If you want to sell travel in Virginia or in other national or remote destinations, a career as a travel agent may be the right fit for you.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, travel agents in Virginia earned $43,470 on average per year as of May 2023-higher than the national average for this profession.
In order to improve your credibility and become equipped with the skills needed for this profession, you can start your journey by completing an on-site or online course and becoming certified.
University and college programs are available at local community colleges or universities and online.
Another way to start a career in this field is by earning professional certifications through The Travel Institute or joining an agency that provides training.
Regardless of the format you choose, your training will typically prepare you for tasks such as:
- Arranging travel for clients
- Determining clients’ schedules and budgets
- Finding fare and schedule information
- Booking reservations
- Giving details on required travel documents
- And more
Travel agents may also visit destinations to get first-hand 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 Virginia.
#1George Mason University
About the School
Among many other programs, George Mason University offers a Tourism and Events Management pathway through its College of Education and Human Development.
The program not only teaches students about hospitality, tourism, and events but also prepares students who are ready to organize them.
Students learn through applied learning, industry-driven coursework, and hands-on field experiences.
The college offers dedicated faculty, career-embedded internships, and partnerships across the region’s hotels, destination management organizations, event venues, and more.
The program is built on applied fieldwork and practical learning.
Students complete two fieldwork courses and graduate with strong professional competencies and real-world industry experience.
The university also offers the following hands-on specializations:
- Event Technical Production minor
- Food and Beverage Management certificate
- Wine and Craft Beverage Management minor
Contact Information
- Address: 4400 University Drive, Thompson Hall 2100, MSN 2F1, Fairfax, VA 22030
- Phone: (703) 993-2892
- Website: https://cehd.gmu.edu
#2Northern Virginia Community College
About the School
Northern Virginia Community College offers a three-credit Introduction to Travel Industry course.
The course presents an overview of the structure and scope of the travel industry.
It emphasizes job categories and functions, basic vocabulary, and the interrelationships of the various components.
The coursework includes the study of information displays of an airline computer reservation system.
The course consists of three hours of lecture per week.
Courses Offered
The course covers major topics such as:
- Introduction: Basic Definitions and Historical Background
- The Travel Product: Attractions, accommodations, and accessibility
- Structure of The Industry: Suppliers, Wholesalers, and Retailers
- The Travel Modes: Airline, motor coach, and Rail Transportation
- The Cruise Industry and Characteristics of the Cruise Vacation
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5000 Dawes Ave, Alexandria, VA 22311
- Phone: 703.323.3000
- Website: https://www.nvcc.edu
#3Virginia Peninsula Community College
About the School
Virginia Peninsula Community College offers online travel agent certification training.
The course can be completed in six months and prepares students with the essential industry knowledge to help them become fully prepared for a career in travel planning with an industry-recognized credential.
Students have six months of access to the 100 course hours.
They also get a 12-month subscription to Travefy when they enroll in the program.
They become eligible for the Travel Agent Proficiency test, offered by the Travel Institute.
The program also teaches how to use Travefy’s itinerary builder and CRM software with hands-on activities.
This program costs $2,299.
Courses Offered
The syllabus includes:
- Introduction to the Travel Industry
- Professional Skills
- Basic Geography
- International Travel
- Exploring the World
- Types of Air Travel
- Career Development
- Sales and Marketing
- Technology Used in the Travel Industry
Contact Information
- Address: 99 Thomas Nelson Dr., P.O. Box 9407, Hampton, VA 23670
- Phone: 855.477.9802
- Website: https://careertraining.vpcc.edu
#4Pamplin College of Business
About the School
Pamplin College of Business offers a Hospitality and Tourism Management major that prepares students for a variety of leadership and management roles in the global hospitality, tourism, and service industries.
The curriculum integrates:
- Real-world business fundamentals
- Hospitality and tourism-specific expertise, including lodging operations, hospitality finance, revenue management, catering and restaurant operations, and franchising
Students have experiential opportunities such as:
- Americas Lodging Investment Summit
- Prosper Accelerator Forum for F&B management leaders
- HTM Student Advisory Board
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: Pamplin Hall, 880 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061
- Phone: 540-231-6601
- Website: https://pamplin.vt.edu
#5Virginia Highlands Community College
About the School
Virginia Highlands Community College offers a Hospitality and Tourism Management program that leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree.
Graduates of this program are able to start a career as front desk managers, shift managers, food and beverage managers, catering managers, hospitality sales associates, event planners, or culinary managers.
The degree includes two pathways:
- Tourism and Hotel Management
- Culinary Arts
Courses Offered
Students take classes such as:
- Principles of Hospitality Management
- Topics in Customer Service
- Business Communications
- Introduction to Business
- Marketing of Hospitality Services
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 100 VHCC Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210
- Phone: (276) 739-2400
- Website: https://www.vhcc.edu
#6University of Lynchburg
About the School
University of Lynchburg offers a Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality program available online.
The flexible courses are designed for working professionals, career changers, and industry enthusiasts.
The programs provide practical and real-world insights to help students excel in customer service, operations, event planning, destination management, and guest experience roles in the travel and hospitality sectors.
Courses Offered
The program focuses on developing skills such as:
- Hospitality management fundamentals
- Customer service excellence
- Tourism planning and destination marketing
- Hospitality operations
- Cultural awareness
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501-3113
- Phone: 434.544.8100
- Website: https://store.pdi.lynchburg.edu
#7Henrico Workforce & Career Development
About the School
Henrico Workforce & Career Development offers a Hospitality & Tourism program that encompasses the management, marketing, and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel-related services.
Courses Offered
The following high school courses are available:
- Culinary Arts I & II
- Baking and Pastry Specialization
- Event Planning and Tourism Marketing I and II
- Introduction to Culinary Arts
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing I & II
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing II Honors
Several high school/industry certifications are available, including a Customer Service & Sales Certification.
Contact Information
- Address: 1910 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228
- Phone: 804-261-9440
- Website: https://cte.henricoschools.us
#8Old Dominion University
About the School
Old Dominion University offers a Tourism & Hospitality Management (Park, Recreation & Tourism Studies, B.S.) program.
The program is available on campus and prepares students for careers in the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry, as well as festival and event planning.
Students learn from experienced industry professionals, complete a practicum before their internship, and have the opportunity to attend a variety of conferences.
Courses Offered
Program courses include:
- Introduction to Tourism Management
- Sustainable Tourism Management
- Impact of Technology
- Marketing and Hospitality Services
- Hospitality and Leadership Management
- Lodging Operations
Contact Information
- Address: 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529
- Phone: 757-766-5200
- Website: https://www.odu.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
#10Penn Foster
About the School
Penn Foster offers a Travel Agent training program that can be completed online in eight months.
Classes are flexible and teach students how to become a successful travel agent at their own pace.
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
- Phone: 800-275-4410
- Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
Schools Summary Table
Travel Agent Average Salary in Virginia
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$30K
|
|
|
$49K
|
|
|
$75K
|
Travel Agent Salary by Metro Area in Virginia
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | 90 | $50,630 | $24.34 | $70,920 | $30,140 |
| Richmond, VA | 100 | $49,180 | $23.64 | $73,270 | $30,150 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 190 | $43,030 | $20.69 | $61,380 | $30,570 |
* 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, there are plenty of training options available.
Now that you have read our selection of the best travel agent schools in Virginia, it’s time to review your options and choose the program that best fits your lifestyle, schedule, budget, and career aspirations.
