If you're starting out as a travel agent in the United States, you'll quickly run into a wall of acronyms — IATA, IATAN, ARC, CLIA, TRUE — each meaning something different, each tied to different supplier access. This guide breaks down what each one actually does so you can figure out which ones you actually need.
The Short Version
| Accreditation | What It's For | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| ARC | Issuing airline tickets directly in the US | Agencies that want to ticket flights themselves |
| IATAN | US industry recognition + ID card | US-based agents wanting supplier discounts/recognition |
| IATA | Global version of IATAN | Agencies outside the US wanting global ticketing recognition |
| CLIA | Cruise industry recognition | Agents who sell cruises regularly |
| TRUE | Independent accreditation without a host agency | Agents who want to avoid commission splits |
ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation)
ARC is the organization that manages ticket settlement between airlines and US-based travel agencies — it's specifically the US version of what IATA's BSP (Billing and Settlement Plan) does internationally. ARC accreditation is what actually lets an agency issue airline tickets and process payments through its own systems, covering the United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network)
IATAN is a department of IATA specifically for the US market. It provides accreditation and the well-known IATAN ID card for individual agents and agencies. Importantly, IATAN accreditation alone doesn't let you issue tickets — for that, you also need ARC accreditation. Many US agencies hold both: ARC for ticketing capability, IATAN for the industry recognition and ID card perks (discounts at hundreds of thousands of merchants).
People often ask "IATA or IATAN?" as if you choose one. In reality, IATAN is essentially the US-specific implementation of IATA's network. If you're US-based, you'd pursue IATAN (and likely ARC alongside it) rather than IATA in the international sense.
CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)
CLIA is entirely separate from the airline-focused accreditations above — it's specifically for cruise sales. A CLIA card demonstrates affiliation with a CLIA-accredited agency and unlocks industry rates, training, and cruise-specific supplier benefits. If your business is airline-focused, you may never need this; if cruises are a meaningful part of your sales, it's close to essential.
TRUE (via CCRA)
TRUE accreditation is for agents who want to operate independently of a host agency without splitting commissions. It has its own (fairly involved) eligibility requirements — minimum selling experience, business references, an active business bank account, and in some cases state-level Seller of Travel licensing (required in California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington).
Do You Need All of These?
Almost certainly not, at least starting out. Most new US travel agents join a host agency, which already holds ARC and/or IATAN accreditation — you operate as an independent contractor under their numbers, sharing commission in exchange for that access plus the supplier relationships and booking technology they provide. Pursuing your own ARC/IATAN accreditation independently is something most agents only consider after a couple of years of established sales volume.
The Bottom Line
- New to the industry? Join a host agency. It already has the accreditations covered.
- Selling cruises regularly? A CLIA card (through your host agency or your own membership) is worth pursuing.
- Established and want independence from commission splits? TRUE accreditation or your own ARC/IATAN becomes worth investigating.
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