Family Travel Association Launches Certification Program

The Family Travel Association has launched a certification program for travel agents specializing in family travel.

The new FTA Academy consists of 23 video modules providing content produced by Sally Black, who owns Vacationskids.com, a Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, agency specializing in family travel, and director of FTA’s travel agent initiatives. After agents have completed training videos, they must pass a 50-question comprehensive online test to receive their certification.

Those who pass receive the badge of Certified Family Travel Specialist that they can display on their website, email signatures, business cards and marketing materials. The program, open to all current FTA agent members, received financial support from MSC Cruises.

“This certification course is the first of its kind in the travel industry and sets the standard for knowledge, expertise and excellence for agents that make working with families and traveling with children a priority,” the organization said in an email that went out today.

“New agents, or agents new to the lucrative family market, will gain a better appreciation of the challenges of planning memorable travel experiences for families,” said Black. “This training addresses the skills to overcome these unique challenges.”

With the launch of the FTA Certification program, the organization said the next phase is to “build a comprehensive Family Travel Resource Center offering exclusive agent tools,” in collaboration with Black, including a library of curated content by travel agents as well as a stock photo library.