Later this year, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) will launch a new online education program and exam to become Travel Counsellors and agency Supervisors/Managers, with the changes focussing on having learners apply the program’s regulatory and consumer protection content, enhancing regulatory knowledge and professionalism.
“Enhancing the certification program will strengthen travel professionals’ consumer protection knowledge as they enter the industry, which in turn will benefit the consumers they guide in their travel purchases,” says TICO CEO Richard Smart.
Key facts:
- In 2009, the Ontario government legislated Certification for individuals selling travel on behalf of a TICO-registered retailer. The exam fee has not changed since it launched in 2009.
- TICO is modernizing its Certification program and exam, moving from a static online manual that relies on memorization to an interactive e-learning adult program.
- The new program will feature a single exam, covering both the Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager curriculum, ensuring that all new entrants to the industry have a comprehensive view of their obligations.
The new fee only applies to individuals who are entering the industry and are taking their TICO Certification exam.
- For individuals who are already Certified as a Travel Counsellor but are looking to complete the Supervisor/Manager designation, there will be a transition period with a minimum of 60 days’ notice during which the existing program can be completed.
- Nearly 112,000 individuals have successfully completed TICO’s Certification exams since inception in 2009.
Fees
Once the new e-learning program has launched, TICO says the certification exam fee will need to be adjusted to reflect the cost associated with developing, operating and enhancing the new program.
Says Smart: “As part of this enhancement, we’re reviewing the related fees to ensure they remain fair, transparent and aligned with cost recovery.”
For more information, registrants and stakeholders are invited to review a presentation outlining the new program and proposed fee adjustment. Any feedback can be submitted to TICO via an online survey.
For the consultation presentation, click HERE.
For the online survey, click HERE.
The deadline for feedback is Monday, June 30 at 4 p.m.
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