Dreaming of turning your passion for travel into a rewarding career? Becoming a certified travel agent can be your first step! Certification equips you with the knowledge and skills to craft unforgettable travel experiences for your clients, establishing credibility and boosting your career.
At Fora, we’re dedicated to empowering aspiring travel advisors. This guide provides a deep dive into travel agent certification, covering everything from the benefits to the specific steps involved.
Ready to launch your travel career? Consider applying to become a Fora Advisor and unlock a world of opportunities.
Why Become a Certified Travel Agent?
The role of a travel advisor is more than just booking flights and hotels; it’s about curating personalized journeys. If you possess a genuine love for travel, meticulous planning skills, and a desire to connect with people, this career path could be a perfect fit.
Fora Advisor Danielle Fisher says, “I love being a travel advisor because it truly doesn’t feel like ‘work.’ I get to help others while doing something I’m passionate about and enjoy. I also love the flexibility so I can be a travel advisor, but also a stay at home mom with my two toddlers.”
woman in a white jumpsuit sitting at a picnic table with her laptop
Is Travel Agent Certification Necessary?
While not always mandatory, earning a travel agent certification is highly recommended. Certification demonstrates a solid understanding of the travel industry and confirms that you possess the skills needed to plan and book trips effectively for clients.
Fora provides a comprehensive travel agent training program that culminates in travel agent certification. This online program is self-paced, offering both live and recorded training sessions to Fora Advisors.
Fora Advisor Caroline Weilert describes the training program as “robust,” adding, “I love that Fora considers all angles related to training – business planning, destination overviews, hotel spotlights, mentorship programs, supplier overviews – and that it provides webinars, live trainings, recordings and best of all, access to the entire supplier community. Everyone at Fora is a learner and a trainer because we all have different types of knowledge to share with each other.”
What Does a Travel Agent Certification Program Cover?
A comprehensive travel agent certification course should cover the essential knowledge and skills needed to operate a successful travel advisor business. This may include:
- Booking Fundamentals: Understanding the intricacies of making reservations.
- Industry Overview: Gaining a broad understanding of the travel landscape.
- Client Acquisition: Learning how to attract and retain your first clients.
- Confidence Building: Providing you with the skills and assurance to launch your business confidently.
Inside Fora’s Training Program
Fora’s certification program is built on four core pillars:
- Industry Knowledge: Developing a strong foundation of travel industry expertise.
- Client Relationships: Learning how to build lasting connections with your clients.
- Commission and Planning Fees: Understanding how to maximize your earnings.
- Introduction to Booking: Mastering the art of seamless booking processes.
All training is conducted online, making it ideal for those looking to become a travel agent from home. Plus, the supportive Fora advisor community is always available to share valuable tips for how to be a successful travel advisor.
The learning doesn’t stop at certification. Fora offers ongoing training, including destination briefings, a Cruise Badge curriculum (explore how to become a cruise travel agent), partner trainings with top travel brands, and Office Hours for expert Q&A sessions. With over 80 live sessions each month, and a searchable training portal for all recordings, you’ll always have the resources you need.
How to Get Certified as a Travel Agent with Fora
Becoming a certified travel agent with Fora involves completing our comprehensive certification training program and passing a certification test. To begin, apply to become a Fora Advisor. Once accepted, you’ll gain immediate access to our advisor portal and can start your training journey.
Other Requirements for Running a Travel Agent Business
woman in white dress working on her laptop while sitting at a wooden table
The Importance of an IATA Number
An IATA (International Air Transport Association) number is essential for travel agencies, hotels, and other travel institutions to sell and book travel and receive commissions. This ID verifies legitimacy and allows you to earn money by booking travel.
Obtaining an IATA Number
Most independent travel advisors partner with a travel agent host agency like Fora to get an IATA number. As a Fora advisor, you’ll gain access to our IATA number, allowing you to make bookings and earn commissions. Fora also manages all commission tracking and payments, so you can focus on planning amazing trips.
IATA Accreditation vs. Travel Agent Certification
It’s important to distinguish between IATA accreditation and travel agent certification. While IATA signifies your business’s recognition as a seller of travel, travel agent certification verifies that you are a legitimate and professional travel agent. For more information, read our guide to IATA numbers.
Do You Need a Degree or Prior Experience?
No degree or prior experience is required to become a travel advisor! It’s a career you can learn as you go. Online travel agent classes provide the necessary training to succeed in the industry.
Fora Advisor Diana Morales shared, “I feel like I was really lost before I joined Fora. The Fora trainings and having a goal to reach toward and helped to get my business off the ground. Those things gave me both the training and the motivation that I needed in order to go out and look for clients.”
Skills to Hone
Fora Advisors share a love for travel, a passion for learning, and a desire to help clients realize their vacation dreams. While travel experience is beneficial, it’s not essential.
Continuous Learning
Lifelong learning is an integral part of being a travel advisor. Fora offers three levels of certification: Certified, Advanced, and Pro, each with its own curriculum and milestones. We also provide additional training programs, ranging from destination deep dives to spotlights on travel industry partners.
Start Your Journey with Fora
Fora simplifies the travel agent certification process. Our industry-leading travel agent training program is expert-led, designed for your success, and can be completed at your own pace. Plus, you’ll have opportunities to sell travel while working on your certification.
Apply to become a Fora Advisor today and embark on your exciting travel career!
Travel Agent Certification FAQs
Here are answers to some common questions about travel agent certification:
Do I Need a Degree?
While some agencies may require a degree, Fora does not. A degree is not necessary to obtain travel agent certification.
Do I Need Specific Certifications for Certain Types of Travel?
No. However, additional training can be helpful. For example, you might consider Disney travel agent training to attract clients interested in Disney vacations (learn more about how to become a Disney travel agent). Or, if you’re interested in how to become a luxury travel agent, there aren’t special certifications you must acquire first.
Are There State-Specific Requirements?
Some states and countries have specific requirements for conducting travel bookings, usually at the agency level. However, these generally don’t relate to certifications. Check out our state-by-state guides to becoming a travel agent for more information. As a Fora Advisor, we’ll help you navigate any relevant state requirements.
