Online Travel Agent Course Curriculum
Ashworth College is no longer accepting new enrollments into our Travel Agent Career Diploma program. If you’re considering a new career in the travel industry our partner school, Penn Foster, offers an online Travel and Tourism Specialist Career Diploma designed to help you learn how to become a successful travel agent on your schedule, from home.
Our online Travel Agent Course Curriculum covers national and worldwide air travel, cruises, lodging and accommodations, corporate travel, passports, and more. Your journey begins with key fundamentals and advances to hands-on training that can launch your lifelong adventure organizing dream vacations, business trips, and your own exciting career.
Travel Agent Orientation
Travel Agent Orientation
In this course, you’ll examine the goals and values of Ashworth College, time management, creating a realistic weekly and monthly study schedule, the nature and purpose of assessments, how to study effectively to prepare for and take an online examination, and developing the skill sets necessary for success in the twenty-first century.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
Lesson Group 1: Travel Geography
In this course, you’ll learn to locate world regions on a map as you cover the essentials of Travel Geography. International travel, destination travel, and familiarity with airports will help you navigate travel planning for your future clients.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
Locate world regions on a map.
Calculate the time difference between two points.
Identify different aspects of weather and climate in different regions.
Describe airport hubs and their purposes.
Identify the documentation needed for international travel.
Explain the purpose and procedures of US Customs.
Lesson Group 2: Types of Travel
In this course, you’ll learn the history of rail travel in the United States as well as the history of Eurail and other global railroads. You’ll learn about domestic and international car rentals and the cruising industry. Finally, you’ll explore world tours and hospitality.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe the history of rail travel in the United States and abroad.
- Describe car rentals in the United States and abroad.
- Identify the principal cruise lines.
- Explain tour sales and niche marketing.
- Describe hospitality and types of hotels.
- Explain the value of meetings to the travel industry.
Lesson Group 3: The Global Distribution System
In this course, you’ll learn the components and operations of the Global Distribution System, including how to “sine” into and out of the system and navigate within it. You’ll learn how to build an itinerary and establish a Passenger Name Record (PNR).
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe the GDS system.
- Explain how to “sine” in and out of the GDS system.
- Explain how to create a Passenger Name Record (PNR).
- Explain how to retrieve, modify, and add optional data to PNRs.
- Describe travel agent communication.
Program Description
The Travel Agent certificate program is designed to provide you with a knowledge of the travel and tourism industry, including geography, types of travel, and the booking process.
Students will have the opportunity to take the Travel Agent Proficiency Test administered by The Travel Institute. If they pass the test, they will receive the TAP Certificate of Proficiency.
After completing the Travel Agent certificate program, you’ll be able to do the following:
Describe the personal and professional skills of successful travel agents, outline typical daily responsibilities, and explain the types of employment opportunities available to individuals in this field.
Encode and decode standard airline abbreviations for cities and airports.
Describe how to plan U.S. air travel itineraries based on a variety of trip routes, and price itineraries via the Global Destination System (GDS).
Explain how to read and interpret flight availability and fare information from the GDS and use this information to build Passenger Name Records (PNRs).
Describe the main categories of travel, including railroad travel, rental car travel, cruises, and lodging, and explain how to interpret vendor information for clients and book travel arrangements that meet the needs and budgets of different clients.
Explain how to evaluate the quality and value of different types of travel tours and use this information to make recommendations that meet the needs and desires of clients.
Describe the difference between domestic and international travel and explain how to prepare clients for successful travel abroad.
Ashworth College's API Program Name Career Diploma program helps you develop the confidence you need to reach for your career goals because we integrate job search prep into your studies. With the online tools at the Ashworth College Central Network, you’ll get step-by-step guidance as you create polished, professional resumes and letters. After you graduate, you’ll keep your Ashworth College Central Network account so you can revisit the tools any time you need to make a good impression on a potential employer. Learn more about it at the Career Services page.
