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Best travel agent certifications
The best certifications for a travel agent are Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP), Certified Travel Associate (CTA), and Certified Travel Industry Specialist (ABA,).
Travel agent certifications demonstrate your competency as a travel agent to employers. However, not all travel agent certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best travel agent certifications. Obtaining a travel agent certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
6 best certifications for travel agents
| Rank | Travel agent certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) | IATA |
| 2 | Certified Travel Associate (CTA) | ICTA |
| 3 | Certified Travel Industry Specialist (ABA,) | ABA, CTIS |
| 4 | Travel Agent Executive (TAE) | CLIA |
| 5 | Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) | ICTA |
| 6 | Certified Destination Specialist (CDS) | ICTA |
6 best travel agent certifications
1. Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP)
Travel is an exciting, multi-faceted business for service oriented professionals that want to work independently or for a variety of employers.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
2. Certified Travel Associate (CTA)
The Certified Travel Associate (CTA) program teaches front line travel professionals how to close more sales, improve efficiency, expand geography knowledge and fine-tune customer service skills, all while earning widely recognized industry credentials.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
3. Certified Travel Industry Specialist (ABA,)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required?
4. Travel Agent Executive (TAE)
The Travel Agency Executive (TAE) Certification is for management-level, travel agency professionals with a current CLIA Affiliate Agency who are may or may not also be full-time selling travel agents. This certification is for people in the role of executive, director, accounting manager, marketing manager, ecommerce manager, or someone who works in a leadership capacity.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
5. Certified Travel Counselor (CTC)
The Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) program teaches agency owners and managers how to analyze new business opportunities, develop marketing strategies, negotiate, and manage more effectively. Graduates will learn how to grow their business while earning recognized industry credentials.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
6. Certified Destination Specialist (CDS)
Our Destination Specialist programs span the globe providing you with essential knowledge for you to understand the destination as well as help you create the kinds of experiences your customers expect. Our courses focus on the geography, culture, essential sites and attractions, travel tips, and sample itineraries that will help you create memorable trips for your clients. Along the way, your study will provide you with information to enhance the traveler's appreciation of what they will be seeing, tasting, experiencing, and even help guide them on what they may choose to bring back for souvenirs.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
What is the best certification for a travel agent?
The best travel agent certification is Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP). The Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) is awarded by the International Air Transport Association. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this travel agent certification:
- To become a certified Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP), you need to pass the exam.
- This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 2 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for travel agents?
The most in-demand travel agent certification is Certified Travel Associate based on all active job postings. Having this travel agent certification will give you access to more travel agent jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a travel agent career and salary?
The Travel and Tourism Professional certification will help you to secure a travel consultant position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A travel consultant's average salary is $41,774 whereas travel agents make an average salary of $33,128.
The most common combination of travel agent certifications include: Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP), Certified Travel Associate (CTA), and Certified Travel Industry Specialist (ABA,).
Online courses for travel agents to earn certifications
1. International Travel Preparation, Safety, & Wellness
Whether you've traveled before or not, living and working overseas can be challenging. Learn how best to prepare and make the most of your time internationally. This course will prepare you to work and live overseas. It explores the epidemiology of common morbidity and mortality among travelers and examines key prevention, safety, and travel medicine principles and services to contextualize risks and maintain wellness. The course reviews applicable interventions, appropriate vaccines, and...
2. Adding a Phone Gateway to a Virtual Agent
This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. In this lab you will continue working on your Pigeon Travel virtual agent and add a phone gateway to allow users to call into your virtual agent...
3. TRAVEL Hacking for Beginners: Cheap, Smart & Safe Travel
60+ World Travel Tips: Cheap Travel. Fear of Flying. Travel Motivation & Safety. Negotiation. Social Success Abroad...
4. Travel Management Course (Skill-Based)
#1 Travel Management Course in the Industry .All you need to know to step into the Travel & Tourism Sector...
5. Building Virtual Agent Fulfillment
This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. In this lab, you will continue working on your Pigeon Travel chat agent and add context as well as setup fulfillment to lookup and store reservations entries in Firestore...
6. Executive Travel Planning for Virtual Assistants
Manage flights, hotels, and car services for corporate travel like a pro! PLUS travel changes during a global crisis...
7. Travel Hacking and Credit Card Reward Basics!
Credit cards offer HUGE sign up bonuses!...
8. How to get Paid to Travel The World
Build an online brand from scratch and get paid to travel the world Full Time...
9. Travel Writing: Explore the World & Publish Your Stories!
Highest Rated Travel Writing Course ~ Ranked #4 on Buzzfeeds List of 23 of the Coolest Online Classes on this website...
10. Travel Photography: Take Beautiful Photos on Your Adventures
Capture amazing photos with our complete A-Z guide to travel photography: Equipment, Shooting, Editing, Sharing...
11. Travel Journaling: How to Write Extraordinary Travel Diaries
From the author of Globejotting: How to Write Extraordinary Travel Journals (and still have time to enjoy your trip!)...
12. DIGITAL NOMAD MASTERY - How to Travel The World for Free
How You Can Explore the World in Luxury or On a Shoestring as a Digital Nomad...
13. Start Your Traveling Ministry - Itinerant and Evangelistic
Ministry Training Institute. How do you get started with a traveling ministry?...
14. Travel! The Ultimate Crash Course to Living on the Road
How You Can Afford a Life of Travel and Adventure!...
15. Amadeus GDS Training Amadeus Course Amadeus Tutorial
Amadeus Course Step by Step Amadeus Course Amadeus GDS Training Amadeus GDS Reservation Course...
16. Learn Most Common Thai For Travelling. In Just 40 Minutes!
Learn Practical Thai in Just 40 minutes!...
17. How To Work For Yourself And Travel The World
How to find your focus, determine the value you can offer the world, and focus on creating the life you want...
18. Step by Step Mobile Phone Travel Videos
Smart Phone Video Creation made Easy...
19. Sabre GDS Training Sabre GDS Course Sabre GDS Tutorial
Sabre GDS Course from Basics to Advance Level Sabre Reservation Course Sabre GDS Course...
20. Zendesk for Customer Service Agents-Complete Training Course
Learn how to use all available options of Zendesk and manage your tickets like a real PRO. This is a complete training...