Executive and personal assistant courses teach the core skills of the role: managing a manager’s diary, organising meetings and travel, taking minutes, preparing documents and keeping information confidential. BOTI’s two-day Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training covers these skills in-house, at our Johannesburg venue or live online. You can compare it with related courses in our administration and office support courses.
The current course runs at your offices anywhere in South Africa, live online or at a BOTI venue. The course page has the up-to-date outline and group prices.
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Related: Supervisory Skills Training: How to Supervise Without Micromanaging.
Related: Leadership & Management Development for South African Companies.
Become an effective PA with the Executive and Personal Assistants Training
An executive or personal assistant does a varied job that calls for many skills. You may be updating schedules, arranging travel, taking minutes or preparing important documents. All of it must be done with a high degree of confidentiality, which is one of the most important qualities in any assistant.
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The Executive and Personal Assistants programme shows delegates what it takes to be a successful assistant. Delegates learn how to manage a diary smoothly, organise a meeting from agenda to minutes, and act as a confident gatekeeper for their manager. The role needs a particular set of skills, and this programme gives delegates practical tools they can use at their desk the next day.
Recommended Prior Experience and Knowledge: Executive and Personal Assistants Training
No prior experience or knowledge is required for the Executive and Personal Assistants Training Course. The course is presented in English.
Customised training for your team. BOTI tailors this course to your organisation and runs it in-house at your premises, at its venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. Request a quote or call 011 882 8853.
Course Outline: Executive and Personal Assistants Training
The programme is made up of the following components:
Component 1: Starting Out
• Housekeeping matters and administration
• The Parking Area
• Programme objectives
• Pre-assignment
• Action plans and evaluations
Component 2: Working with Your Manager
• Adapting to their style
• Anticipating their needs
• Getting your responsibilities defined
• When to take the initiative
• Training example
• Component 2: Assessment questions
Component 3: Administrative Soft Skills
• Social intelligence
• Basic business acumen
• Office management
• Active listening
• Training example
• Component 3: Assessment questions
Component 4: Effective Time Management
• Calendar management
• Preparing for changes and surprises
• Keeping others on track
• The urgent/important matrix
• Training example
• Component 4: Assessment questions
Component 5: Meeting Management
• Creating an agenda
• Keeping minutes
• Keeping the meeting on time
• Variations for large and small meetings
• Training example
• Component 5: Assessment questions
Component 6: Tools of the Trade (I)
• Email protocol
• Office machinery
• Computer and software skills
• Communication skills
• Training example
• Component 6: Assessment questions
Component 7: Tools of the Trade (II)
• Phone and voicemail etiquette
• Word processing
• Business writing
• Internet research
• Training example
• Component 7: Assessment questions
Component 8: Being an Effective Gatekeeper
• Filtering data and information
• Learning to say no
• Working with challenging people
• Knowing the tricks
• Training example
• Component 8: Assessment questions
Component 9: Organisational Skills
• Prioritising your workload
• Setting objectives
• Plan for tomorrow, today
• Staying on track
• Training example
• Component 9: Assessment questions
Component 10: Confidentiality Guidelines
• Your duty of confidentiality
• Being diplomatic and discreet
• Keeping data secure
• What to do in sticky situations
• Training example
• Component 10: Assessment questions
Component 11: Special Tasks
• Project management
• Trade shows
• Interacting with clients
• Social media management
• Training example
• Component 11: Assessment questions
Component 12: Concluding
• Words from the wise
• Review of the Parking Area
• Key learnings
• Evaluations and completion of action plans
Course duration: Executive and Personal Assistants Training Course
The Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training runs over two days. It is designed so that delegates apply what they learn in practical exercises and take those habits straight back to the office. A three-day Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training is also available for teams that want more practice time.
How to become a personal assistant
There is no single entry route into a PA role. Most people who succeed as personal or executive assistants build the same set of skills over time:
- Strong computer skills. Assistants spend much of the day in email, calendars, word processing and spreadsheets. Confident use of Outlook, Word and Excel saves hours every week.
