Professional Certification
Professional Certification is the tourism sector’s recognition of an individual’s ability to meet or exceed the national standard of knowledge, skills, and attitude. It is a process which, when successfully completed, leads to recognition of a candidate as a professional in his or her chosen occupation across Canada. Certification is based on the National Occupational Standards and is designed for self-study.
Completion of Professional Certification signifies that you have attained the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to be recognized as a service professional in your occupation.
Professional Certification provides an opportunity for employees to achieve professional recognition in their chosen occupation; it instills in candidates a sense of pride, self-improvement, and job satisfaction; and can help to identify career paths and advancement within the tourism sector.
On average, frontline candidates complete the certification process in four to six months after registration, while managers and supervisors may take up to two years. The length of time it takes to become certified depends on (a) the occupation you are pursuing and (b) how long you have worked in your occupation.
You may take as long as you need to complete certification as long as you keep STEC aware of your continued dedication. Your name is recorded in the certification database when you register. If your file is inactive for one year after registering, STEC will place it in the archives. However, your file can be reactivated at any time with notice from you. Should you choose to re-enter the certification process, you will be required to renew your registration and an additional administration fee may apply. For more information, please contact us.
The cost of most certification programs is $315.00 + GST. The cost of registration is non-refundable.
Click here to view the price of all certification programs and fees for re-writes and re-evaluations.
Yes, certification is recognized nationally across Canada. This means that all certification is transferable. If you move while undergoing the certification process, please contact us. We will transfer your file to another Tourism Human Resource Organization in the province or territory you are relocating to.
No, a diploma/certificate from a post-secondary program acknowledges that you have completed a particular knowledge-based program within a set time frame. Professional Certification is formal recognition of competency in a given occupation for:
- knowledge (through a written occupational knowledge exam).
- a performance evaluation (on-the-job).
- work experience (based on required hours).
Related programs often provide an excellent foundation to begin certification and, in some cases, may be based on the National Occupational Standard for your occupation.
Can I register for certification if I do not have the total number of hours, but will accumulate them while going through the first steps?
Yes, you can register for certification without having all of the required hours. You can challenge the exam at any time and work towards accumulating the required work experience. However, you will need to have all required hours complete prior to the performance evaluation.
This is not necessarily the case. However, certified professionals do have an advantage over non-certified workers and are often provided with the best opportunities. Although many employers reward certified professionals by providing an increase in wages, others do not. This is purely at the discretion of the employer.
Yes, upon completion of one of the 27 occupations that offer Professional Certification, you may display a professional designation on business cards and resumes.
Yes, you may be approached to consider becoming an evaluator in your occupation and/or may be asked to participate in the development of national program materials for standards, training or certification.
Professional Certification is a one-time process and does not need to be renewed at any time. It is a national program that is recognized in all provinces and territories in Canada.
However, emerit programs are updated periodically. A review of the standards is done every three to five years. When there is substantive change, certification programs will be updated to reflect the current practices. When a certification program is updated, you may wish to re-certify in order to remain current. Re-certification requires re-assessment of knowledge and skills and verification of additional relevant experience. Certificates are dated to indicate when the recognition was awarded. More recent credentials will be more marketable as they reflect current practices.
