Become a Travel Agent Without Leaving Home

By Sarah Stevenson

A career as a travel agent is attractive for many reasons, not least because it affords a splendid opportunity to see the world. Fortunately, you don't have to go far at all to become a travel agent—training programs are frequently offered at local community colleges or vocational schools—and you'll even be able to find travel agent online training.

If you love to travel, if you've always had a secret wanderlust and are itching to see the world, travel agents are able to do just that, often with reduced transportation and lodging rates. The career itself usually entails helping individuals, families, groups, or business travelers make the best travel arrangements possible. This includes sifting through information on potential destinations, travel packages, lodging arrangements and transportation; offering advice; and making bookings. Some travel agents work directly for resorts, specialty travel groups, or tour operators.

The job involves a lot of time spent on the phone or computer, researching available travel options, making arrangements, and conferring with clients or with airlines and hotels, so excellent interpersonal communication skills and computer savvy are a must. Also important is solid background knowledge of destinations and itineraries, whether through research or personal experience. Being organized and attentive to detail is a major plus, too, when you're planning a complex travel itinerary.

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Travel Agent Training

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, postsecondary training is increasingly important in securing a travel agent job in today's marketplace. The field is becoming ever more diversified with more opportunities for those with training in particular areas of specialty travel, including luxury travel, business travel, special interest travel such as ecotourism, or specific destinations.

Educational programs, from bachelor's or master's degrees in tourism to postsecondary vocational awards to travel agent online training, provide a critical foundation in subject areas necessary to succeed in the field. Continuing or professional education is also important—a travel agent needs to stay abreast of the latest travel offerings and be able to assist increasingly well-informed consumers—and professionals can find specialized courses through travel agent online training programs.

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Travel Agent Online Training

With constantly-improving technological resources and an increased government focus on education through distance and online learning, it should come as no surprise that you can earn a large number of certifications and degrees online—an A.S. in Travel Marketing, a Certified Travel Counselor certification, and the Corporate Travel Expert certification are only a few of the options that can be completed wholly or partially through travel agent online training. Courses are usually offered by professional travel organizations, by community colleges, and by specialized travel schools.

Organizations of travel professionals, such as the American Society of Travel Agents, the National Business Travel Association, or the Travel Institute, are good places to start looking for travel agent online training that will get you the certification you need to start a career as a travel agent. The ASTA maintains a list of member schools throughout the US, many of which offer distance or online courses in travel specializations. They also offer their own specialty online courses, such as Cuba Specialist and Mature Adult Travel. The Travel Institute has a searchable database of licensed schools offering travel curriculum and certifications, while the NBTA directly offers professional development for those interested in business and government travel.

If you're worried about affording school, don't forget to look into federal and state financial aid, or research scholarships specific to travel agent training such as those funded by Tourism Cares. A rewarding—and globetrotting—career is waiting.

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