The guide below was created to help aspiring travel agents in Nevada start their careers on the best possible path. It analyzes the requirements concerning basic educational qualifications and shows some of the best paths to receiving actual travel agent training and practice in the real world.
Readers will also find a couple of sections dedicated to helpful resources, such as a list of top training programs and their offerings and some numbers concerning the annual average salary for travel agents in Nevada.
Lastly, the guide provides some destinations for candidates looking to improve their career prospects through networking, continuing education, and membership in a prominent professional organization.
How to Become a Travel Agent in Nevada
Travel agents in Nevada typically enter the profession by following the route below.
Preparation & Research
Preparation is a key step to becoming a successful travel agent in Nevada. Candidates must understand the possible duties and focus areas they may take on. Some of the most popular options are destination travel, adventure travel, group travel, and corporate travel.
Interested individuals should also know the transferable skills they can develop. These include problem-solving, critical thinking, multitasking, budgeting, and planning.
Educational Pathways
For their actual education, it is not uncommon to see aspiring travel agents attending a technical college or trade school to start their careers. Those who choose to do so typically have a few options to consider, including basic Travel Agent programs that can be completed in a few months and more advanced Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality programs that can be completed in a few years.
Those who complete an academic program can also graduate with a certificate, associate degree, or even a bachelor’s degree, which should give them an edge in their careers.
Employment & Career Opportunities
A host agency provides well-trained travel agents with the resources they need to succeed on the job, even if they are just starting. This is typically the best approach, as it allows candidates to ease into their duties instead of handling everything themselves.
For career opportunities, new travel agents in Nevada must use marketing tools such as social media and the Internet to reach potential clients and establish themselves as authorities in the field.
Explore trades with similar paths:
Licensure & Certification Requirements
As a travel agent in Nevada just starting a career, there is no law mandating a license or registration with a government agency. In fact, even certification is optional – although the majority of professionals in the field are, in fact, certified.
Those who choose to become certified do so not because the law makes it compulsory for them but because they enjoy several benefits from it. Among other things, certified travel agents enjoy professional credibility, access to continuing education courses, and are able to maintain a strong network of peers.
For certification as a travel agent in Nevada, candidates may consider the American Society of Travel Advisors, which is undoubtedly one of the most popular and highly-rated organizations in the country. Other options are the Travel Institute and the International Air Transport Association.
Top Travel Agent Schools in Nevada
The schools below offer high-quality training programs for aspiring travel agents in Nevada.
College of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas, NV Campus Only
The College of Southern Nevada offers a Tourism, Convention, and Event Planning training program, which can be a great way to become a travel agent.
Tuition
$123 - $223 per CreditContact
(702) 651-5000
registrar@csn.edu
Nevada State University
Online, NV Online Only
Nevada State University, through its Workforce Development Division, offers an online training program for prospective travel agents.
Tuition
$2,245 per ProgramContact
(855) 520-6806
Truckee Meadows Community College
Reno, NV Campus Only
Truckee Meadows Community College's Hospitality and Tourism Management program is another great option.
Tuition
$130 - $223 per CreditContact
(775) 673-7111
Explore travel agent schools in Nevada by city:
Salary & Career Outlook
Thanks to factors like experience, credentials, marketing strategy, host agency, and more, the annual average salary of travel agents in Nevada can be divided into three distinct categories: the highest-paid, lowest-paid, and median earning categories in the state.
Those who are among the highest-paid can make an annual average salary of $71,790, while those who are among the lowest-paid can make an annual average salary of $24,948. A travel agent in Nevada who is among the median earners tends to take home an annual average salary of $43,722.
It is also possible to group these figures by location. In this case, we have Sun Valley, where travel agents earn the highest annual average salary of $47,700. Fernley comes in second with an annual average salary of $45,200, and Sparks is third with an annual average salary of $43,914.