Certified Travel Manager

Training CTC Certification Provider Information
Certification CTM Certification Specialist Programs

Travel Manager Certification

  • Affirms your commitment to the industry
  • Sets an example of achievement to your staff
  • Identifies you as a decision-maker in the eyes of both the industry and consumers
  • Identifies your career path
  • Meet or exceed the certification requirements set by peers

Emerit LogoThe Travel Manager Certification Program is jointly promoted by The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Sector Council (CTHRC) and the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA).  ACTA is an organization that advances the professional development of travel counsellors and managers in Canada.  emerit Professional Certification, recognized across the country, brings a standard of excellence to each of the emerit-trained professions. It is awarded when a candidate demonstrates they have mastered the required skills and met the standards of their profession in a practical job setting.

Costs for CTM Certification

FOR ACTA Members AND Instructors from ACTA Endorsed Schools:

Pay in full at time of enrollment for special rate of $295.00 + GST or HST and receive the exam prep pack for free!  This also includes free enrollment.  

FOR Non-ACTA Members AND Instructors from Non-Endorsed Schools:

Pay in full at time of enrollment for special rate of $395.00 + GST or HST. 

Steps to CTM

  1.  Enroll for Certification
  2.  Pass the Travel Manager  Knowledge Exam
  3.  Complete Performance Evaluation
    1. Provide proof of recent applicable work experience (5 years)
    2. Self Review Checklist of Skills
    3. Performance Evaluation (Case Studies)
  4.  Maintain annual CTC/CTM Registration to use your credential

1. Enroll

Enrollment for certification is your first step to becoming a CTM.  The cost pre pays your certificate and pin once certified.  Once Enrolled you have 6 months to complete all steps.  You will also receive a soft copy of the CTM Candidate Booklet which explains the certification process and evaluation methods.

To get started on certification you can purchase or download a copy of the Travel Manager Occupational Standards by clicking here.

2. Knowledge Exam

The exam assesses the knowledge areas contained in the National Occupational Standards for Travel Manager.  It consists of 100 multiple choice test items that are based on industry specific scenarios in the following proportion by category of the standards.  When you enroll for certification ACTA will send you a soft copy of the Knowledge Exam Prep Guide.

Standards Category

Approx. # of items

A. Business Planning

9

B. Operations

16

C. Finance 

11

D. Human Resource Management  

30

E. Professionalism

9

F. Marketing   

10

G.  Sales and Client Service

15

 

 

TOTAL number of items

100

 

EXAM DATE CHANGE
A change in the scheduled exam date may be made for an administration fee of $25.00 + tax.  Advance notice must be given.  

Booking The Knowledge Exam

  • Exam can be written anywhere as long as you have an approved proctor to supervise you during the exam
  • You will need to arrange a proctor for the exam date of your choice
  • It is an online exam so it can be written any time during the day, however technical support is only available between 8:30 AM and 4:30PM EST Monday - Friday
  • Confirm exam date, location and proctor by submitting the Proctor Application form
  • Exam details must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the exam date
  • It is recommended that you bring a silent battery operated calculator as this will not be supplied and you are not allowed to use other “hand held devices” that incorporate a calculator.

Performance Evaluation

A. Work Experience

Qualified experience must relate to the skills as defined in the Occupational Standards.  Recent industry work experience helps ensure a candidate can apply and perform the complete scope of skills as outlined in the standards in a practical setting. An industry committee defined the experience requirement for certified Travel Manager as a total of 5 years of related industry experience, e.g., travel trade, sales, with a minimum of 2 years of proven supervisory/managerial experience.

Details must include employment references and current contact information.  Candidates must supply acceptable records as proof that this requirement has been met.  Back up records that support the work experience claim include: pay slips / Record of Employment / letters of employment or copy of ACTA/IATA ID card.

B. Performance Checklist

This self assessment is a checklist of skills  that you review that identifies how well you perform certain tasks that are not as easily observed in a workplace evaluation or on a multiple choice exam.

C. Performance Evaluation

Candidates select two of the following eight case studies to complete in a take home format for a maximum of three (3) months.

To be successful, candidates must PASS BOTH case studies.

