Travel Agent Certification - What are your Options? You’re wondering what type of travel agent certification is out there. I’ve written an article on just that topic! How handy. Let’s make sure we’re clear about what this article is and what it is not about: It IS about travel agent certification. It IS NOT about travel agency numbers/travel agency accreditations (more on travel agency accreditations). It IS NOT about travel agent training. What’s the difference between travel agency training and certification? Well, it’s a blurry line so we decided to make our own lines in the sandbox. When we say “certification,” this is what we mean: something comes from organizations whose education programs specialize in travel industry exclusivelya comprehensive training program, not just a specific destination or vendoreducation that is not provided by a vendor, destination, or travel agency. We’re also going to be selective. The travel agent certifications we mention aren’t the only certification or training program for travel agents—you can find plenty more. Sales and Marketing Course. Find An ASTA Travel Agent. Nexion Enhances Relationship with ASTA, Introduces Independent Agent Membership Initiative Today. What we want are organizations that are active in the travel agent community at large. What constitutes an organization that is “active in the agent community?” For our purposes, it means they attend travel agent events, they provide resources and tools beneficial to agents, I know them or have met someone that vouches for them. As a caveat, I’ll mention this article isn’t an endorsement of any of the programs—think of it more as a vetted list! I believe that an active organization = having a pulse on things. An out of touch organization is the last thing I want associated with a travel agent certification program! Therefore, organizations that I haven’t seen active in the community got the axe. Sorry. The Basics of Certification. First things first; understand that there is no universal travel agent certification. If you found a site that suggests you need to take their course in order to become a travel agent, run the other direction! There are no travel agent certifications required by law in the US and most of Canada. Here’s how it works: In the travel industry (especially for the US), there is no formalized process to become a travel agent. Travel Agent Degree Programs and Education Requirements. Aspiring travel agents can look into undergraduate degree programs such as Associate of Science in Travel and Tourism Operations or a Bachelor of Science in. Become a Travel Consultant. UAW Union Tuition Assistance Programs; Michigan Rehabilitation Funds. The Travel School also offers an Internet delivered travel agent online course program that allows you to study at your. How to Become a Travel Agent in Michigan. The travel industry is always looking for fresh talent interested in planning dream vacations for. Enroll in one of Michigan's travel agent certification programs. The AAA Travel Agent Training Center uses industry recognized course curriculum. Live as a Travel Agent. Enroll in AAA TATC Programs; Student Sign In; Join AAA; About Us. This means there is no national board exam you need to pass, no state certification requirements (although, make sure you’re familiar with the US and Canadian licensing and seller of travel laws). That can be great—anyone can break into the industry regardless of education, finances, or location. On the other hand, anytime ? A wide range of capabilities. This applies to any industry, including those with rigorous requirements to get through the gates.)But you take the good with the bad—that’s the upside and the downside of an industry with a low barrier to entry. Note: Travel agents in Ontario, Canada, you’re the odd ball out. All agents and supervisors/managers must take the Travel Industry Council of Ontario(TICO) exam. It currently rings up at $3. CAD. Travel Agent Certification Programs, Fun Acronyms. Eeek! The travel agent certification programs we’re going to mention—and we’ve got a few of them—involve acronyms, fun! Stephanie Lee, MCC, CTC, CTIE ! Mmm, I love me some acronyms. The Travel Institute Travel Agent Certifications. With nearly 5. 0 years under their belt, The Travel Institute holds the prize for the longest running travel agent certification program. They’ve got a few programs, each focusing on agents at different stages in their career. These certifications are used by travel agents across the industry—cruise, corporate, luxury, leisure. Here’s a few of their certifications below: Certified Travel Associate (CTA)Description: Agent must have 1. The CTC is a management skills program designed for travel agents looking to build or grow their business. Curriculum consists of 1. Time to Complete: Most agents can finish within 6- 9 months but have up to 1. Cost: $5. 50 complete course, or $6. CTC Fast Track (for agents with 5 years of experience, but who don’t have a CTA certification); test only is $3. Maintenance: To maintain certification, agents must earn 1. CEUs) a year. Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE)Description: This designation is for non- consumer sales roles with 5+ years of experience. It is equivalent to the CTC. Curriculum consists of (1. Time to Complete: 1. Cost: $5. 