What changed in TICO's education program on January 5, 2026?
TICO Certification overview
TICO Certification: Certification and office staffing
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Study reference: TICO study notes from the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and O. Reg. 26/05 (Oct 2026), Ch. 2 Certification and staffing — O. Reg. 26/05 ss. 12, 15, 16
All 12 questions in this test
Every original question, with optional answers, explanations and official references. Open an answer to study, or take the test above for instant feedback.
What changed in TICO's education program on January 5, 2026?
- The exam was moved from online to in-person test centres only
- Two levels merged into one e-learning program and one exam
- Certification became optional for home-based travel agents
- The program was replaced by a college diploma requirement
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Two levels merged into one e-learning program and one exam
On January 5, 2026 the Education Standards Program became the TICO Certification Program: interactive e-learning replaced the static manual, and the Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager levels became a single learning experience and exam.
Based on: TICO — Current Certification Program and transition FAQ; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗Under the office-supervision wording in section 15(2.1), when must an employed supervisor obtain the required supervisor/manager certification?
- Never, if they have five years of sales experience
- Before their first day in the manager role
- Within two years, at the agency's next renewal
- Within six months of starting as supervisor/manager
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Within six months of starting as supervisor/manager
Section 15(2.1) specifies supervisor/manager certification within six months of employment, counsellor certification, and sufficient experience and knowledge in the registrar’s opinion. This provision does not itself approve a person as manager or waive the current combined program; confirm the approval requirements with TICO.
Based on: O. Reg. 26/05 s. 15(2.1); checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗What is the fee for the TICO Certification Program announced in 2026?
- $500
- $150
- $35
- $50
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: $150
The new program costs $150, including one exam attempt. Its rewrite fee is $50. Old $35/$50 enrolment prices do not apply to new registrations; some eligible legacy rewrites continue under the separate transition deadlines in 2026.
Based on: TICO — Current Certification Program and transition FAQ; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗What does passing the TICO certification exam allow you to do?
- Open and run your own travel agency without registering
- Sell travel services to Ontario consumers from any country
- Sell travel or give travel advice for a TICO-registered agency
- Act as a travel insurance agent without another licence
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Sell travel or give travel advice for a TICO-registered agency
Passing allows you to sell travel services or provide travel advice to the public on behalf of a TICO-registered Ontario travel agency. Opening your own business still requires registering it with TICO.
Based on: Oliver Solutions — TICO program FAQ, current exam/attempt requirements; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗Before selling, what must a travel agent disclose about itself to the customer?
- Its owner's home address and personal mobile phone number
- Its business name, address and phone, and any relevant link to a registrant
- Its annual sales volume and the commission it earns from each of its suppliers
- The names of all its other customers travelling on the same dates
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Its business name, address and phone, and any relevant link to a registrant
A travel agent may not sell or offer travel services unless it discloses the name it does business under, its address and business telephone number, and any connection with another registrant relevant to the sale.
Based on: O. Reg. 26/05 s. 12(1)(b)–(c); checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗Which personnel must hold the applicable TICO certification to sell travel or advise for a registered Ontario agency?
- Anyone selling travel or giving travel advice for an Ontario agency
- Only people who work for tour operators, not for retail agencies
- Only the owner of each registered travel agency in Ontario
- Only agents who sell international air tickets to consumers
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Anyone selling travel or giving travel advice for an Ontario agency
New sellers and advisers acting for a registered Ontario agency must complete the required TICO program and exam. Existing valid certifications are not cancelled by the 2026 program change; staff who only take messages or do back-office accounting have different duties.
Based on: TICO — Current Certification Program and transition FAQ; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗A corporate travel agency wants a new employee to sell trips. What does the regulation require of that employee?
- The applicable TICO certification for selling travel
- A separate personal registration as a travel agent
- A university degree in tourism management
- Five years of experience at another agency
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: The applicable TICO certification for selling travel
For a new individual employee selling for a corporate agency, section 12 requires the applicable TICO certification. The regulation also addresses written-contract arrangements and legacy section 15(3) conditions. Certification does not personally register that employee as an independent travel business.
Based on: O. Reg. 26/05 s. 12(3); checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗How is the TICO certification exam written?
- Online on a computer, with required software and two-camera proctoring
- At a college campus during set exam weeks only
- On paper at a ServiceOntario centre with an invigilator
- Orally, by phone interview with a TICO inspector
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Online on a computer, with required software and two-camera proctoring
The provider currently requires a computer, Safe Exam Browser, a webcam and a smartphone camera activated by QR code. A webcam alone is insufficient. Review the provider's current system requirements before the paid official exam; this free practice site does not use proctoring or cameras.
Based on: Oliver Solutions — TICO program FAQ, current exam/attempt requirements; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗What records must an agency keep about the people who counsel its customers?
- Only their names, kept for one year after they leave
- Nothing, because TICO itself keeps all of the certification records
- Accurate records, including copies of their TICO certificates
- Their personal travel history and passport numbers
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Accurate records, including copies of their TICO certificates
Registrants maintain accurate, up-to-date records about the employees and contractors who counsel customers, including copies of the relevant TICO certificates.
Based on: O. Reg. 26/05 s. 16; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗How soon are TICO exam results normally sent?
- At the next quarterly TICO board meeting
- On screen, the moment the exam ends
- Within three business days, by email
- Within 30 days, by registered mail
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Within three business days, by email
Results are reported as pass or fail by email within three business days, unless the recorded session has irregularities that need a compliance review.
