Travel Counselor: Job Description and Requirements
A travel counselor is a travel agent who has gained years of work experience in the travel industry and has a certified mastery of his or her field. Travel counselors may obtain corporate employment and put their travel expertise to use advising customers of large companies.
Job Description
Travel counselors are essentially certified travel agents. That means they perform all the usual tasks a travel agent would. They advise clients on vacation destinations that will be to their liking. They handle airline, hotel and rental car bookings. They inform clients about attractions at their destination and explain local customs and conditions so the travelers will be well-prepared. Because travel counselors have a great deal of experience and are certified, their knowledge of the travel industry may be called upon by premium clients planning luxury vacations.
Requirements
Certification
Travel counselors earn certification through a travel industry organization, such as The Travel Institute (www.thetravelinstitute.com). There are several steps one must take to earn certification:
Step One: Earn a CTA (Certified Travel Assistant)
A CTA credential requires at least 18 months of full-time travel industry experience. Applicants must complete the self-study training program, which consists of eight core courses and four electives. Core courses include customer service, professionalism, business writing, touring the world and special interest travel. Electives range from itineraries to all-inclusive resorts to travel insurance. Once individuals complete the courses and pass the CTA test, they will need to submit to recertification every year.
Step Two: Earn a CTC (Certified Travel Counselor)
Those wishing to earn the CTC must be CTAs and have at least five years of full-time industry experience. They must successfully complete the CTC curriculum, consisting primarily of business, finance and management courses. They must complete an exam and a 2,000- to 3,000-word 'white paper', which covers a topic timely and relevant to the travel industry. Once certified, travel counselors must recertify each year.
Other Steps
To begin this process, one must first find employment in the travel industry. Individuals can prepare by attending a college that has a program in travel and tourism. These tend to be 2-year programs and are offered at many community colleges. These curricula teach students about the basics of the travel industry as well as essentials of other related fields like geography and marketing.
Related to Travel Counselor: Job Description and Requirements
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
5 Affordable Ways for Students to Travel the World
Exploring the world is a goal many people want to accomplish in their lifetime. If you're a college student, the time...
Travel the World in the Blogosphere: 10 Top Geography Blogs
In the geographic blogosphere you can virtually visit beautiful locations around the globe, discover strange and...
Corporate Travel Counselor: Job Duties and Requirements
Corporate travel counselors are responsible for making sure all employees of a company have the bookings and...
Spring Break Redefined: Rice University Students Alex Gregor and Peter Stone Discuss Academic Travel
Spring break in Mexico is a bit of a salacious stereotype for college students, but a group of students at Rice...
Become a Christian Counselor: Education and Career Roadmap
- How to Become a Travel Companion
- How to Become a Travel Consultant: Career Roadmap
- Salary and Career Info for a Travel Writer
- Top Medical Assisting School - Cincinnati, OH
- Top Ranked School for an MBA Degree Program - Cleveland, OH
- Top Hospitality Management University Degree Programs - Phoenix, AZ
- Best School for a Degree in Criminal Justice - Anaheim, CA
31 Popular Schools
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
-
Non-Degree
-
- Jack Welch Undergraduate Certificate in Becoming a Leader
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MBA in Strategic Management
-
- MBA - Self-Designed
-
-
Bachelor
-
- BBA in Hospitality Management
- BBA in Global Business Management
-
- BBA
-
-
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (3 campuses)
- California (16)
- Colorado (3)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (4)
- Illinois (8)
- Indiana (2)
- Kentucky (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- New Jersey (3)
- Nevada (1)
- New York (2)
- Ohio (4)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (5)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (7)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (3)
- Wisconsin (2)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
-
Non-Degree
-
- Certificate - Business Administration
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must have some prior college credit.
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MS - Management
-
- MS - Organizational Leadership
-
-
Bachelor
-
- BS - Business Management
- BS - Public Management
-
- BS - Organizational Leadership
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
-
Associate
-
- AAS in Business
- AAS Hospitality Management - Restaurant & Hotel Services
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Doctorate
-
Master
-
- Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) - General Program
- Master of Business Administration - General
-
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applicants from Minnesota or Tennessee
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MBA in Business Administration - Hospitality Management
- MBA in Hospitality Management
-
-
Bachelor
-
- BBA in Business Administration - Hospitality Management
- BBA in Hospitality Management
- Bachelor of Business Administration
-
- Associate
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
