The Virtual Art Academy is not a course that you purchase. Rather, it is a community-based learning system that is highly integrated into a unique and comprehensive library of training materials on how to paint.
The real value you get is from the unique Virtual Art Academy community interaction and discussions. From what my students tell me, there is no other community like it on the internet, neither will you be able to find a program that is so highly structured and comprehensive. Just read these student testimonials.
In fact, many students have gone on to become professional artists, and some have been members for 8 years or longer. The increased sales of their work actually ends up saving them money, not costing them money. So it is best to view the membership fees as an investment in yourself, rather than as an expense.
The way it works is you pay a monthly membership fee for as long as you wish to be a member of the community and keep learning something new. This is the same as paying for each semester you attended a traditional art university.
The amount of content in the program is equivalent to what you would get by attending a four-year program at a traditional art university. In fact, I've included in the system everything I have learned over my 40+ year art career, that personally cost me around $40,000 to my reckoning. So it is unlikely you will ever run out of new things to learn, and as a result you will keep improving your work for as long as you wish to stay a member.
I hope this helps to clarify things for you and the structure of my academy. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions.