If you want to turn your passion for travel into a rewarding profession and you also have good communication and organizational skills, you should consider becoming a travel agent.
This profession is projected to grow 2 percent across the nation over the next decade.
Although the ability to use online resources to research vacations may limit the need for travel agents, people are expected to continue relying on their services for advice on popular and unique travel destinations.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, travel agents in Arizona earned $59,200 on average per year, making it the fifth highest-paying state for travel agents.
You can begin a career in this field by completing an online course and becoming certified.
University and college programs are available at local community colleges or universities.
You can also earn professional certifications through The Travel Institute or join an agency that provides training.
Your training will typically prepare you for tasks such as:
- Arranging travel for business and vacations
- Determining clients’ schedules and budgets
- Finding fare and schedule information
- Booking reservations
- Giving details on required documents
- And more
Travel agents may also visit destinations to get firsthand experience with the destinations they recommend to clients.
We encourage you to read our list and find out more about the training options available to prospective travel agents in Arizona.
#1Central Arizona College
About the School
Central Arizona College offers a Travel Agent training program that can be completed online.
Students become equipped with essential industry knowledge- from travel foundations and geography to air travel, technology tools, and professional skills.
The program can be completed fully online and costs $2,368.
The cost covers the exam fee.
Students are also introduced to Travefy and receive a 12-month subscription to the platform.
The program gives them the opportunity to review all international and domestic travel destinations that are most likely to recommend and sell to clients.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to the Travel Industry
- Professional Skills
- Basic Geography
- International Travel
- Transportation, Accommodations and Vacations
- Career Development
- Sales and Marketing
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 8470 N. Overfield Road, Coolidge, AZ 85228, US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.centralaz.edu
#2IAP Career & College
About the School
IAP Career & College offers an online Travel Consultant Certificate course.
This is a part-time course that teaches the important principles and practical step-by-step techniques for travel consulting and getting started in a career as a professional travel consultant.
The program takes between two and six weeks to be completed, and it is available in an online, on-demand format.
The certificate is backed by the college’s full 100% money-back guarantee.
Students have a 30-day full refund window.
Courses Offered
The program prepares students to provide the following services as travel consultants:
- Assessing Client Needs
- Selling Travel Products
- Saving Money and Time
- Avoiding Information Overload
- Crisis Management
- Other Value-Added Services
- And more
Contact Information
- Phone: 844-204-7982
- Website: https://www.iapcollege.com
#3American University Washington DC
About the School
American University Washington, DC offers a Travel Agent training program that can be completed fully online.
Students become equipped with essential industry knowledge- from travel foundations and geography to air travel, technology tools, and professional skills.
The program can be completed fully online and costs $2,437.
The cost covers the registration fee for the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) certification test.
Students are also introduced to Travefy- the number one platform for travel advisors and receive a 12-month subscription to the platform.
The program gives them the opportunity to review all international and domestic travel destinations that are most likely to recommend and sell to clients.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to the Travel Industry
- Professional Skills
- Basic Geography
- International Travel
- Transportation, Accommodations and Vacations
- Career Development
- Sales and Marketing
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016, US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://training.american.edu
#4Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy offers training designed to help students learn and retain information in fun and interactive ways.
Students earn Travel Institute CEU Credits.
The courses are compatible with an iOS tablet and allow students to learn from anywhere on their own time, at their own pace.
Courses Offered
Course Catalog includes:
- AAT Kings A-Listers Program & Agent Academy
- Le Programme Specialiste Air France et Film
- Become a Houston Travel Pro
- Lopesan Specialist Program
- Greece Specialist Program
- Visit Florida Rewards Program
- Air France and KLM Specialist Program
- Baja California Specialist Program
- Choice Hotels’ Masterclass
- Costa Rica Specialist Program
- Dominican Republic Specialist
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070
- Website: https://www.travelagentacademy.com
#5Penn Foster
About the School
Penn Foster offers an online Travel Agent training program that can be completed in eight months.
Classes are flexible and online and teach students how to become a successful travel agent on their schedule, from home.
This program costs $799.
Students prepare for entry-level jobs as travel agents in a variety of settings, including travel agencies and tour companies.
The training covers essential topics such as:
- How to arrange all modes of transportation for travel
- How to book hotels and resorts
- How to recommend popular tourist destinations
- And more
As part of the program, students sit for the Travel Agent Proficiency certification exam.
