How Do You Become An Accredited Travel Agent?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The very minimum professional certification a travel agent can attain is the

Certified Travel Associate (CTA)

. This can be earned after 18 months of travel industry experience. You cannot become “certified” with them until you have been on the job for at least a year and a half, studied for and passed a rigorous exam.

How much does it cost to get certified as a travel agent?

Those with a year or more of experience in the travel agency industry are eligible for The Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Associate (CTA) program, for example. Covering 15 different areas of study, the program costs

$399 in online form and $499 in print form

.

How long does it take to become a certified travel agent?

Aspiring individuals may take

4 to 5 years

to become a travel agent. The general education requirements for this profession is usually a high school diploma, although there are companies that might prefer those individuals who have college degrees or related subjects to the travel industry.

Can you be a travel agent without a degree?


There are no specific requirements to be a travel agent

, but a bachelor’s degree will open up more job opportunities, and certifications might make travel agents more marketable.

How do you become a certified travel agent?

Aspiring individuals may take

4 to 5 years

to become a travel agent. The general education requirements for this profession is usually a high school diploma, although there are companies that might prefer those individuals who have college degrees or related subjects to the travel industry.

How much do travel agents make per booking?

Some offer a meager

$2 per reservation

(regardless of value), while others based on incentives and productivity will pay commissions as high as 20%. Across the board the average commissions are 3% for Internet bookings, 3-5% on promotional rental rates and 10% on leisure rates booked through GDS distribution channels.

Do you need a license to become a travel agent?

At this time in the US, there are 5 states that have

Seller of Travel Laws

, i.e. require a travel agent license. Those include; California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington – These are also known as The Big Five SOT States®.

How do travel agents get paid?

Travel agents get

paid on commission by hotels, airlines and resorts

, but many more are charging fees on top of that because of their time. … “You’ll see more agencies charging, say, $150 to $300 to put a trip together but then you get that back when you actually book with them.” 5. All travel agents are the same.

Is it worth it to become a travel agent?

If you love traveling or helping people fulfill their travel dreams, becoming a travel agent might be an

excellent

option. Nowadays, we all want a job that is flexible enough to save you some you-time while still promising financial stability. Even with all the benefits, it’s not always an-all-rosy career.

Is now a good time to become a travel agent?

Travel Agents Are Back! “I was passionate about travel and that’s what I wanted to do and like then,

now is a great time

,” she said. … Travel advisors are in the spotlight now in a positive way and new advisors can take advantage of that. Saburn pointed out that demand for travel advisors is higher now after this event.

Is it hard to be a travel agent?

Most have been in the travel agent field for years, or they’ve come from another segment of the travel industry and have both an experienced passion and a resourced knowledge of the global travel business. … Being

a travel agent is hard work, long hours, and [frequently] low pay

.

What do travel agents major in?

  • Travel.
  • Tourism.
  • Business.
  • Business Administration.
  • Economics.
  • Hospitality.

What skills do travel agents need?

  1. 1 – BE A GREAT COMMUNICATOR. Whether on the phone, via email or face-to-face, communication skills are by far the number 1 asset that all travel agents should have. …
  2. 2- PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES. …
  3. 3 – GET ORGANIZED. …
  4. 4 – STAY HUMBLE. …
  5. 5 – PLENTY OF RIGOR… …
  6. 6- AND FINALLY…

Can travel agents get better deals?

If they have been in the travel business for many years, they likely have supplier relationships in place that can help leverage better deals for you. … Some travel agents offer package

deals

, with more savings passed on to you then booking the trip on your own—that is good news to your wallet.

How much do home based travel agents make?

Industry resources show relatively low incomes for agents at an

average of around $37,000 per year

and this is because many home based travel agents only work part time and do not have the expectation of generating large incomes.

Why use a travel agent instead of booking online?

Why use a travel agent instead of booking online? Simply put,

you’ll have a better trip

, without the stress of planning your trip alone. A travel agent can accommodate your interests, budget and time frame with their wealth of knowledge and expertise to make sure that you get the most out of your trip.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.