travel agent campus

6 Month Payment Plan – BRONZE – TRAVEL ADVISOR COURSE® – 1988-2024©

$ 145.83 / month for 6 months

Minimum Down Payment of $316.72, Then $145.83 / month for the remaining months. (includes a one-time book package fee $99.95, plan setup fee $49.95, books processing fee of  20.99, and optional upgrades. Upgrades can be removed by clicking on the X at checkout.

WHY THIS TRAINING VIDEO & DETAILS:

This is an entry-level course that covers all the basics and is designed for individuals new to the travel industry that want to become a travel advisor. Including detailed home-based travel advisor training modules, VTM – video training modules, host/support travel agency modules, online job/training aids, exclusive industry websites, 24/7 instructor & technical support available via Toll-free number, LiveChat, and Email within the online training portal – Adobe® Captivate Prime. The program is self-paced and requires you to read textbook(s) and take online testing via the online training portal.

• Become a Travel Advisor.
• Book all airlines, hotels, resorts, car rentals, tours, vacation packages, cruises & more*.
• Book your personal travel and take advantage of the travel discounts & benefits*.
• Book travel for your friends & family*.
• Designed more for the hobbyist travel advisor.
• Designed exclusively for individuals new to the travel industry.
• Login Credentials will be sent with your order within minutes of payment so you can get started with your training.
• Self-Paced online training with 24/7 instructor & technical support available.
• Completion of the course proves your dedication.
• Typical training completion time is within 3 to 5 days.
• 90 days access to the training portal. Free extensions granted upon request.
• Train on the most robust training portal – Adobe® Captivate Prime, with a free Adobe® mobile app to take your training on the go.
• Certificate of completion awarded so you can showcase it everywhere.
• Listed on the website with your name, contact info, credentials, and photo so consumers can find you to purchase travel and verify your credentials.
• Earn a trusted stamp of approval with our coveted logo displayed with your name that lets consumers know you provide expertise in travel.
• Qualifies you to work with a host/support travel agency or as a direct connect to TPI – Travel Planners International host/support travel agency.
• Qualifies as a prerequisite for the prestigious CTS® – Certified Travel Specialist.
• Textbook(s) are required.
• FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions.

Login Credentials will be sent with your order within minutes of payment so you can get started with your training. Your textbook(s) will be emailed to you. If you need assistance with choosing your training you can contact us by LiveChat 24/7 or by email at [email protected] , or call us at 1-888-376-9861. *= host/support travel agency membership required.

This will also add the following products to your cart:

• 24 HOURS / 7 DAYS - INSTRUCTOR & TECHNICAL SUPPORT UPGRADE* - A One Time Fee Applied To This Payment Only. Was $199.95 Now Only $99.95 - More support versus our standard Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm EST support. *except holidays. This upgrade will be automatically added to your cart at checkout after selecting your training. - $ 99.95
• EARN WHILE YOU LEARN UPGRADE - A One Time Fee Applied To This Payment Only. Was $299.95 Now Only $99.95 - You Can Start Selling Travel And Earning While You Are Learning. Complete the first set of video training modules & the mini modules and you are able to start selling travel. Typical completion time is 2 days. Sign up with host/support travel agency required. This upgrade will be automatically added to your cart at checkout after selecting your training. - $ 99.95
• EXAM, TEST, & QUIZ RETAKE UPGRADE – A One-Time Fee Applied To This Payment Only. Was $299.95, Now Only $99.95 – You Will Be Allowed One Additional Retake Of Each Exam, Test & Quiz Without Charge, for a total of 3 retakes per exam, test, and quiz. In the event that you fail the exam, test or quiz, you will not be able to move on in your training, thus needing an administrator to unlock the course. If you fail 3 or more exams, tests, or quizzes, you will fail the entire course, and no refund is given. Does not apply to the TACt - Travel Advisor Competency Test. This upgrade will be automatically added to your cart at checkout after selecting your training. - $ 99.95
• ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK(S) - $ 99.95
• PAYMENT PLAN SET UP FEE - A One Time Fee Applied To The First Payment Only. Was $199.95 Now Only $49.95 - $ 49.95

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• Courses & Certifications (4)
• Payment Plans Courses & Certifications (3)
• Promotions (0)
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Description

A Downloadable .PDF Welcome Letter With Login Credentials will be sent with your order within minutes of payment so you can get started with your training. Please download the Welcome Letter to your computer and open it up. Follow the instructions in the Welcome Letter. Textbook(s) are required.