Case Study Number and Title

Standards Assessed

 

 

1.  Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities 
     and  Threats (S.W.O.T.) Analysis

A2.4 participate in business planning

2.  Develop and Implement Action Plans

B1.3 develop action plans

B1.4 implement action plans

3. Plan a Consumer Show

C1.1 develop budget

C1.2 implement budget

D4.3 schedule employees

D4.4 communicate with employees

D4.7 motivate employees

4. Recruit Staff

D2.1 recruit and screen applicants

5. Develop a Training Plan

D3.2 plan training

6. Develop a Marketing Plan

F1.1 develop marketing plan. 

7. Develop a Sales Incentive Contest

G1.2 implement sales incentive contests

8. Deliver Presentations

E2.2 deliver presentations

Once completed case study assignments are received they will be sent to an independent evaluator for marking.  Results will be mailed to the candidate within 4-6 weeks of CITC receiving the completed case study assignments.

Certification Preparation

To help Certified Travel Manager candidates prepare for success on the Knowledge Exam and Performance Evaluations ACTA offers regular webinar sessions.  Webinars will be held throughout the year, please contact ACTA for upcoming dates.

Each webinar session will last approximately one hour between 2 - 3 pm EST and content will include:

  • Certification process  
  • Knowledge Exam Format
  • Get the most from the National Occupational Standards
  • Time Management
  • Multiple choice exam strategies
  • Sample questions       
  • Performance Evaluation Case Study Format
  • Work Experience

ENROLLMENT REGISTRATION

CTM Enrollment Registration Form

KNOWLEDGE EXAM REGISTRATION

CTM Knowledge Exam Registration Form

WORKBOOK

The Study Guide to certification outlines the skills in the occupational standard. You may use the guide to identify areas you may not have been exposed to and attempt to gain more knowledge and/or experience in those areas.

  • $45.00 + shipping and handling+ GST or HST

 

FAQ on Certification for Travel Managers

Questions and Answers

Do I need to be a CTC before I can pursue the CTM credential?

Is there a New CTM Process? How has it changed?

What if I'm enrolled under the Old CTM Process?

How many years of experience do I need to become a CTM?

How do I prepare for the assessments?
What if I fail an assessment?

What percentage do I need to achieve a pass on the assessments?

 Can I change my scheduled exam date?

 

 

Q

Do I need to be a CTC before I can pursue the CTM credential?

A

No, as long as you have five years experience, two of which are management you can “go direct” to CTM.

Q Is there a New CTM Process?  How has it changed?
A

In 2011, a new CTM process was introduced.  Under this process candidates must now meet the following requirements:

  • Pass the Knowledge Exam which is based on the National Occupational Standards for Travel Manager.
  • Required to have 5 years of related industry experience, e.g., travel trade, sales, with a minimum of 2 years of proven supervisory/managerial experience.
  • Complete a Performance Checklist, this assessment is a checklist of skills  that you review that identifies how well you perform certain tasks that are not as easily observed in a workplace evaluation or on a multiple choice exam.
  • Pass a Performance Evaluation by completing 4 case studies
Q
What if I'm enrolled under the Old CTM Process?

A

Candidates that have not completed their work paper under the old process will have to switch to the current CTM process.  The latest candidates were able to submit their CTM Work Paper under the old process was December 31, 2010.

Q

How many years of experience do I need to become a CTM?

A You are required to have 5 years of related industry experience within Canada, e.g., travel trade, sales, with a minimum of 2 years of proven supervisory/managerial experience.
Q

How do I prepare for the assessments?

A

For the Knowledge Exam there are several tools available including: Practice Exam and Prep Guide, to order these items click here. Candidates may also review the occupational standards for travel manager, to purchase or download this click here.

Q What if I fail an assessment?
A

Re-writes for the Knowledge Exam are available for an additional fee of $75.
The Performance Evaluation may also be redone for an additional fee of $125.

Q What percentage do I need to achieve a pass on the assessments?
A


“Marks” will not be given out. Assessment will be determined as either a “PASS” or “FAIL” only.
For the Knowledge Exam – pass level is on a “sliding scale”. Each individual question has its own pass percentage depending on which questions are pulled for the test the pass mark may vary slightly. 
For the Performance Evaluation – Candidates select four out of eight case studies to complete in a take home format for a maximum of three (3) months.   To be successful, candidates must PASS at least 3 of the 4 case studies.

Q Can I change my scheduled exam date/time
A


A change in the scheduled exam date may be made for an administration fee of $25.00 + tax. Advance notice must be given

 

For answers to other questions, please Contact Us or call our offices (888) 257-2282, or 905-282-9294.