Looking to Upskill? DICT Offers Free Training in VA Work, Digital Marketing, AI + More

(SPOT.ph) Digital skills are now a must-have as the job market evolves, with entire careers built around the online economy. If you’ve been wanting to learn new skills for a career shift—or simply hone your existing skill set—here’s one way to do it without spending a peso. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) offers free training across a range of digital fields.

Through its SPARK Technical Training program, you can take courses in virtual assistance, social media and digital marketing, graphic design, video editing, data science and analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, and more.

These aren't just quick online tutorials, either. The program pairs 10 weekdays of technical training with another 10 days of practical work, so you can put what you learn to use in the real world.

After all, a 2026 Remitly study found that virtual assistant (VA) was the most-searched dream job in the Philippines, overtaking traditional careers like doctors and lawyers. Vlogger, content creator, and social media manager also made the top 10. If you've been curious about making the jump yourself, here's your starting point.

Also Read: UP Online Courses You Can Take for Free Until the End of 2026

SPARK is DICT’s technical training program for Filipinos looking to build skills for the digital economy. Courses are offered by DICT regional and provincial offices through face-to-face, online, and hybrid sessions, depending on the batch.

The available courses are the following:

• General Virtual Assistance 2.0

• Social Media Marketing 2.0

• Digital Marketing with AI

• Search Engine Optimization

• Audio and Video Transcription

• 2D Animation

• 3D Animation

• Graphics Design through Canva

• Graphics Design through PSD & AI

• Video Editing with CapCut

• Blockchain Cryptocurrency & Certification

• Data Science

• Data Analytics

• Mobile App Development

• AI Literacy

According to DICT, the standard duration for SPARK Technical Training is up to 80 training hours.

During the program, participants will undergo 10 weekdays of technical training from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is followed by another 10 days of online campaign, during which they will put their skills into practice by building an online presence, sending job applications, or completing on-the-job (OJT) training, depending on the course.

Participants will receive certificates of completion at the end of the course—and yes, you can definitely add this to your resume!

There is one catch, though: SPARK isn't a single nationwide course with one application link.

Training is rolled out in batches by DICT regional and provincial offices, with schedules, available courses, slots, and eligibility requirements varying by area. That said, you'll have to wait for an opening that applies to you.

Your best bet is to regularly check the official Facebook page of your nearest DICT regional or provincial office for current openings. Residents in Metro Manila can monitor the SPARK Central Office page.

• DICT CAR

• DICT Region I

• DICT Region II

• DICT Region III

• DICT Region IVA

• DICT Region IVB

• DICT Region V

• DICT Region VI

• DICT NIR

• DICT Region VII

• DICT Region VIII

• DICT Region IX

• DICT Region X

• DICT Region XI

• DICT Region XII

• DICT Region XIII

If you're in Metro Manila, there’s one opening you can check right now. DICT opened 75 slots for its VA Services Level III Training, which is open to NCR residents aged 18 and above who want to work in the digital economy. Applications run from September 25 to October 7, 2026, with the hybrid training starting on October 14.

Also read: Learn AI for Free With Google's AI Skills Development Courses