Travel Agent Courses About This Page:

[Princessdreamer]

Is there any school that you prefer to get you travel agent degree? Is a degree necessary?

[OffKilter_Lynn]

Do you mean in relation to booking Disney travel? Or all travel in general?

A 'degree' may not be necessary, depending on the type of work (and system). Many are 'home-based' agents with the corresponding courses and classes relating to the type of travel work they do. If you want to work for a 'brick and mortar' agency, they may require a degree or at least courses geared to travel agent work and being familiar with different booking engines may be required.

The following is from another post of mine inquiring about becoming a home-based Disney Specialist...

"There are probably as many ways of being a home-based travel agent as there are home-based travel agents. No one does it exactly the same."

That is quoted from Kelly Monaghan, of the Intrepid Travel's site Becoming a Travel Agent - The Home-Based Travel Agent Resource Center. He offers a good course which will give you a lot of details, information and point you in the right direction once you decide if this is what you want to do.

It's not hard to become a home-based agent but there are questions and decisions that you will have to make. What type of agent: booking or referral? To use a host agency or not? Will you need specialized training or courses?

The work can be sporadic and frustrating yet equally rewarding, both financially and personally. It may take time to establish a client base so it helps to go into it with your eyes wide open as to the limitations (and potential) to this type of work.

[dmpyron]

My host agency has an extensive training program required before you can make your first booking. But a degree? Not needed. The local community college offers a degree plan, but most people only take a few classes. They had one last summer on Disney. I dropped it after a week when I realized I could teach it better than the instructor. Yes, I recommend Kelly's books. I also recommend subscribing to anything and everything. I get Agent@Home, Travel Age West, Vacation Agent (it's changed names so many times!). Get on mailing lists for whatever suppliers you want to specialize in. And take specialist courses. I'm about to take the Secrets course.