Travel Agent Schools in Colorado

Travel agents do much more than just help people book flights and accommodations. Their job is to ensure clients get the best experience from a trip, sometimes going as deeply as possible to craft a highly personalized experience.

In the upcoming sections, we breakdown everything that Colorado residents need to understand before they start their journeys to become travel agents in the state. We highlight the best ways to receive training, the top training programs to consider, and the top schools offering comprehensive programs.

We close by providing the annual average salary ranges that travel agents in the state can expect and the major factors that determine these figures.

How to Become a Travel Agent in Colorado

These are the steps necessary to become a travel agent in Colorado.

Choosing Training Route

The most important step in becoming a travel agent is receiving training and a valuable certificate/degree to attest and verify this training. Candidates in Colorado typically have several alternatives to choose from, and we highlight some of them below.

Generally, however, these programs may be short-term programs specifically for travel agents or more robust travel and tourism programs offered by two-year colleges that award certificates on associate degrees to graduates. To earn a bachelor’s degree, it is possible to spend even more time in training as an aspiring travel agent by enrolling in a four-year program (in business management, tourism, or culture fields).

Certification & Placement

After completing their training programs, aspiring travel agents in Colorado may choose to become certified. This is not compulsory but opens the door for career growth and professional networking opportunities.

The next section of this guide is dedicated to exploring certification considerations for prospective travel agents in the state.

Finding a Host Agency

Finding a Host Agency only sometimes comes last for an aspiring travel agent in Colorado. Those who complete a college program may do this after their education, but those who prefer on-the-job training may directly seek placement in a host agency and receive training there.

A host agency also helps candidates acquire an IATA number, which is a must for travel agents nationwide.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Learn how to become a home and building inspector in Colorado

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The state of Colorado does not have a licensure body for travel agents. Agencies and training programs set most of the requirements expected of professionals in this field.

Just as travel agents in the state are not expected to be licensed, they are not expected to be certified. However, unlike licensure, certification is still commonly pursued by professionals in the state. Candidates are advised to pursue certification as it can help them specialize while providing additional opportunities for continuing education and job growth.

The most common credentials for travel agents in Colorado are available through the American Society of Travel Advisors, the International Air Transport Association, and the Travel Industry Designator Association, among others.

Top Travel Agent Schools in Colorado

The following are some comprehensive training programs for future travel agents in Colorado.

Explore travel agent schools in Colorado by city:

• Travel agent schools in Denver

Salary & Career Outlook

As they start their careers, travel agents in Colorado can earn an annual average salary that is in line with the national average. This figure, around $58,062, can be improved upon by working on key factors such as experience, location, specialty, credential, and place of employment.

Those who have had enough time to optimize these factors can earn as high as $82,860, which puts them into the highest-paid top 10% category. Those in the bottom 10% still end up with an average salary of $40,686 at the end of each year.

The locations with the highest incomes for travel agents in Colorado are Denver, with an annual average salary of $61,833; Colorado Springs, with an annual average salary of $52,188; and Boulder, with an annual average salary of $51,215.