The Tour Director Certification Trusted by the Industry Since 1973
Next Class: June 13–21, 2026
Live, in-person class in Denver, Colorado
Enroll Now Schedule a 15-min call Or call 303.434.7557Ready to talk? Schedule a 15-min call or call Daniel directly at 303.434.7557
Founded 1973 · Graduates from Almost 100 Countries · Small Classes by Design · Active-Industry Instructors · Free Lifetime Placement Assistance
What Does a Tour Director Actually Do?
A Tour Director is the person who makes the trip happen.
Not the person who books it. Not the person who sold it. The person who shows up on Day 1, takes responsibility for every detail from departure to return, and makes sure every traveler has the experience they paid for — and then some.
Tour Directors travel with their groups. Same hotels. Same excursions. Same meals. They work with local guides, manage hotel arrivals and departures, coordinate motorcoach travel, handle the unexpected, and keep the itinerary running no matter what.
Tour Operators — the companies that organize and sell group travel — hire Tour Directors to lead their tours. The title varies: Tour Manager, Tour Escort, Group Leader. The job is the same: be the professional that travelers rely on from Day 1 to the last day.
It is a real career. It pays. And it takes you to places most people only ever dream about.
If this sounds like the career you've been looking for, the next class starts June 13, 2026.
Enroll Now Schedule a 15-min call Call Daniel: 303.434.7557Who Becomes a Tour Director?
People who become Tour Directors come from every background and every stage of life — teachers, retirees, career changers, veterans, and recent graduates. The common thread is not a résumé. It is a genuine love of travel, people, and being the person others rely on.
A successful Tour Director has four strong LOVES:
- Loves to travel — the road is the office, and a new city every week is the reward
- Loves to talk — narration, storytelling, and live commentary are core daily skills
- Loves people — passengers come from every walk of life, and a Tour Director welcomes all of them
- Loves research — the best Tour Directors arrive at every destination already prepared with the stories that turn a sightseeing stop into a memory
If those four loves describe you, the Tour Director path is built for you.
What You Will Learn
- All classes are held live, in person, in Denver, CO.
- All programs are taught in English.
The beginning modules (27 hours) in this certification program include:
- Travel Industry Terminology
- Behind the scenes look at how tours are put together and marketed by Tour Operators
- Industry Trends
- The Profile of a Tour Manager/Director
- Pre-tour Departure Preparations
- Airport Departures and Arrivals
- Teamwork with Local Tour Guides
- Hotel Arrivals and Departures
- Managing Optional Excursions
- Baggage Control
- Client Welcomes Content and Delivery
After this foundation, your program (53 hours) covers:
- Public Speaking
- Commentary delivery
- Logistics procedures
- Cultural Practices
- Story Telling & Narration
- Being Environmentally Aware on Tour
- Motorcoach Travel
- Technology on the Road
- Teamwork
- Group Psychology
- Industry Networking
- Getting Hired Practices, Resume & Cover Letter writing assistance
See the Full Day-by-Day Curriculum
Nine days. Eighty hours. Each one structured around what Tour Operators actually hire for. See exactly what is taught every day of the program — from Day One orientation through the Day Nine motorcoach narration and getting-hired workshop.
View the Complete Curriculum →From Classroom to Career
Nine days in Denver. Then the rest of your career on the road.
IGA's Tour Director program is built around what Tour Operators actually need from a new hire — so when graduates finish, they are not just certified. They are ready to be hired and ready to lead.
Within weeks of graduation, IGA alumni are working tours across the country and around the world. Some land their first assignment in under two weeks. Others take a season to choose the right operator. Either way, the support does not end at graduation: Free Lifetime Placement Assistance means IGA stays in your corner for as long as you stay in this career.
The first year teaches you what no classroom can — your voice on a microphone, your judgment under pressure, your instincts with a group. Year two, you specialize. By year five, your name is on Tour Operators' shortlists for their best routes.
That is where this nine-day class can take you.
All graduates receive a book specially prepared for that specific class which covers Getting Hired. Throughout the program, the participants are video recorded with copies sent to each student, role-playing, actual motor coach travel is included, and more. With IGA you learn by doing.
Graduates in Their Own Words
"I received a job offer from Holiday Vacations today!" Aaron received his first assignments 10 days after earning his certification.
— Aaron Johnson
"Less than 6 weeks after earning my International Tour Director certification, I was offered a position. I would like to thank you and all the IGA instructors for my in-depth classroom training."
— Trish Oliveira
"I joined Tauck! 7 summers guiding in Alaska, 4 in the Southwest, two tours through France, and over 130 travel presentations. The front seat of the motorcoach continues to be the best office."
— Rachel Moody
"After earning my certification in 2013, I started my career leading tours in Alaska and have continued working with Premier Alaska Tours each season since. I now work with many custom, high-end private clients."
— Jane Broome
"I am leaving tomorrow for Italy, yahoo! I got my first back-to-back tours working with Now Journey. Thank you for all you've done."
— Ashley Babione
What is the Cost?
What is included in the cost of the course?
*All books and class materials
*All instruction as well as access to instructors outside of class hours
- The registration fee – $100 non refundable
- Tuition – $1795
- Total Cost – $1895
What is not included in the cost of the course?
- Housing
- Food
Everything is included in your tuition — books, materials, instruction, and access to instructors outside of class hours. No hidden fees.
Train for a career that takes you around the world. June 13–21, 2026 · Denver · 9 days.
Enroll Now Schedule a 15-min call Call Daniel: 303.434.7557Where IGA Graduates Work
A sampling of the Tour Operators that hire IGA-Certified Tour Directors and Tour Guides. Logos used with permission.
Everything You Need to Know Before You Enroll
Everything is included in your tuition. Books, class materials, video recordings of your presentations, and access to instructors outside of class hours — all included. No hidden fees. No surprise costs.
Payment is flexible. IGA accepts Credit Cards, Checks, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Money Orders, and Cash. Need a payment plan? Schedule a 15-min call, call Daniel at 303.434.7557, or email daniel@bepaidtotravel.com.
Free Lifetime Placement Assistance is yours the moment you graduate. Not a one-time job board listing — an ongoing connection to Tour Operators worldwide that lasts as long as you are in this career. IGA has been building and maintaining those relationships since 1973.
You may qualify for a tax credit. IGA’s program may be eligible for the IRS Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. Check with your tax advisor.
Take both certifications and save. Complete both the Tour Director and Tour Guide programs within 18 months and receive a tuition discount — call for combined pricing. Two career paths. One investment.
IGA is fully licensed by the State of Colorado. The Academy has operated in good standing under State of Colorado licensing since 1973. Student protections under Colorado HB22-1049 are administered by the Colorado Student Loan Ombudsperson — CSLSA@coag.gov.
Ready to Be Paid To Travel?
The next IGA Tour Director class starts June 13, 2026 in Denver.