If you want to turn your passion for travel into a rewarding profession and you also have good communication and organizational skills, becoming a travel agent may be the right fit for you.
Oregon doesn’t require a formal state license or specific degrees in order to start selling travel, but completing an online or in-person program can improve your credibility and employment prospects.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, travel agents in Oregon earned $46,640 on average per year as of May 2023, but salaries vary depending on experience, credibility, and a variety of other factors.
You can begin a career in this field by completing an online course and becoming certified.
Another way is by earning professional certifications through The Travel Institute or joining an agency that provides training.
Your training will typically prepare you for tasks such as:
- Reviewing international and domestic travel destinations
- Arranging travel for clients
- Determining clients’ schedules and budgets
- Finding fare and schedule information
- Booking reservations
- Giving details on required travel documents
- And more
Before deciding which path fits your needs best, we encourage you to read our list and find out more about the training options available to future travel agents in Oregon.
#1Portland Community College
About the School
Portland Community College offers online travel agent certification training.
The course prepares students with the essential industry knowledge to help them become fully prepared for a career in travel planning with an industry-recognized credential.
The 100-hour program can be completed in six months.
Students get a 12-month subscription to Travefy when they enroll in the program.
While in the program, they will learn how to begin creating and managing itineraries, proposals, and client communication effectively.
They become eligible for the Travel Agent Proficiency test, offered by the Travel Institute.
This program costs $2,368, with all course materials and exam fees included.
Courses Offered
Students learn:
- About airline and ground transportation, hotels and resorts, cruises, tours, specialty travel, and more.
- Review all international and domestic travel destinations
- Gain customer service and marketing skills
- Learn how to use Travefy’s itinerary builder and CRM software with hands-on activities
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 19000, Portland, OR 97280
- Phone: 855.477.9802
- Website: https://careertraining.pcc.edu
#2Travel Oregon Learning Lab
Travel Oregon’s Learning Lab offers resources for industry professionals seeking support for their tourism careers and businesses.
Courses Offered
The Marketing and Sales educational program includes courses such as:
- Developing Marketing & Content Strategy
- Working with Creators & Influencers
- Captivate Travelers with Vertical Video: Tips for Tourism Businesses
- Optimizing Your Digital Presence: Practical Marketing Strategies for Small Teams
- Global Sales 101
- Global Sales 201
- Leveraging Familiarization Tour Investments
- Introduction to Google Business Profiles
- Google Business Profiles Fundamentals
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 319 S.W. Washington St., Suite 700, Portland, OR 97204
- Phone: 800.547.7842
- Website: https://industry.traveloregon.com
#3Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy
About the School
Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy offers a year-long, hands-on learning experience for emerging and established tourism professionals.
The program was launched in 2020 by ORLA, Travel Oregon, and the Oregon Destination Association.
Tuition for this program is $2,950 and includes most meals, transportation, and programming during the program.
The curriculum, field visits, and hands-on experiences are designed to align with Oregon’s statewide tourism goals, focusing on four strategic imperatives.
In 2026, these themes included:
- Advancing equitable hospitality and tourism industry in Oregon
- Driving a flourishing and resilient statewide hospitality tourism economy
- Optimizing tourism and hospitality operations
- Elevating and championing exceptional visitor experiences across Oregon
Contact Information
- Address: 8565 SW Salish Lane Suite 120, Wilsonville, OR 97070-9633
- Phone: 503.682.4422
- Website: https://www.oregonrla.org
#4Chemeketa Community College
About the School
Chemeketa Community College offers a Hospitality & Tourism Management program that gives students the opportunity to earn a degree or certificate in a wide variety of tourism-related fields.
Professional development opportunities are available for workers in the tourism industry as well.
Courses Offered
The courses available at Chemeketa Community College cover everything from daily restaurant operations to hotel management, special event planning, and catering.
The following degrees are available:
- Associate of Applied Science Degree
- Hospitality & Tourism Management Certificate
- Food & Beverage Management Certificate
- Lodging Management Certificate
- Tourism & Travel Management Certificate
- And more
The Hospitality and Tourism Management Certificate includes courses such as:
- Hospitality Industry
- Tourism and Travel Industry
- Restaurant Operations
- Selling in Hospitality and Tourism Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Lancaster Drive NE, Salem, Oregon 97305
- Phone: 503.399.5000
- Website: https://www.chemeketa.edu
#5Oregon State University
About the School
Oregon State University offers a Tourism, Recreation, and Adventure leadership program that leads to a Bachelor of Science.
