There are many job opportunities in the event planning industry, and there is a lot of competition among job candidates for these positions. Employers typically look for candidates with impressive abilities and experience, and certifications often demonstrate these qualifications. Event planners who want to improve their skills or advance their careers may benefit from learning about available certifications in this industry. In this article, we discuss the benefits of earning an event planning certification and explore 16 event planning certifications for professionals in the hospitality industry.
What are the benefits of earning an event planning certification?
Some of the most common benefits of earning an event planning certification include potential advantages over other job candidates and learning additional skills that may help you in your career. Here's a list of other possible benefits of earning these certifications:
•Higher salary possibilities
•Career advancement opportunities
•Networking opportunities
•Career practice for entry-level certifications
•Formal recognition of skills or expertise
16 event management certifications
Here's a list of common event management certifications that many professionals in the hospitality industry earn:
1. Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)
This certification benefits professionals in the hospitality industry with demonstrated proficiency in managing all aspects of planning a special event. The International Live Events Association (ILEA) designed this program to promote industry standards and help event managers develop professionally and advance their careers. ILEA also created this certification to highlight qualifying even planners' expertise and services. Certification requirements include having at least three years of experience in event management and completing an exam. This program also requires recertification every five years.
2. Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP)
The Certified Government Meeting Professional credential is a high-level certification that benefits suppliers and event managers who work with the government. It provides professionals with knowledge of regulations regarding government meetings. It also promotes the government as an available market for event organizers. Certification requirements include taking a three-day course on travel regulations, budgets, ethics and contracts. Applicants also complete a 100-question exam.
3. Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
The Certified Meeting Professional program helps meeting professionals improve their performance and learn additional skills and knowledge related to the profession while promoting its credibility. This globally recognized certification requires applicants to complete an exam that covers many topics within meeting management. Topics may include marketing and site management. Qualifications for the CMP program vary by experience and education level.
4. Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE)
The CPCE program recognizes experts in the catering, events and hospitality industry. It includes education on eight competencies, including accounting, beverage management, catering services, contracts, food production, event management, human resources and marketing. Certification requirements include applying for the program, completing a 175-question exam and recertifying every five years. Certification holders may recertify by completing 30 educational contact hours.
5. Certified Event Planning Specialist (CEPS)
This entry-level program provides additional training and knowledge to professionals who are just starting their event planner careers. This includes education on topics such as venues, menu selections, decorations and entertainment options. Certification requirements include taking an 80-question exam and passing with a score of 70% or higher.
6. International Event and Wedding Planning Professional (IEWP)
This certification course by QC Event School provides professionals with skills related to planning milestone parties and weddings. Topics may include negotiating contracts, creating a vision with the client, respecting religious and cultural variations, creating a budget and developing a professional portfolio. Students may complete assignments and receive feedback from instructors. Certification requirements include completing all course objectives.
7. International Corporate Event Planning Professional (ICEPP)
This certification course teaches aspiring event planners how to manage corporate events, such as product launches and promotional events. Education includes topics such as company goals, logistics, entertainment, catering, budgets, lighting, marketing and event insurance. Certification requirements include completing all course objectives.
8. Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
This certification program offers three concentrations that each focus on advancing event planners' knowledge of marketing tactics and skills. Certification requirements for all concentrations include completing an online exam. Here's a list of each concentration:
1.Digital marketing: This concentration emphasizes SEO and email marketing tactics while analyzing metrics and conversions. This concentration may help event planners who want to plan digital events or promote events online.
2.Content marketing: This concentration emphasizes how to use content creation, content marketing ROI and lead generation. This concentration may help event planners who want to improve their content marketing skills.
3.Market management: This concentration provides a summary of marketing ideas such as market evaluation, value creation and communication. This concentration provides foundational knowledge for event managers who want to improve their general marketing skills.
9. International Festivals and Live Events Planning Professional (IFLEPP)
The IFLEPP certification course teaches corporate event planners how to use their skills in the live event industry. Topics include promotion, production, sports entertainment, festival planning, grants and risk management. Other topics may include government partnerships, vendor selection, permits, logistics and staffing. Certification requirements include completing all course objectives.
10. International Travel and Tourism Certification (ITTC)
The ITTC certification course provides event planners with the tools required to perform travel consultant duties, such as booking cruise ships and arranging accommodations. Topics include transportation, geography, cultural history, industry terminology, climate change, suppliers and client needs. Certification requirements include completing all course objectives.
11. Digital Event Strategist (DES)
This certification helps event managers improve their skills and knowledge regarding the digital events industry. Topics include digital audience engagement strategies, marketing, technology solutions and analyzing result metrics. Certification requirements include completing a six-week course, passing a final exam and recertifying every two years.
12. International Event Decorating Professional
This certification course provides aspiring event decorators with the knowledge and skills regarding color theory, design trends and presentation. This course also teaches event planners how to start their own decorating businesses and how to use these decorating skills in existing wedding and event management businesses. Course requirements include completing all course objectives.
13. Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM)
This certification is the highest certification someone in the exhibition and event management industries can earn and includes nine courses. It promotes professional standards and includes topics such as event marketing, event operations, consumer show management, meeting management principles and exhibition and event sales fundamentals. Certification requirements include possessing three years of experience in the exhibition and event planning industry and passing the final exam at the end of each course. It also requires recertification every three years.
14. Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM)
The CTSM program helps event planners with all levels of experience improve their skills regarding marketing trade shows and corporate events. Topics include trade show participation, budgeting, project management, multichannel marketing strategies and exhibit design. Certification requirements include completing 23 sessions and seven and a half hours of electives. It also requires passing a final exam and building a final portfolio.
15. Certified Quality Event Planner (CQEP)
This entry-level certification program provides new event planners with knowledge and skills related to industry best practices and event planning principles. Topics include budgeting, risk analysis, strategic planning, publicity, time management and the general components of assembling an event. Certification requirements include completing an exam.
16. Global Travel Professional (GTP)
This certification often helps travel event planners improve their work performance, gain new industry knowledge and advance the industry standards of business travel management. Certification requirements include possessing at least three years of professional experience in the travel industry and knowledge about strategic business planning, supplier relations, travel program administration, data analytics and finance. Applicants also pass a final exam.
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