A. To promote and maintain high standards of proficiency, excellence and integrity within the tour guiding profession.

A. The CTPA is not a placement organization and does NOT match employers with guides.If you become a member of the CTPA, you will receive the CTPA membership directory, which contains a 60-word self-written profile and full contact information about our 130+ Certified Tour Guides and Candidate Members. If your need is urgent and if you provide as many specific details as possible (dates, time frames, type of group, hotel of group, description of needs) we can send out an email blast to our membership asking that they contact you. We usually will copy you so you know it went out and that you can expect to get responses.

A. Yes! It is not necessary to live in the Metro Chicago area in order to be a CTPA member. We have several out-of-state members who do not have a nearby local guide organization and pay CTPA dues annually in order to stay in touch with our organization and take advantage of the many benefits of CTPA membership.

A. Yes! There are several CTPA Associate Members who specialize in escorting student and senior groups out of town and are looking for people just like you. As some of our members are International Tour Management Institute (ITMI) or International Guide Academy (IGA) graduates who work principally as TDs, you may be able to network with them for other out-of-town job leads.

A. No, absolutely not. Several meetings each year are hosted by venues or organizations that are not CTPA members. Please e-mail the CTPA President. He will be happy to answer questions, discuss logistics and possible dates that might work for you and the CTPA membership, before passing on your contact information to the Education and Program Committee.