Routes To Membership

The Chartered Institute Hospitality Tourism and Management of America recognises that knowledge and skills can be attained from a broad range of learning. The Institute is therefore committed to ensuring that, where appropriate, knowledge and skills which are gained via the certificated programmes of other recognised awarding bodies can be given credit or direct membership towards its own professional qualification programmes.

What is Prior Learning?

Prior Learning is any learning that is undertaken by an individual prior to enrolling for a qualification made by the Chartered Institute Hospitality Tourism and Management of America. Learning must be relevant to the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be assessed as part of that new Institute qualification.

What is Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?

Recognition of Prior Learning (also known as Approved Prior Learning) is the process whereby the Institute is able to formally recognise previously assessed and certificated learning and make an award of credit or direct membership.

This award of credit can then be transferred to the qualification being studied with the Institute, which means that the academic study requirements of the new qualification will be less than that which is normally required.

How can RPL be used?

Once RPL credit has been awarded, it can be used in two main ways:

To provide a specific amount of credit at a specified academic level which count towards the Institute qualification – this is the most common use of RPL credit.
To gain module exemptions in respect of one or more specific Institute qualification modules.

We recognise that there are many ways of acquiring knowledge and proving competence, so we provide three flexible routes to membership.

Through achievement of the CIHTMA direct membership programme or CIHTMA examinations or qualifications.
Through achievement of other related qualifications, e.g. HND or Degrees in related fields.
Through recognition of your membership of other professional bodies where membership has been achieved through education.

As part of your application, it is a mandatory requirement to provide:

Evidence of having completed an ethics course or training; and
Having completed a minimum of TWO years’ work experience in the related area of study, consultancy industry, or a closely related field.

Students

As a student, you will be eligible for membership dependent on your qualifications meeting the membership criteria. To become an Associate member, you will need to provide evidence of having completed a minimum of two years’ work experience in hospitality, tourism, event management, logistics and transport, management and more, or a closely related field.

While you are gaining work experience, you can become an Affiliate Member. Upon completion of your professional programme, HND, or degree programme, you can apply to use the CIHTMA designations as well as the membership certificate.

If you have not previously undertaken ethics training, you will be required to undertake and successfully complete the CIHTMA examinations before taking up membership.

Degrees Progression and CIHTMA Direct Membership

Administered in partnership with select universities, this route directly provides a unique, flexible online way to study for those who want:

A direct route to CIHTMA membership.
A direct route to career progression to obtain a CIHTMA certificate.
A direct route to professional development through CPD.

The online module approach provides a flexible and modern format. It allows you to study around other commitments regardless of where you are in the world, without having to be away from the workplace.

Further details of the programme can be requested via email: info@cihtma.com

Through Other Qualifications

You can apply for direct membership based on your existing managerial hospitality, tourism, event management, logistics and transport, and/or management qualifications.

Before applying for membership, your qualification should be at least up to and including Level 6, covering the following key areas:

Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hospitality Project Planning
Hotel Business Operations
Human Resource Management
ICT and Tourism
Information Systems and Technology
Intangible Cultural Heritage Management
International Management
Lodging Operations
Management Accounting
Marine and Coastal Areas Tourism
Market Research
Mathematics and Tourism Management
Medical Tourism
Operations Management
Restaurant and Event Management
Rural Tourism
Social Media Marketing
Sport Tourism
Statistics
Strategic Management
Sustainable Tourism Development
Tour Operations
Tourism Development

Tourism Geography
Tourism Law
Tourism Marketing
Tourism Mobilities
Air Transportation Management
Applied Financial Accounting
Applied Macroeconomics
Applied Microeconomics
Archaeological Sites Management
Aviation Management
Big Data and Business Intelligence
Business English
Business Ethics
Business Law
Business Operations
City Tourism
Congress Management
Contemporary Nutrition
Corporate Social Responsibility
Cost Accounting
Crisis Management and Tourism
Customer Experience Management
Destination Management
Digitalization and Tourism

Economic Sustainability
Ecotourism
Entrepreneurship and SMEs
E-Tourism
Event Management
Tourism and Financial Management
Food and Beverage Management
Food Production and Service
Foreign Language
Global Business Environment
Health and Wellbeing Tourism
Heritage Tourism
Urban and Regional Tourism Planning
Wildlife and Adventure Tourism
World Heritage Management
Artificial Intelligence, etc.

If you have taken a qualification programme which does not cover these areas, we may not be able to offer you CIHTMA direct membership or certification.

Through Recognition of Membership of a Professional Organisation

Where your membership of another related body has been achieved through qualifications, this may be a route through to CIHTMA membership.

Any gaps can be filled by accessing the CIHTMA direct programme.