50 to complete course ($3. Maintenance: Student must commit to annual Travel Institute membership and agents must earn 1. CEUs) a year. TAP Test: This one is a bit confusing, but I want to mention the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test offered by The Travel Institute (Cost: $9. This is not a travel agent certification—think of it like a final exam for a Travel Agent 1. No degree comes with it, but you’re learning. Also important to note, the TAP test is offered by institutions outside The Travel Institute. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Travel Agent Certification. CLIA’s travel agent certification program dishes out four power- packed acronyms- induced certifications that depend on the agent’s familiarization with ships. To gain accreditation, an agent must first be a member of CLIA. As the CLIA affiliation would suggest, this is a travel agent certification program geared towards agents specializing in cruises. This is a certification heavy on hands- on experiences. Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC)Description: 1. Product Knowledge Requirements (must be on all of CLIA’s member lines): Must be a CLIA affiliated agent; take one 2- 6 day cruise and one 7+ day cruise; complete 5 shipboard inspections; book and deposit 2. Time to Complete: 2 years. Cost: $7. 0 enrollment/re- enrollment fee + course fees + ship inspections fees (if any) + cost of cruises. Master Cruise Counsellor (MCC)Description: Must have ACC certification. Course completion requires 1. Product Knowledge Requirements(must all be on CLIA member lines): Take two 7+ day cruises (on lines not utilized for your ACC); complete 3 shipboard inspections not utilized for your ACC; 4. Time to Complete: 2 years. Cost: $7. 0 enrollment/re- enrollment fee + course fees + ship inspections fees (if any) + cost of cruises. Elite Cruise Counsellor (ECC)Description: Must have MCC certification. ECCS program was on hiatus. We’ll be sure to include the info as soon as we know more! Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Certifications. The GBTA is the front runner in the industry when it comes to corporate (ahem, business) travel. Being corporate- minded, it’s also no surprise they also have an independent board whose purpose is to “administer a valid, reliable, defensible, and psychometrically sound examination.”I had to look up the definition of psychometrically. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t sending people to a program where they are psychologically tortured. We’re good, don’t worry! It gauges a travel agent’s competency in four different “domains: ” Strategic business planning; buyer/supplier relations; travel program administration; and Data/Analytics/Finance. Since it’s a global program, the GTP accreditation is not limited to travel agents in the US/ Canada. Here’s a dated—but still helpful—webinar on the GTP travel agent certification program. Pre- requisites: The official stance is the program is only for agents with “a minimum of three years of business travel related experience.” Don’t let that dissuade you if you’ve never had the title “travel manager”. If you’ve been booking travel for your company as an admin assistant for three years, you’ve got the experience! Cost: $3. 50 GBTA members, $4. I hate to bombard you with yet more acronyms, but current CCTE (Certified Corporate Travel Executives), SMMC (Strategic Management Meetings Certification), CGTE (Certified Government Travel Executive), and GLP (Global Leadership Professional) holders can take the exam for free. Time to Complete: Must apply for a exam date/location. Test centers allot 3 hours to take the exam. Maintenance: GTP holders must re- certify every three years by earning 5. This is done by showing involvement in professional development activities or by passing another GTP exam. To Certify or Not to Certify? I’m often asked if an agent should go through a travel agent certification course before they start their agency. That’s the million dollar question—to certify or not to certify. First, keep in mind this site specializes in working with agents—many of whom are new to the industry—that are aligned with host agencies. In travel, training is plentiful but also (very) fragmented. You can get training through your host agency, franchise and/or consortia. Suppliers, destinations, and associations have boatloads of trainings for you; travel schools—both on and offline—have trainings to help you learn the ropes. It’s like the toothpaste aisle at Target, the options can be overwhelming. Here’s my thought on getting a travel agent certification: To avoid wasting money and time, get your toes wet first and see if you even like the industry. Join a host agency, make a few bookings, try your hand at being an entrepreneur and travel agent—it’s not for everyone. If you do like it, I say certification is a great way to network, expand your knowledge base, and get a cute (yet professional) lil’ acronym to put after your name! Editor’s Note: This article was originally published March 2. April 5, 2. 01. 6 to make sure we’re giving you up- to- date info. I specialize in working with people looking to start and/or grow their travel agencies. I’ve worked with thousands of agents and helped them learn more about the travel industry. If you’ve found this article helpful, please help give it some love via like/tweet/share or drop us a comment! Learn More About Steph> > If you have any questions on certification, getting started, or general industry questions, I’m your girl. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google+.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2016
Categories |