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:
About the School | About the Faculty | About the Program |
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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:
Criteria | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Approximate hours for travel services specific topics | 350 | 450 | 550 | 750+ |
Mandatory purchase of the core curriculum | ||||
Required % match to recommended core curriculum | 70% | 75% | 80% | 90% |
Mandatory practicum | Recommended | |||
Live CRS/GDS training | ||||
Instructor(s) teaching 25% of core subjects CITC certified | ||||
Two graduating classes of 5 or more students | ||||
Program operating for a minimum of one year | ||||
Students writing the Knowledge Exam per year (minimum) | - | - | 6 | 12 |
Mandatory provision of travel agency references | (FT) / Recommended (DL) |
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
MacEwan University
Travel & Tourism Program
5-252L, 10700 - 104th Ave. Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2
780-497-5252
780-497-5209
CDI College
Travel & Tourism Program
Ste 100-800 5th Ave. SW Calgary, AB T2P 3T6
403-232-6410
403-266-0830
Algonquin College
Tourism & Travel Program
1385 Woodroffe Ave. Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
613-727-4723
Toll-Free: 1-800-565-4723
613-727-7670
Conestoga College, Waterloo Campus
Tourism - Destinations and Travel Management Program
108 University Avenue East Waterloo, Ontario N2J 2W2
519-885-0300
Toll Free: 1-866-463-4484
Fanshawe College
Tourism & Travel Program
Tourism-Travel Studies (online)
130 Dundas St London, ON N6A 1G2
519-452-4430
519-452-4454
Mohawk College
Tourism & Travel Program
PO BOX 2034 Hamilton, ON L8N 3T2
905-575-1212
905-575-2319
marian.vanderwoude@mohawkcollege.ca
Oulton College
Travel & Hospitality Program
4 Flanders Court Moncton, NB E1C 0K6
506-858-9696
Toll Free: 1-888-757-2020
506-858-8490
Holland College, Tourism & Culinary Institute, Charlottetown
Tourism & Travel Management Program
4 Sydney St. Charlottetown, PE C1A 1E9
902-894-6821
Toll Free: 1-877-475-2844
902-894-6801
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