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Best travel counselor certifications

The best certifications for a travel counselor are Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP), Certified Travel Associate (CTA), and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC).

Travel counselor certifications demonstrate your competency as a travel counselor to employers. However, not all travel counselor certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best travel counselor certifications. Obtaining a travel counselor certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

5 best certifications for travel counselors

5 best travel counselor 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.

Certification details
  • 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.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying website
Certified Travel Associate
Certifying organization
The Travel Institute

3. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying website
Certified Travel Counselor
Certifying organization
The Travel Institute

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.

Certification details
  • 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 Management Accountant (CMA)

The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.

Certification details
  • 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)

What is the best certification for a travel counselor?

The best travel counselor 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 counselor 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 counselors?

The most in-demand travel counselor certification is Certified Travel Counselor based on all active job postings. Having this travel counselor certification will give you access to more travel counselor jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a travel counselor career and salary?

The Travel and Tourism Professional certification will help you to secure a corporate travel counselor position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A corporate travel counselor's average salary is $51,458 whereas travel counselors make an average salary of $44,934.

Best certifications

The most common combination of travel counselor certifications include: Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP), Certified Travel Associate (CTA), and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC).

Online courses for travel counselors to earn certifications

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