The ICEF Agent Training Course (IATC) is designed to support excellence and improved professional standards in international education.
The IATC is a practical, professional training course for agency-based student counsellors.
ICEF Agent Training Course (IATC)
About this course
Syllabus
The IATC covers three areas:
- The context of international education: destination countries, education systems, legal requirements, and visas
- The people in international education: students, education institutions’ personnel, and immigration authorities
- Promoting international education: working effectively, marketing, and ethics
Benefits
An official qualification is available to all candidates who complete the course and pass the IATC exam. Successful graduates receive a badge with a unique ID number and a certificate confirming them as an ICEF Trained Agent Counsellor (ITAC), with the recognition of being a qualified consultant for the international education industry.
As well as this, all qualified agents will have their name, badge with unique ID number, photo, company profile and contact details including website featured on the ITAC Finder.
Graduates are also entered in the Qualified Education Agents (QEA) smartphone app for iOS and Android produced by ICEF and PIER. This app contains the names and company contact details of more than 10,000 qualified agents worldwide and includes location-based features and search functions – a most valuable resource for educators looking to connect with expert agencies!
Who is this course for
- New entrants: individuals wishing to enter the international education industry as student counsellors
- New student counsellors: the IATC is an excellent training tool for new staff members at agencies
- Practising student counsellors: the IATC provides up-to-date information about international education principles and processes
Practical Information
Study for the IATC is free and is delivered in a self-paced modular format.
The charge for the IATC test is €250. This fee allows for up to three attempts at the final test if required.
Discounts are available for multiple bookings for counsellors within the same agency.
Examinations for the IATC are conducted online, at ICEF events, and at related international education events as advertised. After the test, you will be automatically notified of your result as soon as you have finished. Participants who complete the IATC assessment successfully will be issued with a certificate, confirming them as ICEF Trained Agent Counsellors (ITAC).
Testing is not mandatory. You can also study the course for your personal enrichment and professional knowledge. There is also no time frame in which you must take the test after completing the online material.
There are no qualifications or specific language requirements to the IATC. However, English proficiency equivalent to an IELTS score of 5.0 (or TOEFL PBT 500/TOEFL iBT 61) is advisable for those who have English as a second language.
The designation of ICEF Trained Agent Counsellor (ITAC) does not require participation at an ICEF event, nor are the agents vetted or required to provide partner references to complete training and testing.
Other agent training courses from ICEF
ICEF China Education Agent Course
CEAC
The China Education Agent Course (CEAC) is a professional, online Chinese-language training course offered by ICEF in partnership with BOSSA, a government-supported industry association of member educational agencies. The CEAC is designed to support excellence and professional standards in international education. It is aimed at Chinese agency-based study abroad advisers and student counsellors.
Register for the CEAC course
The Canada Course for Education Agents
CCEA
The Canada Course for Education Agents (CCEA) supports professional development for agents specialising in Canada as a study destination. Originally produced by ICEF, Languages Canada and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), the course is now jointly owned by ICEF, Languages Canada, and the Canadian Association of Public Schools International (CAPS-i).
Register for the CCEA course
ICEF US Agent Training Course
USATC
The US Agent Training Course, created and developed by ICEF, is the first of its kind and supports professional development for agents specialising in the USA as a study destination. Agents who take the USATC will acquire a firm foundation in the benefits and organisation of the US education system. Agents will also gain access to resources that help international students study in the US at the most appropriate institutions and in programmes that best meet their goals.
Register for the USATC course
ICEF Irish Education Agent Course
IEAC
The Irish Education Agent Course (IEAC), created and developed by ICEF, is the first of its kind and supports professional development for agents specialising in Ireland as a study destination. To ensure that agents have access to the most accurate and current information possible, this course was developed following extensive consultation with institutions and various stakeholders in Ireland, including organisations, associations, and government entities.
Register for the IEAC courseTestimonials
Without a doubt, ICEF’s role in our growth as agents has been pivotal. ICEF events have been a fantastic opportunity to establish and consolidate relationships with our educational service providers. The certifications and training programs offered by ICEF have been critically important in the development of our staff, and in strengthening our reputation of quality amongst our peers and customers.
The ICEF Agent Training Course was an invaluable tool for me and our agency. The preparation for the test is an eye-opener for beginners and experienced agents alike. Personally, I was able to understand what international education was really about and the ITAC accreditation became a reference as well as an important marketing tool for our agency. Our aim at English Experience Intercâmbios is to encourage all of our agents to become accredited ITACs, and consequently, better student counsellors.
I recommend the IATC, even for experienced counsellors. It is an excellent tool that helps to organize your knowledge and gives you fresh ideas on what else you can do to improve your services for students. I also appreciate the training programme because of its strong emphasis on the work ethic of educational counselling. This is a very important aspect of the cooperation between students and educational institutions.
For those in the industry, the IATC Test is pretty self-explanatory as it reinforces the core values that we currently work under. The IATC Test has served as a tool to reassure institutions, seeking to be represented in Bolivia, that we are committed to our students and are above all ethical. We applaud the initiative and hope agents around the world will embrace not only the test itself but also everything it represents.
Before undertaking the ICEF Agent Training Course I had a very different outlook on how to be a successful agent. Studying for the course immediately helped me to be more confident about what I was doing and what I should do next! ICEF has helped me to become a great agent, a better manager and additionally, a great motivator for our entire business. During the final IATC exam, I went back through what I had learned and analyzed how I had used it in my work. I used those examples as my exam answers and successfully passed the test. It is now clear to me that thanks to the IATC, I am on the right path for my clients.
The IATC exam helped increase my knowledge in the field of international education and has improved my ability to counsel my students. The certification that I received confirms and promotes my expertise, experience, and authority, giving me greater confidence when dealing with students and schools.
The IATC Agent Training Course material was very thorough and covered many important topics. The practice assessment tests were also very beneficial, as they give a good insight into the style of questions and structure of the formal exam.
