TICO rolls out enhanced certification program

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has launched an enhanced Certification Program and exam for individuals aspiring to become travel counsellors and agency supervisors/managers.

The new TICO Certification Program replaces the previous static study manual with a fully interactive, online learning experience that reflects best practices in adult e-learning education.

"[It] puts the learner experience front and centre,” said TICO's CEO Richard Smart in a press release. “It’s been designed to be more interactive, easier to navigate, and focused on helping learners understand how Ontario’s travel consumer protection regulations apply in real-world client situations.”

Individuals who are already Certified are not subject to any new fees or requirements (for information about Supervisor/Manager Certification, please see FAQs).

About the new program

TICO says the new Certification Program is a "modernized, bilingual, accessible, secure and fully interactive online education program, delivered in collaboration with a leading-edge adult education provider. " 

It aims to reflect best practices in adult learning and e-learning delivery, moving away from memorization. This includes interactive modules, practice materials and questions, reference tools and a user-friendly platform.

The new program also focuses on having learners apply the program’s regulatory and consumer protection content, enhancing regulatory knowledge and professionalism.

Additionally, it features enhanced security tools leveraging emerging technologies.

One single exam

Instead of having two levels like the previous program (Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager), the new TICO Certification Program features a single consolidated exam.

"It’s not just a matter of merging two existing programs into one, the TICO Certification Program has been restructured, streamlined and made more straightforward. The goal is to make the learning experience easier to follow and more relevant for today’s travel industry and travel professionals," TICO says. 

The updated program also covers key areas such as registration, consumer complaint handling, compliance and enforcement, record keeping and other regulatory responsibilities, giving every new learner a comprehensive but approachable understanding of Ontario’s consumer protection laws as they relate to both the individual and the travel seller business.

The exam content has been carefully designed to eliminate complex legal jargon, "using clear, everyday language to help learners easily understand the practical application of Ontario’s consumer protection laws," TICO says. 

For more information, click the following links: 

• About the TICO Certification Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Visit the TICO Certification Program website

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