How Do I Become a Certified Event Planner?

People often ask if I grew up wanting to be an Event Planner or how I went about becoming one.

I always wanted to be in the medical field. After I graduated I worked at Children’s Medical Center. As I had imagined, I loved the field and helping people. But after becoming a mother of two beautiful boys, I found it difficult to separate what I was seeing with my patients from my own children – It instilled anxiety.

This was a turning point for me.

It wasn’t long before I found solace in the corporate world when I started working for a marketing department at a large company.

We held several meetings throughout the year for different departments, particularly our sales team. At some point, I was given an opportunity to help at the registration desk for attendee arrivals.

Always being a team player, I passionately agreed and jumped right in. Not knowing exactly what my duties were, I showed up at the hotel a bit apprehensive but excited.

I really enjoyed learning something new while seeing all of my peers that were attending the meeting. Immediately, I could feel an affinity for my responsibility. As I was working at the event, I was captivated by all aspects of executing the event and realized how much work went into the planning.

That’s how I fell in love with the crazy industry of hospitality. I found myself needing to know more!

I began doing research. I started asking my marketing peers as many questions as they would allow about the industry and how to get started with event planning.

Doubling down on Event Planning, I took the plunge by registering for this event management course which allowed me to completely jump into this new adventure.

Learn more about how I became a certified and experienced event planner with these tips.

1. Decide what kind of event planner you’d like to become.

Think about whether you want to be known as a generalist event planner; they are planners willing to help people plan any kind of event, or whether you’d rather specialize in certain types of events, such as wedding receptions, high-class corporate events, sports events, and so on.

2. Obtain a certification

Many event planning certifications require some amount of time or money put towards attaining them. By investing resources, it showed future employers and clients that I was devoted to my future development as an event professional.

3. Get hands-on experience

In order to put the course studies into practice, I realized I needed hands-on experience planning events on my own.

 Participating in an internship at an event planning company could also help. Aspiring planners can gain experience by volunteering for activities at their school, such as helping the student union plan concerts, comedy shows, festivals, and sporting events.

 Similarly, people can obtain hands-on experience by helping to organize company meetings at their job, or by volunteering for a non-profit organization that coordinates events.

Volunteering more and more at work events helped me gain experience and further developed my passion.

4. Learn industry technology

Event planners are required to master programs that are used in the industry, including project management, customer relationship management, and sales and marketing software.

Some specific programs professionals may use include Microsoft Project, Blackbaud The Raiser’s Edge, and Active Network EventRegister.

These will help you gather, organize and present information. Many apps and software programs help do everything from sorting seating arrangements to selling tickets and generating name badges at attendee sign-ins.

Bottom line.

My story has been a dream. Event Planning has been an amazing adventure full of opportunities, surprises, and friends.

What I’ve learned is that networking is key and you never know who you might meet or where they might lead you. Starting a casual conversation with someone at the airport can make a lifelong connection.

Become Event-certified now with this Event Management Course, you’ll be able to demonstrate your mastery of the world’s leading event management technology and take these skills with you to your next job.