340,000 students were awarded certification by NCFE last year. Our customised qualifications have been developed to meet the needs of our learners, they’ve also been accredited by the NCFE after demonstrating great quality and rigor. Completing Customised Qualifications doesn’t lead to an OFQUAL regulated qualification, but they can be used as evidence of knowledge and skills towards future study. Every Customised Qualification has met strict criteria to attain NCFE accreditation.
Study Hours
Up to 120 hours which is under 40 minutes per day for 6 months. However, additional hours may be required for reading, writing and research.
Study Method
Our course is delivered via paper-based materials for a more hands-on experience. Everything you need to complete the course is included in your materials. However, there will be opportunities for you to do your own additional research online – though this is entirely optional. You might look for online videos, e-books or quizzes.
Course Duration
You have up to a year to complete this course and we have included a suggested number of study hours. This is usually ample time for learners, even with full-time jobs and other commitments. Don’t worry if you go over the year though, we can organise an extension to your course for an additional fee, which also extends your tutor support.
Assessment
Throughout this course, you may be expected to complete assignments, essays, research projects, presentations, video/audio recordings, and practical learning sessions to meet the requirements of your course. This information will be included in your study pack detailing exactly what you need to do to accomplish your goals as a student.
Course Outcomes
At the end of this course, successful learners will receive an NCFE Customised Qualification and a Learner Unit Summary (which lists the details all of the units you have completed as part of your course). You can read more about NCFE here.
Additional Information
Official Qualification Title - Personal Assistant Level 3 Certificate
Difficulty - Level 3
Entry requirements - There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, it is recommended that you have an intermediate ability to read and write English.
Course Content
Discover the skills required for becoming a personal assistant (PA). You’ll learn about providing administrative support to staff within an organisation. In doing so, you’ll explore tasks you might undertake, workflow plans and KPIs. You’ll look at the process of maintaining office environments, health and safety, and risk assessments. Finally, you’ll consider technology in the workplace as well as look at examples of soft and hard skills.
Continue to look at examples of and the difference between hard and soft skills. You’ll learn the importance of transferable skills and the career options available to you as a PA. There will be closer examination of job titles, from legal and medical secretary to office assistant, receptionist, as well as working for high net worth individuals. Finally, you’ll consider the various responsibilities of a personal assistant, from taking minutes to booking flights.
Understand that the economy is split into three main sectors: Public, Private and Not-for-profit sectors. Looking at examples, you’ll gain insight into each sector, contemplate which is most attractive while identifying how that correlates with a chosen career path. Finally, you’ll consider the importance of setting career goals.
Appreciate the importance of effective diary management. Gain knowledge of the tools, benefits and uses of an office diary. You’ll also learn why diaries are vital elements for your executive’s working life when managing their daily activities. In relation to this, you’ll look at using diaries as gatekeepers, maintaining a professional approach, as well as respecting schedules, office hours and diary privacy. You’ll uncover settings in Outlook diary/calendar that require regular attention, such as privacy and syncing. Finally, you’ll learn about the term diary cascade.
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Scheduling Meetings
Review professional associations and the benefits of joining them for PAs. You’ll consider which associations are available globally, deciding factors for joining one, as well as levels of membership and membership application.
This unit focuses on business networking and looks at many channels of networking available. You’ll explore the benefits of networking, how to build contracts, and peer to peer relationships. Differentiate between specialist networking group and professional associations, as well as the difference between internal/external networking. Finally, you’ll know what’s meant by mentoring partnership and how to write elevator pitch for networking events.
Familiarise yourself with various elements of business travel, from where your manager may travel to the local transport infrastructure, airport hub, UK airports, and the research involved in planning successful travel. You’ll consider various classes of air travel, wi-fi for the business traveller, as well as the alternatives to business travel.
Gain knowledge of the City of London in further detail. You’ll discover the location of the London Stock Exchange and what is meant by the Square Mile. You’ll also consider rail travel, looking at London travel and principle fare zones, transport options the Oyster card can be used on, as well as the benefits of the Oyster card app. Find out more about the London Underground, the boroughs of each zone on the travel system, and London bus travel. Finally, you’ll look at postcodes in the City, serviced apartments and hotel accommodation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We have some answers to common student questions, but if you can't find the answer you're looking for then please contact us and we will do everything we can to answer your questions.
You will have access to your personal tutor, via email and telephone, who will mark your assignments and guide you through the course. In addition, you will be supplied with a comprehensive Study Guide which will help you through the study and assessment process. Your personal tutor will be highly experienced in their subject area and qualified to teach.
You don’t need any prior skills in the subject area to start. However, as with all of our courses, we recommend a reasonable level of English reading and writing ability.
We provide all the specially written learning materials you require to study this course at home. The course fee also includes tutor support for 12 months.
You will receive everything you need to complete this course within the study pack we send to you.
No, this course is assessed by coursework alone.
No, all of the study materials are supplied within your learning pack.
Most students finish comfortably within the course duration period given. However, if you do need more time, your personal tutor support can be extended for an additional fee.
That’s fine, this course can be studied anywhere and is completed by submitting Tutor marked assignments (TMAs).
Please check our FAQs section or Contact Us, we are happy to answer any questions you have.