The course includes 12 courses and 21 exams.
Contact Information
- Address: 200 Hickory Street, Scranton, PA 18505 USA
- Phone: 800-275-4410
- Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
#6Maricopa Community Colleges
About the School
Maricopa Community Colleges offers a Certificate of Completion in Hospitality: Tourism Development and Management.
The program is designed to prepare students for careers in the travel industry.
The curriculum provides students with training in:
- Tourism development and management
- Information systems
- Marketing
- Human resources
- Financial management
- Hospitality law
- And more
Students may apply these courses towards the Associate in Applied Science in Hospitality: Tourism Development and Management.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Leisure Delivery Systems
- Tourism Principles and Practices
- Hospitality Marketing
- Hospitality and Tourism Law
- Hospitality Internship
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2411 W. 14th St., Tempe, AZ 85281
- Phone: 480-731-8000
- Website: https://www.maricopa.edu
#7Southwestern College
About the School
Southwestern College offers a Travel and Tourism Management program that prepares students with technical and leadership skills.
Students prepare for career opportunities such as travel agent, concierge, destination marketing associate, and tour operator.
Courses Offered
Program requirements include:
- Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Introduction to Business Information Systems
- Tourism and Travel Agency Operations
- Worldwide Cruise Travel
- Basic Computer Applications in Travel and Tourism
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910-7297
- Phone: (619) 421-6700
- Website: https://www.swccd.edu
#8Grand Canyon University
About the School
Grand Canyon University offers a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management degree.
Students are taught to incorporate servant leadership, innovation, and ethical decision-making.
The program can be completed in 15 weeks on campus and in eight weeks online.
On-campus tuition is $8,250 per semester.
Online tuition is $490 per credit.
Admission requirements include:
- Being more than 16 years of age
- Being a high school graduate
- 2.8+ Unweighted GPA
Some of the important topics covered by this program include:
- Hotel and restaurant management
- event planning
- Club management
- Tourism destination and activity management
- Revenue management
Contact Information
- Address: 3300 West Camelback Road- Phoenix, AZ 85017
- Phone: 855-GCU-LOPE
- Website: https://www.gcu.edu
#9Hospitality Academy
About the School
Hospitality Academy Phoenix offers students access to one of the country’s most vibrant tourism destinations.
The programs available at the academy combine accredited academic qualifications from diploma to DBA in travel.
Students have access to paid international hospitality work through CPT, OPT, and global placements.
The MBA and Hospitality Management Certification can be achieved in two years.
Students strengthen business strategy, financial management, and operational leadership skills.
The course is available in a flexible format that gives students the opportunity to apply what they learn in their current role.
Students build hands-on experience through internships with leading hospitality brands.
Contact Information
- Address: 3300 West Camelback Road- Phoenix, AZ 85017
- Phone: 855-GCU-LOPE
- Website: https://pihospitalityacademy.com
#10The Travel Institute
About the School
The Travel Institute offers a Certified Travel Associate program that is available completely online.
The program can be completed by students at their own pace.
The certification is designed for working travel advisors who want to build credibility, improve client relationships, strengthen sales skills, and grow their business.
Students gain foundational cruise knowledge to help advisors understand cruise categories, itineraries, destinations, client matching, and positioning strategies.
The program explores new approaches to positioning and recommending today’s all-inclusive vacation experiences.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Business ethics
- Business writing skills
- Customer service
- The art of listening and communications
- Time management
- Understanding customer needs
- Planning itineraries
- Selling cruises
- Touring the world
- Selling special interest travel
- Travel insurance
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 945 Concord St, Framingham, MA 01701
- Phone: 800.542.4282
- Website: https://www.thetravelinstitute.com
Schools Summary Table
Travel Agent Average Salary in Arizona
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$33K
|
|
|
$55K
|
|
|
$80K
|
Travel Agent Salary by Metro Area in Arizona
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,530 | $56,180 | $27.01 | $80,580 | $33,560 |
| Tucson, AZ | 190 | $51,580 | $24.80 | $74,920 | $31,200 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best travel agent schools in Arizona, it’s time to continue your research and apply for the program that best fits your budget, learning style, and career aspirations.
Take your time and make an informed decision.
