Are you looking for a job? If so, why not get information on how to become a travel agent in Virginia?

Whether you travel for pleasure or travel for business, the use of a travel agent can come in handy. Travel agents can find travel deals and vacation packages that meet their client's budget. Clients expect the travel agent to be knowledgeable of various destinations and vacation deals. They expect information that they would not be able to find on the Internet or anywhere else. Travel websites like Expedia.com, Travelocity.com and Priceline.com enable people to book their own air travel, hotels and rental cars with the click of a button. However, many people still prefer the expertise of a travel agent.

Nowadays, many travel agents specialize in certain areas. There are agents specialized in cruise travel, honeymoons, group travel and business trips. When visiting Virginia, a travel agent can recommend tourist attractions like Busch Gardens, Monticello, Jamestown Settlement and Colonial National Historic Park. Aside from Virginia, a travel agent has to be well traveled, and able to recommend tourist attractions in various destinations all over the world. Therefore it is important that travel agents stay up to date on the latest trends since they keep changing. http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/yorktown-us-va-york.htm

EDUCATION & TRAINING: Some people go to college to get an associate's or bachelor's degree in tourism and travel. However, the minimum education that is required to become a travel agent is high school. Because many employers like hiring people with some form of travel agent training, it is good to look for additional training. Look into an online school, a community college or an adult education program. There are many courses and classes for future travel agents. A course in world history or geography will benefit you in the long run. As will a study of a foreign language or a course in computer science. A Virginia school you can go to is Northern Virginia Community College. If you prefer an online education, look into Stratford Career Institute, Central Pennsylvania College, and Penn Foster Career School. http://www.citytowninfo.com/employment/travel-agents/virginia

Aside from education and training requirements, you will also need some other skills. You have to be able to communicate with your client, see what their needs and wishes are and try to fulfill them the best you can, all while keeping their vacation budget in mind. It will also help if you are courteous, professional, accurate, well organized and detail oriented. http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/travel_agent.htm

SALARY: When you get a job as a travel agent, you will get a salary and commission. The 2010 base annual salary for travel agents in Virginia is $28,992. The commission you make depends on the commission structure of the company your work for. Usually the standard commission on travel sales is 10 percent, but it can go up to 20 percent. Keep in mind, there is no commission on air fare sales. If you want to have a larger salary, you can always start your own business. Your earning potential can be as much as 100K per year. You will make commission and fees. Most self employed travel agents started out working for a travel agency. http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_salaryresults.asp?op=salswz_psr&hdOmniNarrowDesc=Materials+Management&hdOmniTotalJobsFound=20&pagefrom=selectjob&redbird=&jobfamilycode=23&joblevelcode=&hdLocationOption=1&hdSearchByOption=0&hdKeyword=travel+agent&hdJobCategory=AR02&hdZipCode=23219&hdStateMetro=145&hdGeoLocation=Richmond%2C+VA+23219&hdCurrentPage=1&hdViewAllRecords=0&hdSortBy=0&hdJobCode=OF13000058&hdJobTitle=Travel+Clerk&hdNarrowDesc=Hotel%2C+Gaming%2C+Leisure%2C+and+Travel&hdJSBoolDisplayAdvertisement=&jobcounter=8&countertype=1&rdbSearchByOption=0&txtKeyword=travel+agent&totaljoblistnum=2&hdAjaxDisplaySection1=0&hdAjaxDisplaySection2=1&hdAjaxKeyword=travel+agent&hdAjaxKeywordWithOR=%23travel%23+OR+%23agent%23

LICENSING: Selling travel in Virginia as a travel agent doesn't require a license. Unlike and insurance license and real estate license, there is no state administered test to get a travel agent license. Some states do have travel seller's registration programs that you might be required to join. Since laws keep changing it's best to check with the state office of the Attorney General or Department of Commerce as to what the current licensing requirements are. http://www.careeroverview.com/travel-agent-careers.html

BENEFITS: One of the benefits of becoming a travel agent is that you get to travel at discounts and sometimes you even get to enjoy free travel. After a minimum of 6 months of working as a travel agent your employer will add you to the list of employees that are authorized to travel at discounts. You will get a travel agent ID card issued by IATAN. Once you have this, you can enjoy discounts on hotels, rental cars, air fares, cruises and more. Your employer might send you to various destinations, so you can experience them as regular tourists would. Using these experiences, you will be able to sell the destination more convincingly and confidently. http://www.become-a-travel-agent.com/travel-agent-id-cards.htm

DUTIES: As a travel agent you have many duties. Before deciding to become a travel agent, it is good to review what is expected of you. Here are some of the tasks and duties you will be performing:

• ■ A Virginia travel agent needs to consult with and advice the client about various destinations, transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations. The travel agent should be available to answer questions and provide information where needed
• ■ You will have to provide brochures and publications about the customer's destination of choice. Additional information regarding local customs, points of interest, necessary travel documents, or foreign country regulations should also be provided.
• ■ You should also be able to calculate costs of the fares, hotel stay, and transportation. Quoting various travel package prices is also required.
• ■ Booking hotel reservations and transportation by using the phone and your terminal is another requirement.
• ■ When working for a tour operator it might be required that you arrange, develop, promote and sell the company's own package tours or travel services. This is usually done through direct mail, presentations and the Internet.
• ■ A travel agent should be able to research online sources and publications for information on flights, fares, group discounts and quality of hotel accommodations. http://www.careerplanner.com/Job-Descriptions/Travel-Agents.cfm

SCAMS: When looking for employment as a travel agent in Virginia, you might come across one of the many scams out there. Many companies advertise on the Internet by focusing on all the benefits and perks of the travel agent profession. They'll mention the free travel or discounted travel, how you can work from home, avoid commuting to work, how you can make lots of money by working part time or full time. Scam companies often make the profession of becoming a travel agent sound too good to be true. They ask for an upfront payment and might even ask you to recruit new affiliates for them. These are all signs that you are dealing with either a scam operation or a multi level marketing company. Make sure that you research any company that you are considering working for. http://www.homebasedtravelagent.com/scams.htm