• Home Based Travel Agency of the 21st Century • The Travel Industry, Opportunity of the 21st Century • A Brief History of Travel Retailing • Transition From Storefront to Home-Based Travel Agencies • Evolution of the True Independent Contractor • Developing a Business Concept • Developing a Business Plan • Starting Your Home-Based Travel Business • Setting Up Your Books • Your Home Office of the 21st Century • Your Home Computer • Selecting Your Host Agency • Establishing Your Agency Relationship With Suppliers • Travel Reservations and Reference Resources • Setting Up Your Supplier Files • Developing A Marketing Plan • Developing a Newsletter • Using Direct Mail • Travel Advertising • Travel Promotions • Cold Calls, Canvassing and Telemarketing • Travel Marketing Techniques for the 21st Century • The Internet and the Travel Industry • Organizing Your Marketing Files • Developing Your Professional Knowledge and Skills • Legal Issues and Protecting Your Business • Home-Based Travel Agency Travel Benefits • Tax Benefits for Home-based Travel Agencies • Getting Connected in the Travel Industry • Travel Professional Community • Where Do I Go From Here?

——————————————-

• HBTA Video Series, Video – Business Concept, Video – Business Plan, Video – Marketing Plan, Video – Money Matters, Video – Business Structure, Video – Business Name, Video – Business Brand, Video – Business Logo, Video – Business Card, Video – Travel Laws, Video – 30 Second Speech, Video – Host Agencies, Video – Travel Niche, Video – Marketing Channels, Video – Agency Disclosure.

__________________________________________________

• Email Training for Independent Travel Agency Setup • Host Agency Prep • Resources • Job Aids

Note: Throughout your training TAC is available via email and local telephone number if you have any questions concerning your books, online training/testing. This course is administered and awarded by Travel Agent Campus. See disclaimer for further details.

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Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Travel Agent

Here's what you should know before becoming a travel agent.

If you're someone who spends your days scanning flights , loves hotel rewards points, and in general, is a fervent traveler, you've probably wondered how to become a travel agent.

And, while it's true that living in the age of Expedia means travel agents are not as vital as they once were, people use them a lot more than you might think. Just because travelers aren't calling up an agent every time they need to book a quick flight doesn't mean they don't want to consult an expert for a big trip. This holds especially true when it comes to honeymoons or experiential trips that have a lot of moving parts — coordinating tour companies , translators, or multiple resort stays, for example. It's often easier to leave the logistics to someone else: travel agents.

You don't need a specific employment background to become a travel agent, so if you're looking for a fresh career start, that's totally OK. You have to start somewhere on your path to becoming a travel agent, and the sooner you jump in, the sooner you'll build your client base. On the other hand, if you're hoping to parlay your experience in a semi-related industry, be it marketing or hospitality, that can help because you'll have even more context for your new gig. Either way, this can be a rewarding career path (with some fun perks), so here's what you need to know to become a travel agent.

Formal Training Needed to Become a Travel Agent

While some four-year colleges, community colleges, and trade schools offer tourism certifications, it is not a requirement for those trying to become travel agents. Certificates of tourism can be very helpful, but so can previous training in marketing, hospitality, or even event planning. Ultimately, your knowledge of destinations, sales, itinerary planning, and booking software will be crucial for your career as a travel agent.

In terms of the training time you need to put in before becoming a fully-fledged travel agent, it depends. You could start your career right after high school, or you could put in one to four years to earn a certificate, associate's, or bachelor's degree in tourism. Of course, you could also change course from a related job, and morph your experience as, say, a destination wedding planner into a career as a travel agent.

Training Programs Available

You could take classes with a company like The Travel Institute to earn your certification. Not only will they teach you the basics of planning itineraries, but they'll also make sure you're learning about new cultures, world geography, and experiences you can have all over the world. They'll also help you decide what business route you want to take.

How to Become a Travel Agent: The Logistics

Becoming a travel agent will likely mean starting your own business . On the plus side, it requires relatively little overhead. If you're becoming a small business owner by opening a yoga studio, for example, you will need to rent a space, deal with permits, buy supplies, build a website, and pay yoga teachers and someone to work the front desk. However, if you're starting a travel agent business, you can operate from your living room and there aren't nearly as many upfront costs.

You will have to think about what type of business you want to become. Do you want to incorporate or become an LLC? Would you rather be a sole proprietor? Incorporating takes the most effort, and is often the most expensive. Becoming an LLC is a good happy medium because it can help protect you as a business entity without having as many associated costs. Small business owners typically become an LLC to protect their personal assets. If you get sued as an LLC, someone can come after your business holdings, but can't come after your house, car, or personal savings.

If you choose to remain a sole proprietor (which doesn't require any fees or legwork), you are essentially a freelancer or independent contractor. You can be an LLC and an independent contractor, too — they aren't mutually exclusive. If you want to be an independent contractor, it likely means you're working as part of a larger host agency, which is smart to do when you're starting out as a travel agent. Down the road, you can also own a travel agency franchise. Owning a franchise might come with more overhead costs, and that would be a reason to incorporate.

