CSTP Certification
Certified Student Travel Professional
Build Your Expertise. Strengthen Your Credibility. Advance Your Career.
Student and youth travel is a specialized industry. The Certified Student Travel Professional (CSTP) designation demonstrates that you have the knowledge, experience and commitment needed to serve this unique market with confidence.
Designed for professionals across the student and youth travel community, CSTP helps you deepen your industry knowledge, strengthen essential business skills and stay informed about the standards and best practices shaping student travel.
Take the next step in your professional journey—and distinguish yourself as a leader in student and youth travel.
Why Earn Your CSTP?
Earning the CSTP designation is an investment in your career and in the travelers, educators, students and industry partners you serve.
As a CSTP candidate, you will have opportunities to:
〉Demonstrate Your Expertise
Show clients, colleagues and employers that you have pursued specialized education and professional development focused on student and youth travel.
〉Build Industry-Specific Knowledge
Expand your understanding of the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges involved in creating safe, educational and memorable travel experiences for students.
〉Strengthen Your Professional Skills
Develop practical skills that can support your work in areas such as operations, communication, sales, leadership, risk management and customer service.
〉Grow Your Industry Connections
Make progress toward certification through participation in SYTA events, educational programs and volunteer opportunities while building relationships throughout the student travel community.
〉Earn a Recognized Professional Designation
CSTP graduates receive a professional designation, certificate and CSTP logo that may be used to communicate their achievement to clients, partners and colleagues.
〉Invest in Your Long-Term Growth
The CSTP program encourages continued learning in a fast-moving industry. Certification is renewed every three years, helping professionals remain engaged and current throughout their careers.
Who Should Pursue CSTP Certification?
The CSTP program is designed for individuals who want to strengthen their understanding of student and youth travel, including:
〉Tour operators and group travel planners
〉Destination and tourism professionals
〉Attractions, hotels and transportation providers
〉Sales, operations and customer service professionals
〉Educators and student travel partners
〉Emerging leaders and professionals new to the industry
〉Experienced professionals seeking formal recognition of their expertise
The CSTP designation is awarded to the individual, allowing you to carry the credential with you throughout your career.
A Flexible Path to Certification
CSTP is designed to recognize professional development from multiple sources and give candidates flexibility in completing the program.
Certification requirements combine learning and industry engagement through areas such as:
〉Continuing education
〉SYTA conferences and events
〉Industry-related volunteer service
〉Professional reflection and application
〉Approved education from SYTA and other providers
Candidates pursuing initial certification may be able to apply qualifying education, event participation and volunteer experience completed during the previous five years. Once enrolled, candidates have up to three years to complete the program requirements.
Start with the Essentials of Student & Youth Travel
Not sure where to begin? SYTA’s Essentials of Student & Youth Travel course provides a strong foundation for professionals at every stage of their careers.
The refreshed course is divided into three flexible modules:
Module 1: Foundations of Student Travel
Explore why student travel matters and how educational journeys support learning, global citizenship and stronger communities.
Module 2: In-Country Travel
Build practical knowledge in student travel sales, trip planning, risk management, logistics, partnerships and communication.
Module 3: Out-of-Country Travel
Learn about the additional considerations involved in international student travel, including safety, legal requirements, cultural awareness and global partnerships.
Complete the modules individually or use them as part of a broader professional-development plan. The Essentials course is especially valuable for new employees, professionals entering the student travel market and experienced team members who would benefit from a comprehensive refresher.
Continue Learning Through the SYTA Academy
Your professional development does not end with one course.
The SYTA Academy offers convenient, on-demand education covering topics relevant to student travel professionals and today’s workplace. Course areas include:
〉Student and youth travel
〉Safety and risk management
〉Sales and marketing
〉Leadership and career development
〉Human resources
〉Administrative skills
〉Teamwork and workplace essentials
Courses can help you work toward CSTP requirements, develop skills for your current role or create a structured training path for your entire team.
Learning Academy courses are available to everyone, with complimentary access to eligible courses provided as a benefit to SYTA members and their staff. To get your complimentary course code, please contact membership@syta.org.
Turn SYTA Experiences into Professional Progress
Many of the activities that help you grow within SYTA can also help you advance toward your CSTP.
Candidates may earn qualifying credit by participating in opportunities such as:
〉SYTA Annual Conference
〉SYTA Summit
〉Educational sessions and webinars
〉Approved online courses
〉Industry volunteer service
〉Education offered by other approved associations or providers
Attending an event, completing a course or serving the industry can become part of a larger professional-development journey—and bring you closer to earning your designation.
Certification at a Glance
Initial certification fee: $595
The initial fee includes CSTP application and SYTA education fees. Separate registration or participation fees may apply to conferences, events and education offered outside SYTA’s included programs.
Renewal fee: $295
Enrollment: Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Completion period: Candidates have up to three years from enrollment to complete the program.
For initial certification, once requirements have been completed, submit a Graduation Request Form to center@syta.org. Graduation requests must be received by the Center no later than June 1 to graduate at Annual Conference of that year.
Renewal: CSTP certification must be renewed every three years.
Once requirements for renewal have been completed, submit a Renewal Request Form to center@syta.org. Renewal Requests can be submitted anytime throughout the year but must be received by the Center by June 1 to be recognized during SYTA’s Annual Conference of that year.
Annual recognition: Candidates who complete their requirements and submit the required graduation materials by June 1 may be recognized during the SYTA Annual Conference.
Ready to Earn Your CSTP?
Your experience has already helped shape your career. CSTP gives you a structured way to build on that experience, expand your expertise and receive recognition for your commitment to the student and youth travel industry.
Invest in your professional growth. Build confidence in your expertise. Become a Certified Student Travel Professional.
Questions about eligibility, requirements or your existing professional-development credits?
Contact the Center for Student Travel Safety at center@syta.org.
Congratulations to the following travel professionals who have earned their CSTP!
Alesha Keshel • Allison French • Amie Shuler • Amy Cannon • Anjuli King • Anthony Germano • Barb Mock • Becky Wingfield • Beth Beccone • Brent Imrie • Casey Cole • Cheryl Clemens-Everidge • Christopher Rosenow • Corinne Grubar • Dana Romanello • Dayne Whitehurst • Debra Wiley • Donna Adam • Greg Bottenhorn • Greg Dotson • Gus Sheppard • Heather Davis • Jane Tougouma • Jason Black • Jennifer Orvis • Jered Fournier • Joann Moltz • Julie Payne • Kai-Ti Kao • Katherine Harmon • Kathlyn Liles • Kathryn Fischer • Katie Hallum • Kim Burger • Lee Callicutt • Lori Scott • LouAnna Henton • Marcie Ellison-Outerbridge • Marie Enriquez • Marisol Pena • Maxine Morrell-West • Michelle Doerr • Michelle Moore • Mimi Vielhauer • Miranda McCrea • Natalie Rice • Pam Sullivan • Rodolfo Elizondo • Rosemary Judkins • Ruthann Crust • Sharon Keating • Shawna Faniel • Shelly Cole • Urte Land • Victoria Minasian • Wilma Harvey