Specialist Program

The Black Hills Specialist program is an online study program designed especially for travel agents in the U.S. and Canada to learn more about the Black Hills & Badlands vacation destination and earn benefits exclusive to the Black Hills Specialist community of agents.

Becoming a certified Black Hills Specialist is as easy as 1... 2... 3...

• Step 1: Complete Program Registration
• Step 2: Study the information in Destination Overview
• Step 3: Pass the 50-Question Online Exam with 80% Accuracy

Benefits of the Black Hills Specialist Program include:

• Specialist Certificate with collateral materials to help you promote the Black Hills & Badlands to your clients.
• Eligibility for continuing education units (CEU's) from The Travel Institute and Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors.*
• Password-protected access to all the resources of BlackHillsAgent.com, including the News & Announcements, Resources, and Vacation Packages sections where you can access specials on BlackHillsReservations.com, e-brochures, blogs, videos, maps, photos, press releases, and more.
• Quarterly e-newsletters with Specialist program updates, educational opportunities, events, and destination news.
• Exclusive commissions on vacations and air booked through BlackHillsReservations.com (see Reservations & Commissions for more information).
• Existing Black Hills Specialists: Review the information in Destination Overview and pass the new exam and you will earn the new CEU's too!*

*The Travel Institute and Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC) Accreditation:
After careful review of the Destination Overview and successful completion of the new Exam, all U.S. and Canadian travel agents — those new to the program and current Specialists that have been a valued part of the program over the years — are eligible to earn 4 continuing education units (CEU's) from The Travel Institute (for U.S. Agents), and 3 CEU's from the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (for Canadian agents). The Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association will provide The Travel Institute and CITC with a list of agents who have passed the exam quarterly so credits can be processed.