How To Become A Travel Agent – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

If you’re the “planner friend” in your group, you know how satisfying it is to map out the perfect trip. Unique destinations, creative restaurants and engaging experiences—all under budget, of course.

You can turn those skills into a flexible career as a travel agent. To get started, you only need a high school diploma, strong people skills and the right certifications. Travel agents often carve their own paths, setting their own hours as independent contractors or franchise owners.

In this article, we’ll walk you through each step to becoming a travel agent. We’ll discuss education requirements, certifications, specializations and travel agent career paths.

What Is a Travel Agent?

Travel agents sell travel packages. They draw on their expertise and connections to create trip itineraries for customers. They book flights, rental cars, hotels, tours and dining experiences. They also make sure their clients have all the necessary information and are prepared with passports, visas, vaccinations or other customs requirements.

Travel agents add a personal touch by speaking with customers to identify their destination, interests and any special needs. For example, they might plan accessible trips for travelers who use a wheelchair or have dietary restrictions. They may need to be on call in case last-minute issues arise.

Travel agents often focus on a specific type of travel. Possible specialties include:

• Corporate travel
• Cruises
• Luxury trips
• Destination weddings
• Group travel
• Wellness travel

Travel Agent Career Paths

Travel agents must be self-starters with strong sales skills. They typically follow one of the following paths for employment.

• Host agency: Work as an independent contractor under a host company, which provides training, access to partnerships and bookkeeping services. With a low startup cost, this path helps new travel advisors get started.
• Travel franchise: Become an independent franchisee of an established travel agency brand. This requires an upfront purchase and overhead costs, but the franchiser may offer training. Since you own the business, you can hire independent contractors, too.
• Travel company: Handle bookings as an employee at an established company. This typically involves standard hours and employee benefits, but you’ll have less agency.

Travel Agent Requirements

Travel agents rely on personal experience, on-the-job training and professional certifications to signify their trustworthiness.

Get a High School Diploma

You can get started with just a high school diploma, though it may help to earn an associate degree or complete a self-paced training program. Some travel-focused organizations, including the American Society of Travel Advisors and The Travel Institute, offer online travel agent courses.

It helps to have work experience in customer service or sales. Customer-facing roles help you become a better listener and learn to solve problems on the fly. Plus, having a strong sales record can make you stand out to potential agencies.

Start to understand how the travel industry works. Research destinations, travel and practice creating itineraries. You might also pick up another language, study geography or read up on travel books or blogs.

Get Experience in the Travel Industry

Get your foot in the door by taking the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP®) test from The Travel Institute. The $95 exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions on travel products, geography and selling skills. You don’t need any prior experience or education to take the test.

To become a more competitive candidate, consider completing Certified Travel Associate (CTA®) training. You’ll qualify for the course if you score 80% or higher on the TAP exam. The CTA prep course covers communication, ethics, marketing and travel-specific skills, such as planning itineraries and selling all-inclusive resorts.

Decide whether you’d like to work with a host agency or purchase a travel franchise. Make sure the company provides adequate on-the-job training, which typically lasts at least a month and covers industry-specific tools and software.

Consider a College Degree

Some employers prefer candidates who have a college degree or have taken travel-focused courses. Higher education can also help you thrive as an entrepreneur.

To start, look into community college programs, which allow you to explore new skills at a relatively affordable price. You can take individual courses or pursue a two-year degree. Potential associate degree titles include:

• Travel/tourism
• Tourism management
• Hospitality and tourism

These programs equip you with fundamental business skills, including financial accounting, business law and communication. Focused programs also cover travel agency operations, destinations and security. Some colleges also offer short certificate programs for travel agents.

Consider enrolling in a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree in business, hospitality or tourism management. These programs establish a broader set of skills, such as marketing, sales, leadership and a foreign language.

Pursue Additional Certifications and Education

Earning advanced certifications or pursuing a niche can help you stand out. The Travel Institute offers three levels of certification based on your experience, which all require continuing education units (CEUs) to stay competitive. For example, CEU courses might cover marketing, ethics, project management or AI. We’ll discuss certification options in a later section.

While most individuals plan their own itineraries online, you can become an expert in planning more complex trips for niche markets, such as golf, honeymoon or wellness trips. You might also specialize in a specific mode of travel, such as cruises.

Travel Agent Salary and Job Outlook

Travel agents make average wages. In May 2023, travel agents reported a median wage of $47,410 per year, roughly equal to the national median annual wage, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, since travel agents often work as independent contractors or business owners with different commission structures, their income varies.

The BLS also predicts average demand for travel agents, with 3% expected growth from 2022 to 2032.

Certifications for Travel Agents

Certification options abound for travel agents. Below, we’ll explore three organizations that offer professional development opportunities. Earning a certification also means you’ll be listed in the organization’s directory, making it easier to connect with potential clients.

The Travel Institute

The Travel Institute helps new travel agents get started through its TRIPKIT℠ training program and TAP exam. It offers three training programs with certifications; each costs $599.

• Certified Travel Associate: This program requires one year of experience or a score of at least 80% on the TAP test. Earn certification by passing the CTA exam with a grade of 70% or higher and earning 10 CEUs per year.
• Certified Travel Counselor (CTC®): The program requires five years of experience and CTA certification (or equivalent). The curriculum focuses on management skills. Pass an exam, earn CEUs and submit a white paper or project to earn the CTC distinction.
• Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE®): This program requires five years of experience. Candidates must pass a proctored test, submit a white paper or project, and maintain their certification through CEUs.

American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)

ASTA supports travel agents with online courses, niche trainings, industry events and a career center for members.

The ASTA Verified Travel Advisor® (VTA) certification program covers legal, ethical and regulatory issues. Each of the four modules includes an exam. To earn this certification, you must be an ASTA member, which costs $239 for individuals. ASTA also requires two years of experience with over $500,000 in sales in one year, or five years of experience with $250,000 in annual sales.

To maintain your certification, you must complete ASTA-approved courses or attend events. The VTA program costs $399, plus $99 every two years.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

If you’d like to specialize in cruise travel, CLIA offers professional development opportunities, including live training events, online courses and four levels of certification:

• Certified Cruise Counselor
• Accredited Cruise Counselor
• Master Cruise Counselor
• Elite Cruise Counselor

CLIA certification incorporates mandatory courses, elective training and professional knowledge, including live or virtual ship inspections, stateroom bookings and personal cruise experiences. These requirements increase at each level.

The applications cost $69 to $99; the required CLIA membership costs $129 per year. Applicants pay for their own training to fulfill credit requirements.

CLIA also offers certificate programs in specialized topics, including accessibility, public relations, family cruises and luxury travel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How To Become a Travel Agent