The program is available online.
Tuition is $409 per credit.
Students explore the importance of tourism and recreation in natural settings for community development and human health, while learning practical skills.
They learn about:
- Land use planning
- Natural resource management
- Program management
- Sustainability
- Accessibility in outdoor recreation
- Public lands policy
- And more
The following program options are available:
- Outdoor recreation management
- Sustainable tourism management
Contact Information
- Address: 4943 The Valley Library, 201 SW Waldo Place, Corvallis, OR 97331
- Phone: 800-667-1465 | 541-737-9204
- Website: https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu
#6Southwestern Oregon Community College
About the School
Southwestern Oregon Community College offers a Hospitality and Tourism Management career pathway Certificate of Completion.
This is a 43-credit certificate fully embedded into the 90-credit Hospitality and Tourism Management AAS degree.
Students receive a solid foundation in essential business skills such as human resources, accounting, business operations, law, marketing, sales, ethics, safety and sanitation, and more.
Food service and tourism industry-specific classes round out the curriculum.
Courses Offered
Learning outcomes include:
- Function in entry-level through mid-level management positions
- Demonstrate critical thinking in a business environment
- Apply adaptive managerial, supervisory, and leadership practices
- Operate in a context of legal, ethical, and service models as practiced in the industry
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings, OR 97415
- Phone: 541-813-1667
- Website: https://www.socc.edu
#7Oregon Charter Academy
About the School
Oregon Charter Academy offers the Ascend Hospitality & Tourism Management program.
The program is designed for students who:
- Want to learn about other cultures
- Enjoy all modes of transportation
- Are interested in providing the best customer service possible
- Are able to multitask
- Like helping others plan their next great adventure
- Like finding the hidden gems in the world
After high school, students can pursue the following certificates:
- Food and Beverage Management
- Hotel & Tourism Management
Degree and career options are also available in:
- Tourism, Leisure & Event Management
- Business
- Sports & Tourism Management
- International Hotel Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 1129, Mill City, OR 97360
- Phone: (503) 897-2272
- Website: https://www.oregoncharter.org
#8Southern Oregon University
About the School
Southern Oregon University offers a Foundations of Sustainability and Tourism micro-credential.
By completing this program, students gain an understanding of corporate sustainability and sustainable practices in the tourism business and destination development.
This stackable credential includes classes that can be applied toward either a Certificate in Sustainable Tourism or the Certificate in Sustainable Leadership.
Courses Offered
Required courses include:
- Sustainable Tourism- four credits
- Sustainability Leadership- four credits
- Case Studies in Corporate Sustainability- four credits
And one of the following:
- Ecological Economics and Sustainable Development
- Sustainability and Natural Resources
Contact Information
- Address: 1250 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520
- Phone: 541.552.7672
- Website: https://sou.edu
#9The Knowledge Academy
About the School
The Knowledge Academy offers online Travel Agent training programs.
The academy has more than 10 years of experience in quality, instructor-led training and prepares students for the roles, responsibilities, and skills needed to succeed in the travel industry.
The curriculum covers itinerary planning, booking systems, customer service, travel regulations, destination knowledge, and professional travel planning practices.
Students learn strategies to provide exceptional customer service.
They acquire proficiency in using booking systems for efficient planning.
The program covers training in travel destinations, products, and services.
The following training options are available:
- Online Instructor-Led Learning
- Online Self-Paced Learning
- Onsite Learning
Courses Offered
Course outline includes:
- Travel Industry
- International Travel
- Domestic Air Travel
- Destination Geography
- Ground Transportation
- How to Market Yourself as a Travel Professional
- Offering Travel Agent Services
- Professional Skills
- Customer Service Skills
Contact Information
- Phone: 720.445.4674
- Website: https://www.theknowledgeacademy.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 classes on topics such as:
- 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 Oregon
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$47K
|
|
|
$57K
|
|
|
$72K
|
Travel Agent Salary by Metro Area in Oregon
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | 40 | $58,670 | $28.21 | $70,360 | $48,340 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 80 | $52,200 | $25.10 | $65,830 | $47,310 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 370 | $58,100 | $27.93 | $73,700 | $43,530 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
If you’re passionate about traveling and you want to transform your passion into a rewarding career, becoming a travel agent may be the right fit for you.
Now that you have read our selection of the best travel agent schools available to Oregon residents, it’s time to review your options and choose the program that best fits your lifestyle, schedule, budget, and career aspirations.
