How to Become a Travel Agent in Rhode Island

As you prepare for a career as a travel agent in Rhode Island, where do you begin?

Rhode Island is one of the nation’s smallest and least populated states.

Therefore, you will likely want to find travel jobs out of state.

To get to where you want to go as a RI travel agent, here are the duties, licensing requirements, and travel agent programs in the state.

Travel Agent Duties in Rhode Island

A travel agent in Rhode Island needs to prepare fully for what is ahead on the job.

After all, you work with individuals who depend on you for their well-being and safety.

You will be tasked with finding the best accommodations and arranging transportation.

This includes:

• Booking train tickets and airfare
• Selecting meal plans at all-inclusive resorts
• Getting equipment rented for outdoor recreation
• Vet cities for safety risks and precautions

Your job as a travel agent in RI also goes out of the state and even the country.

You will be working with travelers with plans to visit all sorts of locales.

Therefore, you must have a strong knowledge of geography and a keen sense of how to organize a trip itinerary best.

You will be working with a variety of professionals, including:

• Ticket agents
• Tour guides
• Customs agencies
• Money exchange vendors

Ultimately, you will also need travel experience as a travel agent in Rhode Island.

The best way to find out what travel experiences are out there and how travelers respond to each one is to experience them yourself. 

Spend time traveling on various modes of transportation and trying out different excursions, tours, and cuisines.

The more you know about travel, the better you will be at your RI travel agent job.

Licensing Requirements to Become a RI Travel Agent

Rhode Island has no state requirements for licensing and certification for travel agents.

To benefit employers, you are expected to have travel planning knowledge and experience in the travel industry.

However, your pathway to becoming a travel agent in RI is not set in stone.

You can attend one of the travel agent programs in the state to be trained and earn a certificate or diploma. 

Travel Agent Programs

Community College of Rhode Island

At the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, RI, students can access the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality certificate.

This is a certificate program that is available through the hospitality department.

The program trains students for work in hotels, casinos, and convention centers.

There are 33 credits required in the program for Travel and Tourism (TRVL) and students complete an in-person experience or internship.

Johnson and Wales University

Located in Providence, Rhode Island is Johnson and Wales University.

Students can enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

The four-year program is more thorough than most travel and tourism programs.

This degree will prepare you for upper-level management in event planning.

Students can choose a specialization, including hotel and resort management, sustainable tourism, and food and beverage management.

The school offers study abroad and travel internships that will give you first-person experience.

Travel Agent Representative Schools in Rhode Island – Summary Table

Salary

The typical salary for a travel agent in the US is between $36,710 and $46,920.

In the RI city of Narragansett, the salary is $38,824 and $49,621.

Therefore, you can earn more in Rhode Island as a travel agent than the rest of the nation.

This might surprise some as RI is such a small state with few travel options.

However, being located in the New England region and near New York and other transit cities, Rhode Island is strategic for traveling domestically and internationally.

Annual Salary Range: Annual Salary by Location:

Location	Avg. Annual Salary
Providence	$38,655
Warwick	$38,655
Cranston	$38,655
Pawtucket	$38,655
East Providence	$38,655
Woonsocket	$38,619
Coventry	$38,582
North Providence	$38,655
Cumberland	$38,655
West Warwick	$38,655

Regional Salary in Rhode Island

* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Travel Agents, OCC Code 41-3041, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Travel Agents in Rhode Island Get Paid a Commission?

Yes, one of the main ways that travel agents get paid is via a commission.

This is a percentage of the total travel costs for your clients.

However, you will also want to look at adding other eggs to your basket, such as getting paid a base salary.

Therefore, you can earn a living even in the slow travel seasons.

Do I Need a Passport to be a Travel Agent in RI?

No, you do not have to have a passport to be a RI travel agent.

Travel experience is not a requirement for someone who wants to be a travel agent in Rhode Island.

However, knowing how to travel and having personal experience in the industry is beneficial, so you can better coordinate travel itineraries.

Do You Have to be Accredited by the International Air Transport Association as a RI Travel Agent?

No, you do not have to be accredited by any agency, including the IATA as a travel agent in RI.

However, this is a good accreditation to earn.

This accreditation allows you to expand your opportunities as someone working toward a travel agent career.

In addition, clients who are traveling by air internationally may look for someone who has gained this accreditation.

Travel Agent Info by State