Travel Agent

Certificate Program

The California State University, East Bay Travel Agent Certificate gives aspiring travel agents the fundamental training required to enter the field. It also is an excellent way to prepare for The Travel Institute's National Travel Agent Proficiency test (or TAP test).

Students who take advantage of Cal State East Bay's program will learn from someone who is both a distinguished instructor and a distinguished travel consultant. Combined with her 12 years' experience teaching travel agents, Jo Dubiel manages one of the oldest travel agencies in the United States. She has worked in the field her entire career.

Offered in partnership with Gatlin Education Services, the program's online-only format makes it convenient for anyone in the world, not just those who live or work in the San Francisco East Bay Area.

Program Objectives

• To give graduates familiarity with the various computer reservation systems (Sabre, Apollo, Worldspan, Amadeus GDS), including how to change or cancel records, how to book cars and hotels and the basic formats the airlines use to book flights, price tickets and build passenger name records (PNR).
• To give graduates skill in identifying the various types of travelers and matching them to appropriate travel products.
• To give graduates an understanding of how domestic and international airfares are determined and how the ground transportation system works, including bus tours, rail travel and car rentals.
• To give graduates an understanding of how hotels, resorts, cruises and the various types of tours operate, including how to read and understand brochures and how to match a traveler to the right options.
• To give graduates familiarity with the international documentation travelers require and how to obtain it.
• To provide graduates a grounding in travel geography and travel industry history and trends, as well as guidance on what jobs are available, how to find them and how to advance in the field.
• To give graduates the skills and confidence necessary to excel in this competitive and rewarding field.

Who Should Attend

• Individuals who want to prepare for entry-level positions in the travel field, whether with airlines, travel and car rental agencies, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, resorts or corporate travel departments.
• Individuals who seek to upgrade their travel industry knowledge.
• Individuals who require the educational foundation necessary for a successful career in the travel and tourism field, whether as an employee of an organization or as an independent consultant.

Program Highlights