8-Week Programme · Sep 2026 Intake
Appointment Setter VA Master the sales pipeline.
Learn to book qualified meetings, handle objections, manage CRM pipelines, and run multi-channel outreach. The skills global sales teams are hiring for right now.
12 Modules
Portfolio-led
HubSpot · Apollo · Notion
R7 500
8
Weeks of structured
learning
learning
12
Hands-on
modules
modules
8
Portfolio
deliverables
deliverables
Sep
Next intake
2026
2026
What you will be able to do
Skills that get you hired
Every module is built around real appointment-setting work. By Week 8 you will have a client-ready portfolio, practical workflows, and the confidence to start applying for entry-level roles or onboarding your first clients.
Run live setting calls
Execute structured calls, manage objections, and book qualified appointments using proven frameworks.
Manage CRM pipelines
Navigate CRM platforms confidently, track leads across stages, and report results to sales managers.
Multi-channel outreach
Write high-converting cold emails and LinkedIn DMs that open conversations and generate replies.
Prospect and qualify leads
Build verified prospect lists using Apollo and LinkedIn, then qualify before outreach begins.
Track and report KPIs
Monitor conversion rates, show rates, and pipeline health and present results clearly to clients.
Package your services
Build a setter service package, set competitive retainer plus commission rates, and pitch to clients.
Full Curriculum
8 weeks · 12 practical modules
Every module includes a Handbook, Practical task, and a Portfolio deliverable you keep. Click a week to explore the modules.
M1 · Week 1
The Strategic Role of an Appointment Setter
- Define the setter's role in the sales pipeline
- Understand KPIs: conversion rate, show rate, qualified leads
- Identify what separates a good setter from a great one
M2 · Week 1
CRM and Scheduling Tool Setup
- Navigate a CRM platform confidently
- Configure scheduling and booking flows
- Log and track leads correctly from day one
M3 · Week 2
Sales Communication Frameworks
- Develop a flexible call framework you can adapt
- Apply the BANT qualification method
- Ask powerful open-ended discovery questions
M4 · Week 2
Objection Handling
- Identify the 10 most common sales objections
- Respond without sounding scripted or pushy
- Reframe objections into genuine interest
M5 · Week 3
Live Call Simulation
- Execute a full appointment-setting call end-to-end
- Manage nerves and stay on framework under pressure
- Self-review performance using a structured rubric
M6 · Week 3
Feedback and Script Optimisation
- Analyse your call recording for patterns and gaps
- Give and receive structured peer feedback
- Revise and improve your framework based on results
M7 · Week 4
Prospecting and Lead Research
- Find ideal prospects using Apollo and LinkedIn
- Qualify leads before outreach to avoid wasted effort
- Build a verified 20-lead prospect list
M8 · Week 4
Multi-Channel Outreach: Cold Email and LinkedIn DMs
- Write high-converting cold emails using proven structures
- Send compliant, personalised LinkedIn messages
- Build a 5-touch follow-up sequence
M9 · Week 5
Lead Management and Pipeline Control
- Manage multiple leads across pipeline stages
- Prioritise hot leads without letting cold ones go cold
- Build and maintain a clean CRM pipeline
M10 · Week 5
Show Rate Optimisation and Working with Closers
- Reduce no-shows with a confirmation flow
- Hand off leads to closers cleanly with context
- Report results to sales managers professionally
M11 · Week 6
KPI Tracking and Performance Reporting
- Track weekly KPIs consistently and accurately
- Build a simple client-ready performance dashboard
- Present results to clients in a professional format
M12 · Week 6
Niche Industry Mastery: Coaching, SaaS and Consulting
- Adapt your language and tone for different industries
- Understand buyer psychology by niche
- Rewrite your call framework for 2 different industries
Week 7 · Portfolio Build
Assemble and Refine Your Portfolio
- Review and polish all deliverables from Weeks 1–6
- Organise your work into a shareable portfolio folder
- Write a short bio and positioning statement for your niche
- Prepare your service offer and pitch for potential clients
Week 8 · Capstone
Simulate a Full Setter Week for a Mock Client
- Run outreach, calls, and follow-ups for a simulated client account
- Log all activity in a CRM and produce a weekly KPI report
- Handle objections and book 2 mock appointments during the simulation
- Present your full portfolio and pitch to a panel
Tools You Will Use
Six tools. Transferable skills.
You will not just hear about these tools — you will use them in practicals and include them in your portfolio. We focus on fewer tools done well, not a surface-level tour of twelve.
