There’s a glass ceiling in every industry and, typically, in order to break through it one has to further their education and bolster their portfolio. For event managers and planners, event planning certifications (EPCs) are a key stepping stone on the way to the top.
The Importance of Event Planner Certifications
You don’t have to have a license in order to become an event planner, but it’s hard to be taken seriously as a professional without certain certifications. Larger corporations look for specific credentials when hiring someone to manage their events, like certifications, registrations, and even college degrees.
In order to be considered in today’s market, you’ll need to go deeper than just reputation alone (though your referrals and reviews are just as important.)
Becoming a certified event planner can set you apart from your competition and show that you’re truly dedicated to your craft.
How to Become Certified
The truth is, the steps needed to become certified vary depending on the EPC you’re looking to obtain. Some have more entry requirements than others. Thankfully, there are several different event planning classes you can take to help you cross most of these thresholds.
Nevertheless, here are some good baseline practices you can follow to get the event planning certifications you want.
1. Gain Ample Event Planning Experience
Most EPCs require a certain amount of hours or time put in to qualify, along with passing an exam. Having that practical experience will help bolster your knowledge of the industry and demonstrate your commitment. While you may start out planning smaller events and meetings, building experience working with clients and learning event planning software will set you on the right track towards earning your event planner certification.
2. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
This one isn’t a requirement, but it will certainly give you a leg up on others in your field. Most employers will look for event planners who have demonstrated that they’re truly dedicated to their chosen line of work. It’s kind of the same as applying for an office job; college graduates will likely be considered over other candidates. Your chances are then doubled once you get certified, which will be easier to achieve with your educational background.
That’s not always the case, and if you build a strong enough portfolio with a lot of experience, you’re very much still a contender. But, if you have the time and resources to pursue a degree in hospitality, public relations, or even marketing, then you’ll find more doors opening to you.
3. Specialize Your Skill Set
There are several different types of event planners out there, and some require different skill sets than others. Government meeting planners work in different spheres from wedding planners, right?
By specializing, you’ll be able to narrow down the list of event planning certifications that you’ll want to pursue. If your passion is for corporate events, then you won’t need to work towards a wedding event planning certification.
Event Planning Classes to Look Into
There are a wide variety of courses available for event planners, so picking the right one to pursue can feel a bit overwhelming. We compiled a list of some great options for New York City planners, including some free and online event planning certifications.
EPC Programs
These are event planning certifications that are great for event planners who have around three to five years of experience under their belt. They offer great networking opportunities and are recognized globally. Though the programs (and subsequent exams) are a bit more challenging, the prestige that comes with them is well worth the effort.
- Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP)
- Certified Meetings Professional (CMP)
- Certified Meeting Planner
EPC Online
These online event planning courses give you the opportunity to show off just how serious you are about your job, and you can take them all from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. When looking at online courses though, be sure to always check that they do provide an actual certification at the end. Some guise themselves as certifications, but are more along the lines of training courses.
EPC Free
Who doesn’t love saving money? It’s important to remember that you get what you pay for here and you might not get as much out of them as the other courses. Still, these free event planning courses provide some value to bolster your portfolio.
Pursuing an event planning certification can make all the difference between bringing larger clients and occasionally working a pop-up event. As you learn more about the industry and earn the credentials necessary to grow, you’ll learn more about the importance of hiring experienced and skilled AV professionals. That’s where we come in. Reach out to One Way Event Productions when you’re ready to start raising the caliber of the events you create or host.
