Travel Agent Schools in Pennsylvania

Many are discouraged from pursuing careers as travel agents in Pennsylvania because they think it requires complicated steps and an unbelievable amount of money. In truth, the process is quite direct and can be exhilarating when done right.

Thankfully, that is exactly the purpose of this article — to help aspiring travel agents in Pennsylvania start their careers as smoothly as possible, following the right steps to ensure a long-lasting career. We break down the process into steps before focusing on the specific licensure and certification requirements.

Before they finish the page, readers will also discover some of Pennsylvania’s top travel agent schools and the salary projections based on a few determining factors.

How to Become a Travel Agent in Pennsylvania

The following are the steps involved in becoming a travel agent in Pennsylvania.

Step 1: Fulfill the Basic Requirements

It is a common occurrence for employers to demand postsecondary education from travel agents. Most postsecondary institutions will ask applicants to possess at least a high school diploma or GED before being offered admission into their program of choice.

Step 2: Consider a Specialty

Travel agents all carry out the same overarching duties. However, there are specific specialty areas within the field that candidates may consider for better opportunities.

Among these are the fields of luxury travel and cruise travel. Other notable options include destination wedding specialist, group travel specialist, and adventure travel specialist.

Step 3: Acquire Relevant Training

Individuals in Pennsylvania may enroll in colleges or trade schools to acquire the necessary training to become successful travel agents. They may study tourism, travel, sociology, and business management here.

Step 4: Develop Transferable Skills

Transferable skills valuable for travel agents include interpersonal skills to interact with others, teamwork to work as part of an agency, organization and planning skills, and research skills.

Step 5: Secure Placement with a Host Agency

Subsequently, travel agents in Pennsylvania may choose to work with a host agency or start their own companies. It is common for fresh candidates to start to gravitate towards joining a host agency.

This offers several benefits, including optimizing booking systems and marketing tools. They also provide much-needed IATA numbers.

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Licensure & Certification Requirements

Pennsylvania travel agents can carry out their duties professionally without a license or state registration. They don’t need to become certified, but this single step offers so many benefits, and so many do it anyway.

Travel agents in Pennsylvania in search of possible certification organizations may consider the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and the Travel Industry Designator Service (TIDS).

Candidates should be prepared to participate in a few courses and pass skills assessment tests.

Top Travel Agent Schools in Pennsylvania

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

Explore Travel Agent Schools by City:

• Travel Agent Schools in Philadelphia

Salary & Career Outlook

As a fresh travel agent in Pennsylvania, you may look forward to starting your career with an annual average salary of $49,943 - $65,440. These are the figures given for travel agents between the lower to midpoint range of earners.

Those on the favorable end of determining factors will earn as much as $85,745, the figure given for the state’s top 10% of travel agent earners. The factors that can help professionals move from one end of the salary spectrum to another include experience, location, agency size, agency type (specialization), and commission structures.

Those who would like to work in the highest-paying locations within the city may consider Harrisburg, where travel agents earn an average annual salary of $70,109, and Philadelphia, where an average annual salary of $60,360.