Becoming a TICO Certified Travel Counsellor or Supervisor/Manager in Ontario
On January 5, 2026, TICO’s Education Standards Program became the TICO Certification Program.
The program transitioned from a static study manual to an interactive e-learning experience. Rather than two levels – Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager – there is now a single seamless learning experience and exam. The fee for the program has been updated to $150. For more information about the new program, key transition dates and fees, click here.
Thinking about a career as a travel professional? There is significant demand and opportunity for travel professionals across the industry, with travel agencies, online booking websites, and tour operators. You can also become a home-based travel advisor, or open your own business.
All individuals wishing to sell travel services in Ontario must successfully complete TICO’s Certification Program and exam. It’s the law.
About TICO
TICO is Ontario’s travel regulator, overseeing travel agencies and tour operators, and providing protection for travel consumers.
Every person who works for a registered Ontario travel agency or booking website, and sells travel services or provides travel advice to the public must, by law, successfully complete the TICO Certification Program and exam. This includes the Supervisors and Managers on record with TICO.
About the TICO Certification Program
- Interactive e-learning program: Focus on applying regulatory consumer protection content to day-to-day interactions (no longer memorization based), with knowledge checks along the way.
- One comprehensive exam: covering both the Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager Certifications together to ensure a comprehensive understanding of regulatory requirements and consumer protection principles. Program content 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.
- Modern, user-friendly interface: Interactive modules, practice materials and questions, and accessibility features, developed in conjunction with a leading adult education provider.
Preparing for and taking an exam can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 3 steps to help you prepare for the TICO certification exam:
Step 1: Register online at oliverslearning.com/tico
To register for the TICO Certification Program please visit oliverslearning.com/tico. Once you are registered and have paid the program fee, you will be ready to access the e-learning platform.
STEP 2: Complete the e-learning program
The online course consists of e-learning modules, practice materials and questions, and reference tools, all hosted on a user-friendly platform.
The e-learning modules contain all the information you will need to know to pass the exam.
The TICO Certification Program is based on the information found in the legislation and regulations that all travel agents must follow. The new program focuses on having learners apply the program’s regulatory and consumer protection content, enhancing regulatory knowledge and professionalism.
STEP 3: Write the exam
You can write the exam when you are confident your studying has adequately prepared you for success.
There are no restrictions on the number of attempts you can make, only the timing of exam attempts.
Students write the certification exams online from the comfort of their own home or office and are proctored via webcam.
Special Needs Accommodation
TICO has a policy to accommodate individuals with special needs. If you have a special need that requires an accommodation when writing the TICO Education Standards exam, you must submit the Special Needs Accommodation Form with as much advance notice as possible. The Special Needs Accommodation Form can be found here.
About the Online Exam
Number of questions on the exams: 80
Time to complete the exam: 150 minutes
Exam fees
- TICO Certification Program exam: $150
- Fee to re-write: $50
- Note: Exam fees include the cost of Oliver’s online proctoring system.
Exam results
All results are reported as either pass or fail by email within three business days of writing the exam. Exceptions may arise if the candidate’s recorded exam session contains irregularities requiring compliance review.
For more information
Getting started in the industry
Successfully passing the TICO Education Standards exam allows you to sell travel services or provide travel advice to the public on behalf of a TICO registered Ontario travel agency.
There are many employment opportunities within the travel industry at travel agencies, booking websites, tour operators and more. To find a TICO-registered company, search our online directory.
If you are interested in opening your own business, you must register the business with TICO. Click here for more information.
Ontario’s travel industry is subject to the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002 and Ontario Regulation 26/05. Under this legislation, all travel retailers (travel agencies and/or websites) and travel wholesalers (tour operators) operating in Ontario must be registered with TICO, Ontario’s travel regulator.
For more information:
Contact Oliver’s at (416) 922-9604 / 1-800-238-0377 or email: support@oliverslearning.com
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Book with a TICO Registered Travel Agency
To verify if a travel agency or website is TICO registered, check our online directory.
Take the TICO Traveller Quiz to see what type of traveller you are.
Sign up to receive quarterly travel consumer protection email updates.
For more travel tips and information, visit the Smart Traveller Guide.
All travel agencies and websites located and operating in Ontario are regulated by TICO. Registered travel agencies and websites provide additional consumer protection for your travel investment that may not be available when booking with travel agencies and websites based in other countries or provinces. For more information about how TICO helps, click here.
Any questions can be directed to tico@tico.ca or 1-888-451-TICO (8426).