Based on: Oliver Solutions — TICO program FAQ, current exam/attempt requirements; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗What must be available at every travel agency office throughout its hours of operation?
- A licensed travel insurance broker
- A printed copy of every supplier's brochure
- At least one certified travel counsellor
- A TICO inspector or the registrar's designate
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: At least one certified travel counsellor
Each office must have at least one person with TICO travel counsellor certification available throughout its hours of operation.
Based on: O. Reg. 26/05 s. 15(2)(b); checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗Which statement describes attempts under the current TICO Certification Program?
- One attempt only; rewrites are never allowed
- A maximum of two attempts in a calendar year
- Rewrites are allowed, subject to waits and the six-month enrolment period
- No time limits or waiting periods apply to any attempt
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Rewrites are allowed, subject to waits and the six-month enrolment period
Oliver's allows rewrites, but all attempts must be passed within six months of enrolment; otherwise re-enrolment is required. Waits are 24 hours before the first rewrite, five days before the second, and thirty days before later rewrites. Each rewrite costs $50.
Based on: Oliver Solutions — TICO program FAQ, current exam/attempt requirements; checked 2026-10-24
Official reference ↗
Certification and office staffing: key rules to remember
Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗
Certification Program
- New program: On January 5, 2026, TICO's Education Standards Program became the TICO Certification Program.
- Combined content: It moved from a static study manual to interactive e-learning, and the two levels (Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager) became one learning experience and one comprehensive exam covering both.
- Price: The new program costs $150 with one exam attempt; registration is through the current Oliver Solutions TICO portal. Each rewrite costs $50.
- Exam format: The closed-book exam has 80 questions in 150 minutes; the published threshold is 70%, or 56/80. The provider requires Safe Exam Browser, a computer webcam and a smartphone camera. Our original practice does not use proctoring or cameras.
- Retakes: All attempts must be passed within the six-month enrolment period, otherwise re-enrolment is required. Rewrite waits are 24 hours for the first, five days for the second, and thirty days for each later rewrite.
- Results: Results (pass or fail) are emailed within three business days, unless the recorded session needs a compliance review.
- Accommodation requests: Special-needs accommodation is requested in advance on TICO's form.
- Who needs certification: New sellers/advisers for registered Ontario agencies need the required certification. Existing certifications remain valid without retesting. Message-only and back-office staff have different duties; an existing counsellor seeking supervisor/manager certification follows the current combined-program route.
- Certification and business: Passing lets you sell travel or give travel advice on behalf of a TICO-registered Ontario agency; it is not itself a licence to run a travel business, which must be registered.
Who may sell
- Corporate agency: A travel agent that is not an individual may sell or offer travel services only directly or through an individual employed by it or under written contract who holds TICO's travel counsellor certification (and supervisor/manager certification if applicable), subject to the specified pre-2009 staffing exceptions in section 15(3).
- Individual agent: An individual travel agent must hold the certification personally.
- Agency identity: The agent must disclose its business name, address and business phone to the customer, and any connection with another registrant relevant to the sale.
Supervision of offices
- Office manager: Each office must be managed and supervised throughout its hours of operation by a person certified as a travel counsellor who obtains supervisor/manager certification within six months of being employed as supervisor/manager and has sufficient experience and knowledge in the registrar's opinion (or who managed an office on June 30, 2009 and holds counsellor certification).
- Counsellor availability: At least one certified travel counsellor must be available at each office throughout its hours.
- Staff list: Registration applications and renewals list the people who meet these requirements.
Records
- Staff certificates: Registrants keep accurate, up-to-date records of the people who counsel customers, including copies of their TICO certificates.
Study the Certification and office staffing rules as flashcards →
Other topics
- TICO, the Act and who must registerWhat TICO does, the legal definitions of travel agent, travel wholesaler and travel services, who must be registered and which businesses and groups are exempt.
- Registration requirements and noticesEligibility to register, grounds for refusal, proposals and Licence Appeal Tribunal hearings, immediate suspension, $10,000 security for new applicants, business names, home offices, branches, certificates and the notices registrants must give.
- Financial requirements, trust accounts and recordsFinancial filings, positive working capital, bank accounts, the Travel Industry Act trust account and its rules, security instead of a trust account and six-year business records.
- Advertising and representationsRequired details in ads, false advertising, all-inclusive price rules, information required in written ads for specific travel services, photographs, registrar orders and pre-approval.
- Disclosure before the saleWhat a travel agent must tell the customer before an agreement and before taking payment or card details, advice for travel outside Canada, insurance advice and counselling fees.
- Invoices and travel documentsWhat the customer's statement, invoice or receipt must show, price increase wording, wholesaler statements, numbering, document delivery timelines and checking documents.
- Changes, refunds and alternativesTelling customers about changes, verifying accommodation, the events that require an offer of a full refund or comparable alternative, price increase limits and the files registrants must keep.
- Resale, supplier failure and liabilityJoint liability for customer money, written supplier agreements, duties when a supplier fails, rules on air carriers, refunding commissions and when registrants must repay the Fund.
- Compensation Fund claimsWho can claim from the Travel Industry Compensation Fund, the demand and eligibility rules, what is not covered, the six-month deadline, documents, registrant claims and hearings.
- Fund limits, trip completion and major eventsThe $5,000 per-person limit, event caps, trip completion and immediate departure payments, and major event rules.
- Complaints, inspections and offencesHow complaints are handled, inspections, discipline, receivers and freeze orders, offences and penalties, limitation periods and the information TICO publishes.