- 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
 The Travel Manager Certification Program is jointly promoted by The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Sector Council (CTHRC) and the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC). CITC 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.
- Enroll for Certification
- Pass the Travel Manager Knowledge Exam
- Complete Performance Evaluation
- Provide proof of recent applicable work experience (5 years)
- Self Review Checklist of Skills
- Performance Evaluation (Case Studies)
- Maintain annual CITC Membership to use your credential
Candidates can enroll for each step individually or enroll for the cost saving Bundle Package.
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.
As part of your enrollment for travel manager certification you also receive General Membership in the association. This will allow you to take advantage of many CITC membership benefits and ensure that you receive our monthly member email communications.
To get started on certification you can purchase or download a copy of the Travel Manager Occupational Standards by clicking here.
Certification E nrollment Fee $75
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 CITC 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 |
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TOTAL number of items |
100 |
Knowledge Exam Fee $150
- 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.
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 four 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 at least 3 of the 4 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.
Performance Evaluation Fee $225
To help Certified Travel Manager candidates prepare for success on the Knowledge Exam and Performance Evaluations CITC offers regular webinar sessions. Webinars will be held throughout the year, please contact CITC 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
Please click here for a listing of the scheduled webinars--and the registration form. Webinar Fee $25 + tax.
Certification steps MUST be completed within 6 months of program enrollment to qualify for package rates.
Professional CTM Certification
$400.00 + GST/HST
Includes Certification Enrollment, Prep Guide, Online Knowledge Exam, and Performance Evaluation.
Certification Enrollment and Knowledge Exam
$200.00 + GST/HST
Includes Certification Enrollment, Prep Guide and Online Knowledge Exam. This does NOT include the Performance Evaluation.
Questions and Answers
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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. |
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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
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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. |
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How many years of experience do I need to become a CTM? |
| A |
You are 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. |
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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.
CITC also holds regular webinars to prepare candidates for success in the CTM program. To register for the next webinar please click here. |
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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. |
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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. |
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What is the Excecutive CTM Retreat? |
| A |
This is a special CTM Retreat held once per year at various locations across Canada. in 2011Managers may participate in the 5 day "At your Desk" session--2 hours per day to prepare you for the CTM KNowledge Exam and Case studies. Click here for details. |
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For answers to other questions, please Contact Us or call our offices
(800) 589-5776, 416-484-4450.
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