If you're an independent contractor, you should know that your taxes aren't going to be as straightforward as a full-time employee's might be. You may have to start keeping track of your business expenses, as you might be able to write them off. You also might not get things like health benefits from your employer. As you plan your new career, consider sitting down with an established travel agent to ask them some logistical questions: Where do they get their health insurance? How do they keep track of their income and expenses? Do they use an accountant to do their taxes? While meeting with the travel agent, you can discuss the pros and cons of working for a larger agency, too. If you're not sure how to get in touch with other travel agents, consider using social media, like LinkedIn or even Instagram.

What to Think About When You Become a Travel Agent

Once you've secured work as a travel agent, you'll want to think about how you can earn more money and distinguish yourself from other agents. Here are three things to consider as you start your career.

Making Commissions: If you're working for a larger travel agency as an independent contractor, how do commissions work? Make sure you have this conversation early on before accepting the position. When you're starting out, you want to make sure the commission rate you're receiving is similar to the industry standard.

Growing Your Client Base: How do you make more money as a travel agent? Clients, clients, clients. You want happy customers who will return to you every time they want to book a travel experience. You'll want to keep your clients happy by finding them great deals, curating unbelievable experiences for them, and simply being great to work with.

Establishing a Niche: This is by no means a requirement for becoming a travel agent, but as you establish your career, you may want to consider focusing on a specific niche. For example, perhaps you're someone who focuses on honeymoon travel , luxury travel, or adventure travel . Your niche can help you attract clients, and it can be anything in the travel realm, as long as there's a need for it.

Related Articles

Travel Leaders of Tomorrow has THREE programs to choose from!

Travel agent training is easier than ever since you can attend class anywhere you have access to a computer or tablet and internet..

TRAVEL AGENT TRAINING VIRTUAL CAMPUS PROGRAM

Our travel agent training Virtual Campus program is much more than the traditional independent online learning program.

Deeper learning and long-term retention are more likely to occur in the collaborative environment that is offered in our Virtual Campus Training Program. This program is designed to engage the participant with a small cohort of other learners.

TRAVEL AGENT TRAINING INDEPENDENT LEARNER PROGRAM

Our travel agent training Independent Learner program is a self-paced, on-demand training program. The material is current and delivered via an online portal in a fun and engaging self-paced format.

Most people will agree that a collaborative learning environment is going to result in a deeper educational experience. But for those with a limited budget or time to invest, then our travel agent training Independent Learner program is for you. Currently there are 30 lessons that take 15-30 minutes each and are an overview of the topics a new travel agent needs.

TRAVEL AGENT TRAINING BUSINESS PROGRAM

The Business travel agent training program is a six-week virtual campus program ideal for the travel agency owner who wants to hire and train new advisors to handle their corporate business. There is a shortage of entry-level business travel advisors in the industry and this program is an ideal partnership. Let our knowledgeable instructors teach the fundamentals, while you handle on-the-job training.

WHICH LEISURE PROGRAM IS BEST FOR YOU?

Student Login

about wanderlust campus

Where travel entrepreneurs come to grow, at wanderlust campus, we're on a mission to help travel agents and agency owners grow a wildly successful dream travel business..

Welcome to travel agent school! Whether you're just thinking about a career in travel or you're looking to scale your agency to 7+ figures, and beyond, our educational programs, consulting, tools and resources are intentionally crafted to support you on your travel business journey, at every stage of growth.

Explore our four flagship programs, dedicated to helping your travel business launch , build , grow and scale .

For Aspiring & New Travel Agents

For Experienced Travel Agents

The Travel Agency Launch Kit includes everything you need to successfully launch your travel business in 30 days or less.

A SNAPSHOT OF the launch kit...

This program perfect for you if....

Resources may not allow for a certification right now but you are dedicated and serious about scaling your own portable, profitable travel business.  You want to curate a special brand that will grow with your goals, and even though you are new you see yourself working independently in the future.  That’s great!  You also understand that how you set up your business now will make a huge difference in your ability to scale your business later.

Ready to launch your travel career?

The careers on vacation mastermind teaches you everything you need to know to get your travel business optimized for success – from initial set-up to intentional launching and scalable growth..

A SNAPSHOT OF Careers on Vacation...

Careers on vacation is perfect for you if....

You want the best travel agent certification available to set you up for success. You are dedicated and serious about scaling your own portable, profitable travel business.  You want a viable business, not just an occasional hobby.  You value the ability to call your own shots, and want to curate a special brand that will grow with your ambitious goals.  You also understand that the right support and training & having proper systems in place is critical for fast growth. 

COV IS PERFECT FOR YOU IF...

Program case studies.

— Melissa P.

After experiencing a life changing visit to Egypt, Melissa knew that she had to be in the Travel Industry. Since launching her business and participating in the Careers on Vacation program she has sold over $120K in travel sales!

