Travel Agent Schools in Florida

To carry out the required duties of a travel agent in Florida at a very high level, interested candidates must fulfill certain requirements and pass through certain steps on their journeys. The comprehensive guide below outlines all of these steps and requirements in detail.

Firstly, we provide a step-by-step guide to acquiring key skills in the field before diving into the possible licensure and certification requirements set by the government and professional organizations.

Down the line, we also explore some of the best training programs for aspiring travel agents in Florida to enroll in.

Lastly, we conclude the guide by looking at the salary projections for travel agents in the state, sorting by experience and location, among other factors.

How to Become a Travel Agent in Florida

Aspiring travel agents in Florida are advised to follow the steps below to start their careers correctly.

Step 1: Meet the Basic Requirements

The basic requirements to become a travel agent in Florida range from being familiar with the travel industry to having an affinity for planning, budgeting, and cultures worldwide.

Training programs and some employers may also ask that candidates possess at least a high school diploma or GED.

Step 2: Consider a Specialty

A travel agent may choose to work in several possible areas of the profession. These include luxury travel and destination travel, among many others.

Candidates should start considering their possible areas of specialty as early as they can.

Step 3: Acquire Relevant Training

Aspiring travel agents in Florida may acquire training by enrolling in a community college or trade school. Here, they may participate in programs dealing with traveling and tourism.

They may also choose to spend four years in college and earn a bachelor’s degree in any tourism or business management field.

Step 4: Develop Transferable Skills

Travel agents worldwide will have better chances of a long and successful career if they develop certain transferable skills crucial to the job. These include organization skills, management, budgeting, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.

Step 5: Secure Employment

Once done with the steps above, candidates would have all it takes to work as a travel agent. All they have to do to make it official is to secure job placement at a travel agency.

This is advisable as it gives them access to many tools necessary to get started and stay calm initially.

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Licensure & Certification Requirements

Florida is one of the many states where travel agents are not expected to receive a license before they can start working professionally. However, like elsewhere, travel agents must use an IATA number, which their host agencies can provide.

Concerning certification, candidates may consider the American Society of Travel Advisors. The society offers several certification courses covering negotiations and project management.

The International Air Transport Association, the Travel Industry Designator Service, and the Cruise Lines International Association are other noteworthy organizations through which travel agents can become certified and set themselves apart in their disciplines.

Top Travel Agent Schools in Florida

Below are some notable travel agent schools in Florida for candidates to consider.

Explore Travel Agent Schools by City:

• Travel Agent Schools in Miami

Salary & Career Outlook

The annual average salary of a travel agent in Florida will depend on several factors, including location, experience level, type and size of agency, and commission structure.

Taking location for example, while travel agents in Jacksonville earn an annual average salary of $68,909, which makes them the highest paid in the state, travel agents in Tampa earn an annual average salary of $65,079, while travel agents in Aventura earn an annual average salary of $61,685 to be the second and third respectively.

Also in the top five are Orlando, where travel agents earn an annual average salary of $61,663, and West Palm Beach, where travel agents earn an annual average salary of $60,119.

On the whole, however, travel agents in Florida are expected to earn an annual average salary of around $38,308 if they fall among the bottom 10%, an annual average salary of $53,430 if they fall among the midpoint, and an annual average salary of $74,523 if they fall among the top 10%.