Is the CTC designation actually worth it for independent travel agents right now?

I've been an independent travel agent for about 4 years, mostly leisure with some group travel. A few clients have started asking about my certifications and I'm weighing whether to pursue the CTC. The time and cost commitment is real — we're talking around $700–900 in fees plus study time, and I'm already stretched thin with client work.

From what I understand the CTC covers destination knowledge, travel law, insurance, and business management. The destination geography section sounds like something I could do in my sleep, but the travel law and liability material is where I'd actually need to study. I'm estimating maybe 60–80 hours of prep total if I'm efficient about it.

The bigger question is ROI. I've talked to a handful of other independent agents and responses are split — some say the credential opened doors with corporate clients, others say their non-certified peers do just as well. Would love to hear from anyone who's done the CTC recently, especially on whether it changed how clients or suppliers interact with you.

Also curious about the exam format — I've seen conflicting info about whether it's proctored in-person or if there's a remote option now.