Event Planner Certification

If you are hoping to start a career in event planning, you might believe that getting event planner certification is the best way to get your foot in the door.

However, that is not necessarily true.

There is a huge misconception of what event planner certification really is; and it's very important to understand the truth.

• A lot of people believe that certification is something anyone can achieve after taking a course in event planning.
• It is easy to think that certification is a short-cut to getting a degree; and a way to learn the basics of event planning in order to begin your career.
• Many people believe that all you need to get started on your new careers is one certification course, and you'll be on your way.

This, however, is a giant lie.

You see, in the event planning industry, in order to take any true, legitimate certification courses, you must first have at least three years of experience in the industry. In this industry, the term "certification" is taken literally; you can't get "certified" in something you know nothing about. And so, as a beginner, you can't become certified in event planning.

(IF you have 3-5 years of experience and want to learn more about event planner certifications, click here to read about the types of certifications for experienced planners).

I urge you to use caution when searching for "certification" courses to take. If you find an online course that promises that you, a beginner, will be "certified" at the end of the course, proceed with caution and carefully research the course. These "certifications" are often just companies trying to take your money. Sure, you might learn some basics of the industry, and you might receive a piece of paper from that company claiming you have reached their certification requirements; but will it mean anything to anyone else in the industry? Probably not.

In other words, do not take these courses for the sole purpose of getting a job. While the knowledge you learn might make you more qualified than someone else who hasn't taken the course, these courses are not enough to single-handedly land you a job.

Even if it is a legitimate course, you need to be aware that this "certification" alone will rarely get you in the door or get you a job. Having this certification on your resume is not an automatic "shoe-in" to land you a job, despite what the creators of the course tell you.

On the other hand, if you know absolutely nothing about the industry, and the course does teach legitimate topics, then it might be worth taking. If the course truly teaches you the basics, such as working with meeting room space, online registration, contracts, flow of space, working with vendors, and audio visual basics, then this is great knowledge to learn.

But, again, be cautious. I have looked up the course outlines for numerous courses, and many of them seem like a complete farce.

For my personal opinion on various online event planning certification courses, click here to read about different online event planning courses.

Don’t panic. Let me let you in on a little secret: I have worked for fifteen years as an event planner, and have built a successful career for myself; but I have never been certified in any of the certification programs, and my degree was in Journalism (there weren’t any Event, Hospitality, or Tourism degrees “back in the old days”).

I did, however, take the exact steps that I am repeatedly recommending to you on this website (as outlined in detail on the "Career Planning" page): I networked, volunteered, read books, and started out as an On-Site Event Manager.

To learn how to get started in the event industry without any experience; please be sure you’ve read the following:

1. Career Planning to learn how to chart your path without any experience;
   
2. Event Jobs to check out the list of jobs in event planning that you can begin your career without any experience, and
   
3. On-Site Management to learn about one of the most successful steps you can take toward becoming an event planner while still getting paid.

Of course, times have changed, and the industry is much more competitive now; so just because I didn't take courses, doesn't mean they can't help. It all depends on where you are on your path.

Whether you plan on attaining event planner certification or not, there are numerous books and other resources that can help you learn the basics of planning. Check out the Event Planning Resources page for more information.

It's hard for me to give general advice, since every person who reads this page has different experience, schooling, and goals. You can chat with me directly to see what's best for you; due to the economy I am offering a discounted hourly consulting rate of $35 per hour. You can pay through PayPal and then I call you, and we chat about anything you want for one hour!

For the cost of a few fancy coffees or one night out, I can help you shape your future and plan out the right steps to take.

To get one-on-one advice on how to start your career, Contact Me to get started today!


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