Tool Disclaimer: VA Academy trains on the skills and workflows behind the tools, not on one specific platform. Where a tool is referenced by name, an equivalent platform may be used depending on your cohort and client requirements — for example, Pipedrive or Zoho instead of HubSpot. The skills you build are fully transferable.
ChatGPT
Script & Copy Support
CRM Platform
e.g. HubSpot / Pipedrive
Calendly
Scheduling & Booking
Apollo
Prospecting & Outreach
LinkedIn Sales Nav
Lead Research
Notion
SOPs & Reporting
We focus on transferable workflows, not tool memorisation. Once you understand the skill, you can apply it in any equivalent platform your client uses.
Your Portfolio
8 assets. One complete portfolio.
Built progressively across 8 weeks. Every deliverable connects to your final capstone — so by Week 8 you have real work to show, not just a certificate.
Each deliverable is built during a module practical, refined in Week 7, and presented in your Week 8 capstone. You own everything you create.
Week 1
KPI Explanation Doc
A clear breakdown of setter metrics for client-facing use
Week 1
CRM Setup Walkthrough
Documented CRM and scheduling tool configuration
Week 2
Custom Call Framework
Your personal BANT-based call structure, tested in simulation
Week 2
Objection Cheat Sheet
10 common objections with your proven, tested responses
Week 3
Recorded Call + Self-Review
Live simulation with self-assessment against a rubric
Week 4
Cold Outreach Sequence
3-email sequence with LinkedIn DM templates and follow-ups
Week 6
KPI Performance Report
Weekly dashboard formatted and ready to send to clients
Week 8 · Capstone
Service Menu + Pitch Deck
Packaged setter offer with your complete portfolio, client-ready
Career Opportunities
Roles this programme prepares you to pursue
Appointment setters are in demand across coaching, SaaS, real estate, and consulting. These are estimated earnings based on remote market rates.
Appointment Setter VA
Entry LevelBook qualified calls for coaches, consultants, or SaaS founders. Work remotely on a retainer plus commission model.
R8 000 – R15 000 / mo$450 – $850 / mo
Retainer base. Commission can add 20–40% on top.
Sales VA for Coaches
Remote FreelanceSupport online coaches and course creators with DM outreach, booking strategy calls, and follow-up sequences.
R6 000 – R14 000 / mo$350 – $800 / mo
Often includes commission per booked and attended call.
Lead Generation Specialist
Remote FreelanceRun end-to-end outreach campaigns using Apollo, LinkedIn, and email sequences for multiple clients.
R12 000 – R25 000 / mo$650 – $1 400 / mo
Per client retainer. Most freelancers manage 2 to 4 clients.
CRM and Pipeline VA
SpecialistManage CRM hygiene, automate follow-up workflows, and build pipeline reporting dashboards for sales teams.
R10 000 – R20 000 / mo$550 – $1 100 / mo
High demand from growing remote sales teams.
SDR (Sales Development Rep)
Mid LevelWork within a structured sales team handling inbound and outbound lead qualification for tech or consulting companies.
R15 000 – R28 000 / mo$850 – $1 500 / mo
Base plus performance bonuses. Typically reached after 6–12 months of setter experience.
Outreach Manager
Advanced PathwayManage a team of setters, build outreach infrastructure, and report pipeline performance to founders or directors.
R25 000 – R45 000 / mo$1 400 – $2 500 / mo
Typically reached after 12–24 months in a setter role.
Most graduates begin with 1–2 freelance clients or a junior setter role. The SDR and Outreach Manager tracks are natural progressions with 6–24 months of practice behind them.
Earnings are estimates based on remote market data and vary by client, experience, and negotiation. USD figures use an approximate exchange rate and will fluctuate. VA Academy does not guarantee specific income outcomes.
Investment
Course fees and payment options
A R1 500 registration deposit secures your seat and is deducted from your total course fee. Choose the payment plan that works for you.
Show prices in:
3 Payments
R2 667
per month x 3 payments
Total: R7 500
Total: R7 500
Deposit of R1 500 due on registration, deducted from total. Two remaining payments spread over the course.
Best Value
Pay Upfront
R6 750
once-off payment
Save 10% (R750)
Includes the R1 500 registration deposit. Full amount locks in your seat and your discount.
Deposit Only
R1 500
to secure your seat now
Balance of R6 000 due before Week 1 starts. Deposit is non-refundable but fully deducted from your total.
Registration deposit: The R1 500 deposit is deducted from your total course fee — it is not an additional charge. If paying upfront, the deposit is included in your single payment. All fees are quoted in South African Rand. USD figures are approximate conversions for reference only and may differ slightly at the time of payment.