How to Become a Travel Agent

Guide Note

Before enrolling in any courses or answering any advertisements, check out How to Become a Travel Agent. Learn the real way to become an authentic travel agent and avoid the scams.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Graduate High School
• Step 2: Educate Yourself
• Step 3: Get a Job
• Step 4: Register with Your State
• Conclusion
• References

Travel Agent Tips

1. Learn your geography.
2. Gain experience in tourism.
3. Take a course at your local community college.
4. Watch out for the many travel agent scams.
5. Educate yourself in the travel laws of both the states you are living and selling in.

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• Do you have more stamps in your passport than most people have on their packages? Do you spend more time living out of your suitcase than living out of your home? Did you ace geography in high school? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might consider a job as a travel agent. Finding a job as a travel agent is getting tougher with the creation of the internet and do-it-yourself travel sites such as Orbitz, Priceline, Hotwire, Expedia and Travelocity. However, it can still be done if you take the right steps.

Step 1: Graduate High School

• The minimum qualification for being a travel agent is a high school diploma.¹ Technically, that means you could get a job at a travel agency without following any of the steps listed below. However, few agencies will hire someone unless they have a few of the additional qualifications listed in Step 2.

Step 2: Educate Yourself

(Creative Commons photo by gavdana)

• Technically, this step is not required. Learning various skills, however, will help you either land a job as a travel agent or open your own agency.

1. Learn a foreign language.²
   • For more information on learning a language, visit Mahalo's Language How Tos.
2. Expand your knowledge of various travel destinations. Travel agents need to be well-versed about various destinations' weather conditions, attractions, local customs and events.³
3. Take a computer and/or a web design course. Much of a travel agent's business in conducted online.²

Travel Agency Courses

• There are numerous courses advertised that can help you become a travel agent. Your best bet is to take a travel or tourism course at a community college.⁴

1. The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) offers a list of member travel schools.⁵
2. A list of online and local colleges that offer travel and tourism courses is available on the EdRef College Search Directory.⁶
3. Even if there is not a school in your area, many of them have online courses you can take such as Moraine Valley, Pima Community College and Herkimer County Community College.

Step 3: Get a Job

(Creative Commons photo by Dan4th Nicholas)

• At this point, there are three ways you can go about becoming a travel agent. You can get a job at a travel agency or join a host agency. While you could also open your own travel agency, this is such a complicated process that it is not advisable to do so until you have gained experience as a travel agent.

Work at a Travel Agency

• Most travel agencies are looking for people with experience, which you cannot get until one hires you. In lieu of experience, here are a few areas that will help you land a good job with a travel agency.

1. Travel. There is no better way to learn about customs regulations, currency exchange rates and passport and visa requirements than traveling yourself.
2. Get a bachelor's degree. Some agencies prefer their agents to have a college degree.²
3. Accept a job as a hotel reservationist or as a ticketing agent to gain experience selling in the industry.⁴
4. Subscribe to travel magazines and research current travel trends online.⁴
5. Write an excellent resume and cover letter.
   • Visit Mahalo's How to Write a Resume and How to Write a Cover Letter for additional information.

Join a Host Agency

• Joining a host agency is another way to become a travel agent, and one that allows you to work from home as an independent travel agent or contractor. A host agency is a travel agency that is bonded and accredited by ARC/IATAN. You make reservations through them and split the commission.

1. Three national organizations that can help you are Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH), Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN) and National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA).
2. Before joining any host agency, ask questions.⁷
3. Host agencies will charge you a fee to join. This fee can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.⁸
4. Research any host agency you choose to join. Some mult-level marketing scams promote themselves in similar ways.⁹ They frequently advertise themselves as offering programs to become a "referral" travel agent.¹⁰

Step 4: Register with Your State

(Creative Commons photo by John)

• Depending on where you live and where you're selling travel services, you may need to register with the state. Not all states require travel agents to register, but because laws change, you should check with your state's department of consumer affairs or attorney general before accepting work as a travel agent. These laws may apply to anyone selling travel in the state, not just to those living there.¹¹

• Here is a basic overview of some of the registration requirements of states that currently require agents to register:

1. California: California has a seller of travel program through the Department of Justice. Travel agents who live in California must pay a registration fee, register with the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation and pay some additional fees. Both in state and out of state travel agents are required to participate in some type of consumer protection program such as an escrow program or special bond.
2. Delaware: Delaware requires all travel agencies to get a professional business license from the Division of Revenue which costs $225.
3. Florida: Travel agents in Florida must register annually with the Division of Consumer Services and maintain financial security in the form of a bond, letter of credit or certificate of deposit.
4. Hawaii: In you live in Hawaii, you must register with the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs and maintain a trust account. Out of state agents must register for a Certificate of Authority to do Business in Hawaii.
5. Iowa: Travel agencies selling to residents of Iowa must register with the Secretary of State, which will require evidence of the agency's financial security.
6. Louisiana: Louisiana requires travel agents to have a professional business license which they can get from the Secretary of State.
7. Missouri: Missouri requires all travel agents to register with the Attorney General as a travel club. A travel club is an organization that charges either for membership or for arranging travel services.¹²
8. Nevada: Travel agents in Nevada must register annually with the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division and pay $125 fee.
9. Oregon: Oregon has a voluntary program that allows travel agents to receive certification as a State of Oregon Certified Association.
10. Rhode Island: Requirements in Rhode Island apply only to those living in Rhode Island or those advertising in Rhode Island. Rhode Island requires all travel agents to register and all travel agencies to have a surety bond.
11. Virginia: Virginia laws apply to travel clubs (see Missouri) and requires them to register and supply a bond or letter of credit.
12. Washington: Washington requires anyone acting as a travel agent in the state to get a Seller of Travel License.

Conclusion

• In order to be a good travel agent, you will need to combine knowledge with people skills. You will need to stay informed about current trends, travel advisories, state laws and industry standards. While it is not a job anyone should enter into lightly, when done correctly you will have the satisfaction of knowing you helped someone make memories that will last the rest of their lives.

References for How to Become a Travel Agent

1. ↑ U.S. Department of Labor: Travel Agents
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} eHow: How to Become a Travel Agent?
3. ↑ Buzzle.com: How to Become a Travel Agent
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} eHow: How to Become a Travel Agent
5. ↑ American Society of Travel Agents: ASTA Member Travel Schools
6. ↑ EdRef College Search Directory: Travel And Tourism Schools
7. ↑ Coral Sands Travel: Confused About Host Agencies
8. ↑ National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents: Frequently Asked Questions
9. ↑ Home Based Travel Agent.com:Home Based Travel Agent Scams
10. ↑ Homebased Travel Agents Blog: Are Host Agencies on the Right Path? (September 18, 2007)
11. ↑ Preventive Legal Care: Travel Law
12. ↑ National Tour Association: Guide to U.S. & Canadian Seller of Travel Laws

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