Becky and her husband & business manager decided that the Careers on Vacation program was exactly what the need to grow their business significantly. Struggling with the transition from great salesperson to Owner of their own new agency, they needed a strong plan for fast-paced growth. Now that they are utilizing the COV systems, tools, and resources their business is running smoothy and it's flourishing. Update: Since this aired Becky & her husband have grown their agency multiple times over. In 2021 they became Disney Earmarked, which is a highly sought after designation that can only be earned through landmark sales with Disney, along with ethical and high service standards. Big congratulations to Becky and her whole team! We are so honored to have helped you on your journey to massive growth.

Meet your Wanderlust CEO

My ridiculous love of travel, followed only by my love for my family, led me to creating a travel empire beyond my wildest expectation. But, it all started with adopting ONE belief: I am going to follow my BLISS into ABUNDANCE and I am going to build it AROUND my family.

I walked away from our other business, one that was generating multiple 6-figures a year, to pursue a dream of working in travel. Everyone, except my husband, thought I was crazy.

Now, the persistence and hard work has blossomed into the amazing travel company we have today.

Meet the Team

We've curated a team of specialists and experts so that you get the most comprehensive support and education during your time in our programs. Each team member brings their unique skills, perspective and business experience to help your business skyrocket. You won't find a travel team with this much combined passion, experience and credibility anywhere else.

7 Best Online Travel Agent Training Programs

Get information on Travel Agent Training programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

With online studies, your career as a travel agent starts with a laptop, access to the internet, and a click.

If you spend hours daydreaming about the perfect vacation and love being a part of every last planning detail, a career in travel is right for you.

If you want smooth sailing and to help vacationers’ trips go off without a hitch, a travel agent career is for you.

Start turning travel dreams into a reality for clients.

How do you get the certification and training you need to launch a career as a travel agent?

Check out these best online travel agent training programs.

1. Penn Foster

2. the travel institute, 3. stratford career institute, 4. travel agent campus, 5. grand canyon university, 6. iap international association of professions career college, 7. ashworth college, what courses are in an online travel agent training program, can you earn an online travel agent training program certification completely online, how long does it take to earn an online travel agent program certification online, how much does an online travel agent training program certification cost, bottom line, best online travel agent training programs.

Most online courses prepare you to sit for the Travel Agent Proficiency TAP exam to earn your travel and tourism certification.

The TAP test takes two hours to complete.

The test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions.

Or, continue your education to get your Bachelor of Science BS degree in hospitality.

After obtaining the necessary credentials, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 66,300 jobs in travel await those who pursue them, with an anticipated 3 percent job growth.

Travel agents earn an average of $46,400 annually, or $22.31 per hour.

The American Society of Travel Advisors, ASTA, and The Travel Institute developed the TAP certification examination.

Pass the TAP to launch your travel agent career.

Earn your TAP certification and then continue your education by attaining your Certified Travel Associate CTA certification.

Or, specialize in specific types of travel like the following:

• Family travel
• Accessible travel
• Rural tourism
• Pet-friendly travel
• Cruise lines
• Sustainable travel
• Eco-friendly travel
• Solo travel
• Luxury travel
• Romantic getaways
• Destination weddings
• Honeymoon travel

Take a look at the best options for online travel agent training programs.

Check out the following top online training programs:

Penn Foster Online offers courses at levels from high school to college degrees.

Learn everything you need to understand about the travel and tourism industry through this accredited school.

Penn Foster offers an affordable and accredited online Travel Agent Career Diploma.

The program prepares students for entry-level travel agent careers.

Study at your own pace with access to a dedicated faculty.

The Penn Foster online program prepares students for the TAP Travel Agent Proficiency certification exam.

Studying through Penn Foster also allows you free enrollment in a Destination Specialist course at The Travel Institute to help prepare you for the Destination Specialist certification exam.

Fast-paced learners complete the course in as short of time as nine months.

The average student takes 15 months to prepare for work as a travel agent.

Go on to work in an agency, a tour company, an airline, or any travel agent capacity.

The travel agent certificate online program usually costs $989.

Catch a sale to find it as low as $799.

The Travel Institute has a history of preparing individuals for successful and rewarding careers in the travel industry since 1964.

More than 25,000 students claim success through learning with The Travel Institute.

With more than 50 years of training travel agents, the Travel Institute offers certification as a non-profit organization.

The online program aims to develop travel professionals who will better the industry and benefit travelers.

The online training offers their own TRIPKIT Travel Industry Introductory Program.

The Travel Institute also offers certification courses and training in areas of specialization in the travel industry.

Before deciding on a course, sign up for one of many free Webinars.

Gain a solid foundation of knowledge to kick-start your career in travel in up to 12 months of study.

Become a Certified Travel Counselor CTC for $550.

Or, if you already have five years of industry experience, take the Fast Track course.

The Travel Institute also offers Certified Travel Associate CTA and Certified Travel Industry Executive CTIE courses.

Stratford Career Institute is privately owned and established in 1991.