- Clear business writing. Assistants draft emails, letters, agendas and reports on their manager’s behalf. The tone has to be accurate, polite and brief.
- Diary and meeting management. Managing a manager’s calendar, preparing agendas and recording decisions are core tasks. The Chairing a Meeting with Confidence and Keeping Good Minutes course goes deeper into minute taking.
- Time and workload management. Assistants juggle their own work and their manager’s priorities. Essential Time Management Skills builds this habit.
- Discretion and judgement. Assistants handle confidential information and decide who gets access to their manager. Knowing when to say no is part of the job.
A short course is a practical way to learn these skills in a structured way, especially if you are moving into the role from reception, general administration or another department. For more on entry routes, read our guide to personal assistant course requirements.
Executive PA courses online
BOTI runs the executive and personal assistant training live online with a facilitator, as well as in-house and at our venue. The online sessions follow the same outline and include the same practical exercises and assessment questions. Delegates need a computer, a stable internet connection, a microphone and preferably a camera so they can take part in discussions and role plays. Online training suits assistants in different offices or cities who need to train together without travelling.
Certified executive assistant: short course or qualification?
Many people search for a “certified executive personal assistant” course or an “executive personal assistant diploma”. BOTI does not offer a diploma for executive or personal assistants. You can choose between two routes.
The short course route. The two-day Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training focuses on skills you can apply immediately. Delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
The accredited route. If you need a nationally recognised qualification, BOTI is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider for related QCTO occupational certificates:
- Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA ID 101876) is at NQF Level 5 with 316 credits[1]. The last date for enrolment is 30 December 2026, and learners must complete it by 30 December 2029[1].
- Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator (SAQA ID 102161) is at NQF Level 5 with 445 credits[2]. The last date for enrolment is 30 December 2026, and learners must complete it by 30 December 2029[2].
Both occupational certificates end in an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), and the QCTO issues the certificate. If you are unsure which suits your role, read Management Assistant vs Office Administrator.
Book or Request a Quote
In addition to the related public courses, we run this course in-house at your premises, at our venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. Click the button to request a proposal or book your course:
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Frequently asked questions
How do I become a personal assistant in South Africa?
Most personal assistants start with strong computer skills, clear business writing and good organisation, then build experience in an administrative role. A short course such as BOTI’s Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training teaches diary management, meeting management, minute taking, gatekeeping and confidentiality. If you want a formal qualification, look at the QCTO occupational certificates for management assistants and office administrators.
Can I do an executive PA course online?
Yes. BOTI runs its executive and personal assistant training live online with a facilitator, as well as in-house at your premises and at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg. The online sessions follow the same outline, so delegates need a computer, a stable internet connection, a microphone and preferably a camera.
How do I become a certified executive assistant?
Delegates who complete BOTI’s executive and personal assistant short course receive a BOTI certificate of attendance, and the short course itself is not accredited. For a nationally recognised certificate, enrol on a QCTO occupational certificate such as Management Assistant or Office Administrator. These end in an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), and the QCTO issues the certificate.
Does BOTI offer an executive personal assistant diploma?
No. BOTI does not offer a diploma for executive or personal assistants. The closest accredited options at BOTI are the Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant and the Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator. For skills you can apply straight away, the two-day short course is the quicker route.
How long is the Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training?
The course runs over two days. A three-day version is available for teams that want more practice time. When the training runs in-house, you can discuss your team’s priorities with BOTI before the course.
To build the diary, meeting, gatekeeping and confidentiality skills your assistants use every day, book the Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training. Training runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. Call BOTI on 011 882 8853 or email [email protected], or request a quote. This course is not accredited. It is delivered as a professional skills programme, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Sources
- Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant (SAQA ID 101876) – South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), 2026.
- Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator (SAQA ID 102161) – South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), 2026.
