Penn Foster College’s online Travel and Tourism Specialist program can help you prepare for a job through gaining relevant knowledge and skills such as using a reservation system, arranging all modes of transportation for travel, booking hotels, recommending popular tourist destinations, and more.
To prepare students for entry-level employment in the travel and tourism field and to prepare for and take the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) exam.
When you reach this lesson, you’ll be given information that allows you to sit for the nationally recognized Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) certification exam. Developed by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the Travel Institute, this exam measures the basic knowledge and proficiency of entry-level travel agents.
It’s administered independently, so you’ll find a complete information packet on your student page to make arrangements for this exam, which you’ll complete in the form of a proctored exam. You’ll select the location and the person you want to supervise the exam according to Penn Foster’s established policies and qualifications.
* You must successfully complete this exam to graduate from this program.
When you graduate, you'll receive
(Sent to you when all program requirements and financial obligations have been met.)
The Travel Institute Destination Specialist Course Certificate
After graduating, you’ll receive a certificate to enroll, at no extra cost, in a Destination Specialist course at The Travel Institute. This course allows you to explore a personal interest area in greater detail and prepares you for the Destination Specialist certification exam. To earn designation as a specialist in that area, you must have at least 12 months of travel industry experience and pass the Destination Specialist exam. You may specialize in one of the following destination areas: Alaska, Caribbean, East Asia, European Culture and Heritage, France, Hawaii, India, Mexico, North America, Northern and Central Europe, South Pacific, Southern Europe, Spain, or St. Lucia.
The Travel Institute’s courses also count as continuing education credits toward maintaining certification as a Certified Travel Associate (CTA), which is the second step of professional certification. To become certified as a CTA, professionals must pass the CTA exam and have 18 months of travel industry experience. Note: Professionals who have successfully completed the TAP exam and who wish to take the CTA exam need only 12 months of industry travel experience.