The Institute offers quality at-home vocational training programs to students in North America.

Stratford foresaw the need for emerging education for busy adults and offers distance learning.

SCI provides the opportunity for students to learn in the convenience of their own home with a flexible schedule.

This online school is a member of the United States Distance Learning Association, the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education, and the International Council for Open and Distance Education ICDE.

SCI also has academic affiliations with Institutional Accountants ICIA and The Travel Institute.

If you love to travel and want to turn travel planning into your career, Stratford Career Institute online offers a comprehensive travel and tourism course.

Learn the basics and then move into more advanced topics.

Delve into sales and marketing with this self-paced course.

Complete the course in a year or shorter.

Some students are ready for the next step after six months.

The Stratford Career Institute Travel and Tourism online course will prepare you to sit for the TAP test.

Learn everything you need about landing a job and continuing work as a successful travel agent for $1,049.

Catch the course on sale for $499 during Black Friday or other sales throughout the year.

The Travel Agent Campus is a highly sought-after travel agent/advisor online training and certification program.

Train with lessons developed by innovators of their independent home-based travel agent learning platform.

Learn from instructors who offer more than 30 years of training to those new to the travel business.

The Travel Agent Campus allows you to work at your own pace.

Learn everything you need to know to earn your online travel agent certification in two weeks.

Or, take less time.

Most students finish the course in about three to ten days.

Pay $995 in full, or break it down into monthly payments.

Once you start your travel career, earn as much as 70 percent to 90 percent commission.

Learn at home about the vast travel industry and tourism at your own pace in partnership with TPI Travel Planners International.

Get started in your career of planning, researching, and booking trips with the help of this online course.

Grand Canyon University GCU offers a private for-profit university.

GCU is the largest Christian university in the world, teaching 70,000 online students and 20,000 on-campus learners.

Take your time and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management.

By attaining a BS in Hospitality Management, you open doors to a solid career in travel.

With Grand Canyon University, earn your degree after studying 120 credit hours at approximately $485 per credit.

The online courses each last eight weeks and are self-paced.

You may participate in Web chat sessions or view lectures online throughout the courses.

If you have already earned college credit, transfer credit hours to reduce your overall expenses.

Apply for scholarships to save more on tuition costs. Also, enjoy extensive discounted tuition for active military personnel.

Study online to receive your travel consultant certificate from a program featured by Oprah, ABC, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal.

IAP Career College offers a private online career learning opportunity.

This online college allows students to develop skills to advance their careers or start a business.

Learn the principles and techniques of the travel industry through an affordable online program.

IAP Career College online Travel Consultant Certificate Course takes approximately six weeks to complete.

Some students get done faster, by four weeks.

Others take a full 12 weeks to complete.

Work online at your own pace without teaching assistance.

The IAP course costs approximately $377.

Catch a special sale to get it for as inexpensive as $149.00.

Ashworth College offers career education that teaches practical skills employers want without breaking the bank.

This online school is among the most affordable online schools available to gain travel agent certification.

All of the career-focused courses at Ashworth College include books, lessons, study guides, and academic guidance.

Earn your certification among more than 300,000 students who have graduated from Ashworth.

Ashworth College offers an online travel agent training program to prepare you for work in the travel industry.

The course of study covers reservations, customer service, and geography.

Study entirely at your own pace to prepare for the TAP test certification in less than a year.

Earn your travel and tourism diploma to work with planning tours and management positions.

Pay $989 with monthly payments of $799 paid in full.

Ready yourself to take the Travel Institute Travel Agent Proficiency Test after completing the course.

Ashworth College additionally provides a toolkit with resume templates and other resources to help you land a travel career.

Online travel agent training programs offer courses that teach everything you need to prepare you as a travel agent.

Some of the typical courses included in travel agent training programs include:

• Air travel ticketing, reservations, and baggage handling, including North American Air Travel
• Geographic studies, including popular travel destinations, cultures, customs, and top attractions while exploring the world
• Tourism and the History of tourism, including types of tourism and how travel impacts the economy
• TAP Travel Agent Proficiency Certification studies include customer service, consumer-focused professionalism, specialized travel sales techniques, marketing, office skills, and time management.
• Advanced skills in journey pricing and ticketing
• BSP Agent billing reports and agent remittance procedures
• Learn about required documents for international trips
• Intro to Tourism Management to establish a foundational understanding of the tourism business
• Delve into the challenges of the hospitality industry as a career
• Aspects of Transportation Learning how to navigate domestic and foreign transportation systems such as air, railway, or cruises
• Convention and Special Event Planning, including conferences, trade shows, arranging travel, lodging, booking the best venue, and organizing food services
• World Regions, including time zones, weather, and climate
• International Travel Documentation
• Customer-focused selling and understanding customer needs
• Accepting and processing payments
• Travel Insurance
• Car Rentals
• Tour Sales and Niche Marketing
• Hospitality
• Global Distribution System GDS and establishing Passenger Name Record PNR
• Career Options in Travel
• Types of Tours and Tour Operators
• Fares and ticketing
• How to start an at-home travel agency
• Business Ethics and writing skills
• The Art of listening and communicating

Several online colleges, universities, and career training centers offer a complete program to attain the skills needed in the travel industry.

