About VBA Academy
What is a Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant?
A VBA is a trained document preparation specialist who prepares bankruptcy petitions for attorneys on a contractor basis. Under 11 U.S.C. § 110, non-attorneys may prepare bankruptcy documents for filing, provided they disclose themselves as petition preparers, do not provide legal advice, and work under attorney supervision.
What is the CPDS credential?
CPDS stands for Certified Petition Drafting Specialist. It is a VBA Academy credential earned by completing both core courses (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Petition Mastery) and passing both CPDS exams at 80% or higher. It is not affiliated with any other organization. “CPDS” is a proprietary designation of VBA Academy / North Star Petition Services.
Who built VBA Academy?
Joe McDaniel, a Minnesota petition specialist who has completed over 2,000 professional real estate bankruptcy petitions for attorneys. The curriculum comes from active practice, not textbooks or law school theory.
Is VBA Academy an accredited school?
No. VBA Academy is a vocational training program, not an accredited academic institution. We issue the CPDS credential to graduates, not an academic degree. Our value is practical skill training in petition preparation.
The Training
Do I need any legal background to start?
No. The Chapter 7 course starts from zero and builds the legal foundation before any petition preparation training begins. Most students with no prior legal experience complete it successfully.
How long does the training take?
Most students finish both core courses in 4–6 weeks at a pace of a few hours per week. There are no deadlines — work at your own pace.
Are there live sessions or scheduled classes?
All courses are self-paced. No mandatory live sessions or scheduled classes.
What equipment do I need?
A computer (Windows preferred for bankruptcy software modules), reliable internet, and Microsoft Word or compatible software. Most bankruptcy software attorneys use is Windows-based.
What are the CPDS exam requirements?
CPDS-7: 50 questions, 80% passing, open book. CPDS-13: 50 questions, 80% passing, open book. Both exams are included in the Full Bundle (CPDS-7 is included with Chapter 7 Only; CPDS-13 with Chapter 13 Only).
Enrollment & Pricing
What does lifetime access mean?
Once you purchase a course, you have permanent access to that course material. No expiration, no recurring fees, no subscription.
Is there a refund policy?
Yes — 7-day satisfaction guarantee on all plans. If you’re not satisfied within 7 days of enrollment, contact us for a full refund.
Can I buy Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 separately?
Yes. Chapter 7 Only is $897, Chapter 13 Only is $897. Or get both plus the business course and full CPDS credential with the Full Bundle for $1,497 — saving $297 vs. buying separately.
Is a payment plan available?
The Full Bundle is available on a 3-installment plan at $499/month, or pay over time with Klarna or Afterpay at checkout. Contact us to enroll on the installment plan.
What is the Attorney Referral Directory?
CPDS graduates are listed on the North Star Petition Services attorney referral page — a resource we promote to bankruptcy attorneys looking for trained petition preparation contractors. This listing comes with Full Bundle enrollment only.
