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Step 1: Do Your Research

Before you decide that becoming a travel professional is the right career move for you, make sure you do your research so that you fully understand the requirements and expectations you will have to fulfill. It is also important that you establish what type of travel agent you would like to become before you take that next step. There are many different categories to the travel market, it's important to identify what part of the market you would like to specialize in. 

Step 2: Get Trained 

Vacations mean a lot to people. When a client comes to you for help in arranging their travel plans, they are looking for expert advice. If you have no experience selling travel, or you have not travelled a lot yourself, you will need to get properly trained to acquire the necessary knowledge and tools you will need to provide the level of service and expertise your clients will expect. There are a lot of free and paid programs out there that provides travel agent training and certification. Websites like ASTA for the Americans and ACTA for Canadians are very useful resources to help you find different programs to enrol in. 

Step 3: Get Certified 

Even though there are some state or provinces that may not have official travel agent certification programs, there are many that do. Find out if your current state or province of permanent residence is among those jurisdictions that require a travel agent to be certified. 

Step 4: Register A Business

Travel Agents are seen as independent business owners, and as of such, you will be filing your own taxes, and managing your own expenses under your business name. There are a lot of tax advantages to being a business owner, so it is strongly recommended that you seek the consultation of a chartered accountant and let them help you setup your new business. 

Step 5: Join A Host Agency


For you to legally sell travel, you will need to become a part of a host agency. Host agencies are IATA, ARC and CLIA members that will allow you to use their respective agency membership numbers to work directly with vendors and earn commissions for the sales you make. Your host agency will also be able to provide you with a lot of training, vendor relationships, tools and other resources you will need to start your business as a travel professional.