One of the benefits of studying online is that you learn at your own pace.

Earning an online travel agent certification varies in how long it takes .

Spend a few days, two to three weeks, or stretch it out.

Combine your studies with an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree, and take two to four years.

Pursue one or all of the travel agent certifications, including the following:

• Travel Agent Proficiency TAP
• The Certified Travel Associate CTA – Requires one year of industry experience or completion of the Travel Agent Proficiency TAP exam.
• Certified Travel Counselor
• Certified Travel Industry Executive
• ASTA Verified Travel Advisor VTA from the American Society of Travel Advisors ASTA
• International Air Transport Association IATA
• Travel Industry Designator Service TIDS
• Certified Cruise Counselor CCC from the Cruise Lines International Association CLIA
• Accredited Cruise Counselor ACC
• Master Cruise Counselor MCC
• Elite Cruise Counselor ECC

Online training costs in the travel industry vary based on how long the program is, whether the institution is accredited, and any specializations you pursue.

It ranges in cost from approximately $100 to about $1,000 to complete certification.

Some online programs include an exam fee, so expect to spend about $2,000 or more.

Once you obtain the certification, expect ongoing studies to maintain the certification.

Agents must earn ten continuing education credits CEUs per year.

Pursue your dream of adventure and love for travel.

Obtain your certification to start work in the travel and tourism industry fast .

Study through the best online travel agent training programs.

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A Complete Guide to Travel Agent Schools, 2024 [+Comparison Chart]

Travel agent schools are one of many travel agent training , education, and professional development opportunities. With so many choices, the decision can be mind-boggling.

Never fear. HAR's (Host Agency Reviews') goal is to de-boggle your mind. We'll help you decide if a travel school is right for you, give you a list of questions to ask before you take the plunge, and help you decide which travel agent school is best for you!

⭐️ HAR Article Highlights: ⭐️

Travel agent school preamble.

• A Comparison Chart of Travel Schools

Is a Travel Agent School Right for Me?

• How Do I Pick the Right Travel Agent School for Me?
• Alternatives to Travel Schools

Completing a travel agent school is not a requirement to enter the industry.

In fact, no specific schooling is required to become a travel advisor . No diploma, no certification or professional certificate, no degree, no fancy letters after your name. Nada. You don't need any of it.

The most important consideration is the quality of the education and how the travel agent school will equip you to succeed as a travel agent.

If/when you pick a travel agent school, the most important consideration is the quality of the education and how the travel agent school will equip you to succeed as a travel advisor.

One of the challenges of choosing a travel school is that there is no standardization or quality control. There's no organization that comes out and says, "Hey, you know, in order to be a credible travel agent school, you need to hit all these marks."

What this means is that you are the one that needs to assess whether or not a travel agent school meets your educational needs.

Sound overwhelming? That's what we're here for! To help you create your own metric to decide if attending a travel agent school is the best choice for you!

Travel Agent Schools: Infographic + Comparison Chart

I released a few messenger pigeons to gather information on school programs. Below is an infographic that offers a list and comparison of travel agent schools, plus tools to help you decide if travel agent school is best for you and (if so) to help you decide which one fits your needs.

Before I launch in, it's important to note that the comparison chart only includes programs that are travel-agent-specific . I didn’t include hospitality, tourism, or events management programs. Those areas of study are a different beast entirely.

Here’s the info our messenger pigeons had in tow 🐦🐧. As it turns out, messenger pigeons have impeccable infographic-creating capabilities. Sign in below to download our comparison chart!

Now that you have the lay of the land of what's out there, we're going to dive into how to decide which program would be the best fit for you.

Here are a few things to help you determine whether or not a travel agent school is a good decision for you. (You can think of it as an un-failable quiz!):

1. are you totally new to the industry?

If you're really working from ground zero, a travel agent school is great way to help you get your bearings. Not only that, but if you do your due diligence and choose a great travel agent school, you stand to save some time by getting all the basic industry info you need in one place (rather than trying to cobble together your own education).

2. Do you want to earn a general degree or professional certificate?

If you want to earn an Associate's degree or a professional certificate then a travel agent school could be a great option for you. If you're in the market for a general degree, you'll want to be sure the travel school you choose is accredited.

If you're in the market for a general degree, you'll want to be sure the travel school you choose is accredited.

How can you tell if a school is accredited?

