IATA Consultant
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The IATA Travel and Tourism Consultant credential is an industry training qualification offered through IATA's Training division, which lists Courses & Diplomas, Subject Areas, Delivery Methods, Exams, Training Partners and Corporate Training among its services. Candidates typically encounter it as a course-and-exam package aimed at people working in, or moving into, retail travel and airline distribution roles: travel agency staff, reservations and ticketing agents, and consultants who advise clients on itineraries, fares and documentation. The exam is organised around four domains, each weighted at 25 percent: Travel and Tourism Industry; Airline and Airport Operations; Fares, Ticketing and Reservations; and Customer Service and Travel Counselling. That split rewards breadth - geography, codes and industry structure on one side, practical fare construction, reservation handling and client-facing judgement on the other - so a candidate who over-prepares on ticketing and neglects industry geography tends to lose marks evenly across the paper rather than in one block. Preparation normally combines the official course materials with the current IATA manuals and standards that underpin fares and ticketing rules, plus repeated practice on code recall and fare-calculation logic. Note that the dedicated course page on IATA's site currently returns 'Page not Found', so candidates should confirm current course content, exam logistics and pricing directly with IATA Training or an authorised Training Partner before booking. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IATA.
What you'll study
About IATA Consultant preparation
Is this an official IATA page?
No. This is independent study material written for candidates preparing for the IATA Travel and Tourism Consultant exam. We have no affiliation with, or endorsement from, IATA. Always verify course content, exam rules and pricing with IATA Training or an authorised Training Partner before you book or pay.
What does the exam cover?
Four equally weighted domains at 25 percent each: Travel and Tourism Industry; Airline and Airport Operations; Fares, Ticketing and Reservations; and Customer Service and Travel Counselling. Expect industry structure, geography and codes alongside fare construction, reservation handling and client counselling scenarios. No single domain can carry you, so plan coverage across all four.
How many questions, how long, and what is the pass mark?
We cannot state these reliably. IATA's dedicated course page currently returns 'Page not Found', so question count, duration, pass mark, fee and retake rules are unconfirmed. Check the IATA Training exams information page or ask a Training Partner for the current exam specification before you schedule a sitting.
How difficult is it?
Treat it as a broad rather than deep exam. The 25/25/25/25 weighting means recall-heavy topics such as city and airport codes, time zones and industry bodies matter as much as fare calculation. Candidates with agency experience usually find ticketing and counselling comfortable but must revise geography and industry structure deliberately.
What is the best study order?
Start with Travel and Tourism Industry to build the vocabulary and geography the other domains assume. Move to Airline and Airport Operations for codes, baggage and airport processes, then Fares, Ticketing and Reservations, which is the most calculation-heavy. Finish with Customer Service and Travel Counselling and revise all four together in the final weeks.
Where do candidates most often lose marks?
Two patterns dominate. First, neglecting the industry and operations domains because ticketing feels more technical. Second, memorising fare rules without practising them against realistic itineraries. Also common: confusing IATA three-letter city codes with three-letter airport codes, and misreading time-zone or elapsed-time questions under exam pressure.
How should I prepare for the fares and ticketing domain?
Work through fare construction step by step rather than reading worked examples passively. Practise building fares for multi-sector and open-jaw itineraries, converting currencies, and checking ticketing time limits. Use the current IATA manuals and standards as your reference, since fare rules are revised regularly and older study notes go out of date.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Retake policy, fees and any waiting period are not confirmed in the source material available to us, so we will not guess. Ask IATA Training or your Training Partner directly about resit conditions before your first attempt, so you know your options and budget in advance.
Does this credential expire?
We cannot confirm a validity period. The relevant IATA course page is currently unavailable, and no validity statement appears in the material we could verify. Confirm whether the certificate has an expiry or recertification requirement with IATA Training when you register.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is not confirmed here. Fees typically vary by delivery method and region, and IATA Training lists several delivery routes including classroom courses and digital training. Obtain a current quote from IATA or an authorised Training Partner, and check whether exam fees are included in the course price or billed separately.