How Long Does It Take to Become a Travel Agent?

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

How long does it take to become a travel agent? As fast as an airliner. Pictured here: empty business-class seats on an airliner with the window shades open

Becoming a travel agent involves honing your craft and building your business. In terms of how long it takes, it varies based on your schedule, interests and long-term goals.

Below, we shed a bit more light on how long it takes to become a travel agent. But it’s an ongoing learning process, which is part of the job’s beauty.

If you’re ready to get started, apply to become a Fora Advisor today.

First, how do you become a travel agent?

There are generally two paths one can take to become a travel agent: You can either start a travel agency (no easy task) or you can learn how to become an independent travel agent with a host agency like Fora.

Each host agency has its own set of requirements. To join Fora, you’ll be asked to fill out an application so we can learn a little more about you and whether or not we’d be a good fit.

We welcome career pivoters, nine-to-fivers, working agents, budding entrepreneurs, seasoned experts and travel enthusiasts alike. We’re looking for applicants who have a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude and an eagerness to learn — plus a love for travel, of course.

We meet you where you’re at in your life. Our flexible travel agent training gives you everything you need to build a thriving, fulfilling travel business on your own terms.

So, how long does it actually take to become a travel agent?

When you become a Fora Advisor, you can start booking travel right away. So yes, you can plan and book trips even as you work your way through our expert-led travel agent training program.

Our training is designed to meet you where you’re at. You’re able to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule. Advisors generally complete our Certified program in four to six weeks. And there are additional training tiers advisors can opt into once they’ve built their foundation.

Fora’s training, for example, is modern, relevant and constantly updated. Many traditional travel agent schools struggle to update outdated curriculums, especially since the industry has so drastically changed (and continues to rapidly change). But Fora keeps a strong pulse on all the trends, and on the industry at large. We’re always iterating and adjusting what we offer to remain useful and up-to-date.

Does the type of travel agent you become affect how long it takes?

Different travel agent niches can take longer to learn, and much of the timeline depends on what you’re interested in and where your natural talents lie. Learning how to become a cruise travel agent might intrigue you more than learning how to become a Disney travel agent, for instance. Or, perhaps you’re more keen on learning how to become a luxury travel agent.

We encourage you to find a niche you’re excited about, but that definitely doesn't mean you need to pigeon-hole yourself. Most of our agents sell a variety of travel, for clients of all types.

Once you become a travel agent, how much money can you make?

That’s really up to you. Fora travel advisor salaries are varied, completely dependent on how much travel an advisor sells. Agents earn the bulk of their income from commission. The hotel (or cruise, tour operator, etc.) pays the travel advisor a percentage of the trip sold. The more you sell, the more commission you’ll earn (and Fora negotiates several preferred partnerships that unlock increased commission rates for our advisors). Some Fora Advisors earn over six figures annually.

Even better, our in-house finance team takes care of invoicing and commission tracking to ensure our travel agents get paid — so you can focus on the fun stuff.

Fora is accessible to the next generation of travel agents

Fora’s self-paced, online course teaches you everything you need to know to build your book of business. We offer extensive resources on topics like how to market a travel business, why group bookings are great, how to book different types of travel partners and much more.

Fora is accessible to anyone willing to put in the hard (and fun) work required to build a thriving travel business. Our advisors come from numerous backgrounds, both professionally and personally. In fact, needing to have been a seasoned agent before joining Fora is one of the great myths about becoming a travel advisor.

With Fora, you can learn at your own pace and level up your travel business over time. Flexibility is one of the best reasons to become a Fora Advisor. You control when and where you work — and we’ll provide you with everything you need to be a successful travel advisor.

Ready to get started? Apply to become a Fora Advisor today.

To learn more about this job in the travel industry, check out some of our travel advisor resources below:

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