Certified Event Planner

Anyone wishing to be a certified event planner should start by gaining experience in this field. Event planners organize meetings, weddings, corporate and formal events. It is their prime duty to make sure that an event goes smoothly without any jolts or problems. An event planner works for big corporate firms, event planning companies and big hotels. If you want to become an event planner, you need to be a person who possesses creative and analytical skills.

Event Planner Certification

If you are planning to make event planning into a career opportunity, I suggest that you attain an event planning certification in one of the courses mentioned below.

Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
The CMP is one of the most distinguished certificates in the event management and planning industry. If you are planning a full-fledged career in event planning, this certification gives you an edge. You must have 3 years experience and a full-time job as an event planner to qualify for this program.

Certified Event Professional (CEP)
The CEP course is a certification that does not need any beforehand experience in the field of event planning. This program is a golden chance to get the insights about this creative field and begin your career within a short span of time.

Certified Special Events Professional (CESP)
This certification is considered as a trademark in the field of event planners. It is gained through ethics, commitment, professional attitude and service to the industry. It also requires three years of experience and you should be currently employed in a special events job.

How to Become a Certified Event Planner

• A person with experience in the event planning world is considered as an ideal candidate for becoming an event planner. There are 2 ways in which you can gain the experience you need to work for an event planning company or at hotels in event planning events. If you are a freshman, then the best option is to apply for internships to enter the field of event planning.
• You should have some management responsibilities on your profile. While applying for event planning certification courses, the board members would want to see that your application has some management responsibilities. The only way to achieve this is to ask you manager to make you the point person or a project manager for a few corporate events.
• Work for some professional organizations to show some good work experience on your application. Have a look at organizations such as "The Event Planner's Association" which allows "Earn while you Learn" program for its employees. To know more about such organizations in your area, contact the Chamber Of Commerce office.
• Make valuable contributions to the event which you are handling or coordinating. You application must show professional contributions to this industry.
• Apply for your certification. While filling your application give all the necessary information like the number of events you have worked, your responsibilities and your valuable contributions to this industry.
• Appear for your certification exam. The exam has 150 questions about various fields related to planning such as event, finance, strategic, logistics and faculty.
• Once you become an event planner, continue to attend seminars that your company organizes. This will expand your knowledge base and be helpful for you in the long run.
• Re-certify after every five years. There is no need to appear for an exam, but a re-certification application would be needed to be updated.

Being a certified event planner is a job with many responsibilities. You should have an adequate amount of patience and persistence if you want to make a name for yourself in the world of event planning.