• Check out our travel agent school comparison chart , which indicates if a travel agent school is accredited. Don't see your school of choice on our chart? Drop me an email at [email protected] so I can add the school to our chart!
• Check on the travel agent school's website to see if they're accredited. (You can usually find this in the About [School] section . . . they'll want to brag about their accreditation, so it will be there if they have one!)

If you're looking to earn a professional certificate, you won't need to pick an accredited school, but you'll want to choose a program that's industry-recognized (more on that later).

3. Does the idea of a structured program & Peer Support motivate you?

A travel agent school can also be a good option if you find If you thrive off of the structured support of a set program—a syllabus, class schedule, homework, evaluation, deadlines, quizzes, etc.

Each travel agent school will be structured differently, so if there are some aspects of the school structure that are important to you, make sure that the travel school fits the bill for you.

Most of the travel agent schools are online, but this isn't necessarily at the expense of tight-knit peer communities. One way to evaluate a travel school is to check and see if they have active online groups of alums. You can also ask programs how much contact students have with one another during the course (we'll get more into the nitty gritty of evaluating schools soon.)

4. Is a Travel School in Your Budget?

The tuition for travel agent schools listed in this article ranges from $495 to $15,900. That's quite a range. In terms of making a sound financial investment, consider these questions:

1. How much do I want to spend on a travel school?

2. Is the travel school affordable?

3. Does it seem to offer a good value?

4. Is it a good value for what it offers (for example, you might consider how much it costs per credit or contact hours, rather than focusing on the total sticker price) .

5. Is it comparable in price to other training programs?

6. Can I pay in installments?

7. Can I get any scholarship, aid, loans?

One thing to factor in your decision is the income potential for a travel agent. How do you know what kind of income to expect? Our travel advisor research papers have income info for employees as well as self-employed travel advisors (both independent and hosted travel agents).

If you're thinking of starting up your own agency , we have info on how much it costs to become a travel agent that can help you benchmark.

5. Do You Have Time?

Travel agent schools are a time commitment as well as a financial commitment.

Like tuition, the duration of travel school programs varies significantly—from four weeks to two years . Additionally, the time you need to invest in your coursework will also vary.

Travel agent schools are a time commitment . . . Like tuition, the duration of travel school programs varies significantly—from four weeks to two years.

If you want to take the time to get your bearings the industry before you dive in, a travel school could be idea. If you want to start selling travel yesterday and are willing to learn as you go, it might not be the best fit (or you might explore a short or self-paced program.)

time to tally your score.

Yay! You finished your unfailable quiz!

If you answered yes to a majority of the questions, a travel school could be a great fit and you should probably keep exploring! So keep reading!

If you answered no to a majority of these questions, you should still keep reading because, let's face it, you're really thorough and you want to ensure you not missing out on any info!

But if you want to take a shortcut to explore alternatives, go here !

Listen to Lu Maggiora, chat on her travel agent school success story in Travel Agent Chatter Vol. 7:

Make a Travel Agent School Short List

A travel school is a good option for you?! *High five!* Now the kicker is this, how do you decide what program might be best for you?

Here's a list of questions to ask of your travel agent school programs to help you narrow it down:

1. Who teaches in the program and what is their background in the industry?

I'm going to be honest here.

There's a lot of travel agent training and education programs out there, and you deserve a program with someone at the helm who's invested in the travel industry. Look at their background, and gauge the industry engagement of the people who run and teach at the school.

There's a lot of training and education programs out there, and you deserve a program with someone at the helm who's invested in the travel industry

The most important quality of a travel agent school is the quality of its education, and choosing one with deep industry roots is a good indication that you'll be in good hands.

This means they should be going to travel industry events and have had real-life experience in the world of travel agents.

2. If you want a general degree, is the school accredited?

If you want a general degree in addition to earning a professional certificate at a travel agent school, you want (I'll go ahead and say need ) to pick a school that is accredited.

Here's another thing to consider: Do any of the credits from the travel agent certificate go toward the general degree? Hopefully the answer is a resounding yes (the more credits that apply to your degree, the merrier).

3. is the TraveL School's certificate recognized within the industry?

Most travel agent schools result in some kind of professional certificate.

in most cases, a travel agent certificate itself is not going to give you instant access to a higher pay scale. But a good program will help you cultivate professional skills, which will translate to a higher pay scale.

If you want to become an independent contractor, you may also want to consider if a host agency accepts the certificate in lieu of the host's education program (more on that later). How would you know that if a host is willing to make this accommodation? You can post a question on their host profile on this very site!!!

