Endorsed Schools

Endorsed Full-Time Programs

ACTA endorses community colleges, private vocational schools, and correspondence programs that offer full-time and distance learning programs to train for the occupation of travel counsellor. The endorsement indicates that the program meets or exceeds the minimum requirements for entering the travel industry as a travel counsellor.

The criteria for endorsement includes:

• Length of time the program has been offered
• Graduate performance in the workplace
• Course curriculum
• Instructor qualifications
• Student performance on the Knowledge Exam

ACTA Endorsement Levels

ACTA offers four levels of endorsement for travel and tourism programs:

Programs receive stars based on the number of inclusions they offer, such as travel services specific curriculum hours, field placement, and live GDS training.

Benefits for Graduates

Graduates of ACTA-endorsed programs receive numerous benefits, including:

• Reduced Knowledge Examination fees
• Reduced fees to enroll in the Certification Program
• Immediate participation in Knowledge exams upon program completion
• Recognized by employers for meeting industry standards
• Complimentary Knowledge Exam Prep Materials
• Potential reduction in occupational experience hours required for certification

Choosing a Travel School

Before selecting a travel school, consider the following factors:

Recommended Subjects and Hours

ACTA recommends that travel training programs offer instruction in the following subject areas:

• Promote Tourism
• Administer Client Bookings
• Exhibit Professionalism
• Office Administration
• Communication Skills
• Sales & Service Skills
• Identify Travel Destinations
• Research Travel Destinations
• Product Knowledge (Accommodation, Air, Cruise, Ground, Insurance, Tour)

Recommended hours distribution:

• Professionalism subjects: 5%
• Administer Travel Bookings: 35%
• Sales-Customer Service: 25%
• Travel Products: 35%

Endorsement Criteria

Each level of endorsement must meet certain criteria to be endorsed:

Programs that do not meet all the criteria for Full Endorsement may be granted Provisional Endorsement for a maximum of two years while they work towards satisfying the additional criteria.

Endorsed Schools by Province/Territory

Choosing a Career as a Travel Counsellor

Travel Counsellors are the front-line workers in the travel industry, providing guidance on how to get the best value on individual or group travel bookings. They provide direction on destinations, transportation, accommodation, and costs; make transportation and accommodation reservations using a computerized reservation and ticketing system; sell single fare tickets, packaged tours, and insurance; promote particular destinations, tour packages, and other travel services; and provide travel tips regarding tourist attractions, foreign currency, customs, language, and travel safety.

Main Categories of Travel Counsellors

• Corporate: Specialize in the provision of services to business travellers
• Leisure: Specialize in services related to vacation and holiday travel

Other areas of specialty include group travel, incentive travel, or adventure travel.

The majority of a counsellor's time (75%) is spent providing customer service and counselling to travellers and selling travel to consumers. Processing reservations and ticketing accounts for another quarter of their time. A college diploma or other training is often required to work in the industry, but the only definite prerequisite is a high school diploma.

Individuals interested in acquiring training to become a travel counsellor should look at the travel programs that are endorsed by ACTA.

Online Learning

Travel Agent Essentials is a step-by-step online training program that will provide you with all the information and job skills you need to ignite your career as a professional Travel Agent in a Canadian Travel Agency or as a Home-based Travel Agent.

Endorsed Distance Learning Programs

• FANSHAWE COLLEGE - Tourism-Travel Studies (online)
• CANADIAN CENTRE FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - International Travel & Tourism
• CANADIAN CENTRE FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - International Tourism Management