4. Is their curriculum current, thorough and useful?

Evaluating the strength of a travel school's curriculum may seem hard if you have no industry experience. But I'm here to give you a few pointers on how to gauge if it's up to snuff for what you need:

• Does it cover a variety of topics? Does it go into as much depth as you need such as marketing, sales strategies, legal & regulatory topics, an industry overview, trip planning? Is there any focus on some popular niches such as destination specialty, cruise, etc (especially if it aligns with what you want to do).
• Does it focus on topics that you don't need? Okay. I'm about to say something controversial: Unless you want to be a corporate agent , you don't need a curriculum that focuses on GDS (Global Distribution System) . There. I said it. You can throw flaming bags of dog poop on my porch, but I stand behind this because A.) 99% of the time, GDS is not the right tool for the job for leisure agents and B.) It's a waste of your time and money to spend so much time learning a tool you probably won't use. Do you want to be familiar with what it is? Sure. But if you're going to sell leisure, you don't need 20% of your coursework dedicated to it.
• Is it current? When is the last time the travel agent school updated their curriculum? Do they talk about current issues in travel? If you're not sure just by perusing their site, give them a holler and ask.
• Do specific areas of focus align with what you want to do? Some travel agent schools will have specific areas of study that might be optional. This may include focusing on a particular destination or niche . This is fabulous . . . unless you don't really care about that area of study. So if a program has an entire unit on, let's say, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, that's not going to be very helpful to you if you primarily want to book adventure trips to Alaska and the Arctic regions. But there's an exception . . .
• Does it prepare you to become an independent contractor or an employee? A curriculum will be very different based on whether or not you want to become an employee or an independent contractor . If you want to work for a retail location as an employee, familiarity with GDS may be an asset; a broad overview of cruise lines and popular destinations like Jamaica, Mexico and Europe is likely critical. But if you're going to be an independent contractor, it's important that the area of study aligns closely with what you want to sell. It might seems like choosing a niche is putting the cart before the horse, but homing in on a specialty can help you choose a travel agent school.

5. What are the program goals & do they succeed?

You have a good handle on your goals, but how do they align with the goals of a travel school? More than that, does the travel agent school achieve the goals they set out for themselves as a program? Here's a few questions to consider.

• What are the goals of the program (and does it fit with your professional goals)? Is it to prepare you for the Travel Institute's TAP (Travel Agent Proficiency) test? (Here's a hint: If prepping for the TAP test is your primary initiative, you can get a study guide for the TAP test and take it on your own for what could be a fraction of the cost to attend a travel school.) Is it to eventually support you with job placement? Is it to make you an expert on selling cruises? Is it to give you a broad overview of the industry? (Another hint: If that's the case, check out the American Society of Travel Advisor's (ASTA) Roadmap to Becoming a Travel Advisor course written by HAR's founder which will be much more cost effective.)
• Does the travel school have follow-up employment services? Will they continue to support you once you're out in the world? How do they do that?
• Are their alumnae ending up where you want to end up? Are their alumnae doing the jobs (or creating the jobs) that you want to do? (Check out HAR's travel jobs board for opportunities.)
• What does their data say? Beyond graduation/completion rate, how long does it take their students to get settled into the industry?

Alternatives to Travel Agent School

Maybe you've gotten this far and decided that a travel agent school is not right for you. But you don't need to throw your arms up in surrender just yet because there are other options.

What are they you ask? Read on!

1. Travel Agent Certification:

Certifications allow you to add fancy letters after your name that will (hopefully) be recognized by the travel industry.

They're often provided by organizations such as  travel consortia , accreditation organizations ( more here on travel agent accreditation options ), and travel industry membership groups such as Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) or The Travel Institute .

A comparable example to travel agent certification might be like a CPA (certified professional accountant). You can still be an accountant without your CPA, but it helps potential clients know that you're the real deal. If you're looking for certification (in addition to/ rather than training) we have a resource for you!

2. Host Travel Agent Education Programs:

Host agencies and travel consortia also have loads of education opportunities. In fact, some of the travel agent schools listed above were founded by folks who run host agencies. (They're busy!)

What the heck is a host agency and travel consortium? At its most basic, a host agency is an umbrella organization that an independent agency (that’s you!) can align with for better commissions , support, and marketing/tech tools.

A travel consortium is a collective of host agencies, travel agencies, and/or travel advisors that join forces to combine resources in order to increase their industry footprint. This gives them more including buying potential with preferred suppliers , perks, & more favorable commission agreements.

School's Out for the Summer

Yay! Your education on travel agent schools is complete. You can now consider yourself well prepared (if not over-prepared) to decide if a travel school is for you, and (if it is), which option is your best choice.

Have you gone to a travel agent school? Let us know the good, bad, and ugly in the comments below!

⭐️ Don't Miss HAR's Travel Agent Training & Education Series! ⭐️

• Travel Agent Training and Education: This is the motherboard for all travel agent training options.
• A Guide to Host Agency and Consortia Education: Details on host and consortia education, plus a comparison chart.
• Travel Agent Certification: Want to read up on what certification options are out there? This is for you.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in Dec. 2019. We annually update and republish this article to include the latest information about travel agent school programs. The article was updated and republished on the post date listed at the top of the article.

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

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