Meeting Planner Careers

Becoming an event planner can be a fun and rewarding process. Many people with degrees in business, marketing, hospitality, communications, public relations, and more end up in the lucrative and fun field of event planning. If you are interested in this field, here is a short guide to help you seek educational certification.

College Degrees

While experience is considered the best teacher, a college degree is critical certification these days. A two year degree in business with a few years of experience in the field of event planning–even in the capacity as an assistant–can help you land a good job in the industry.

A bachelor’s degree is even better, and chances are good you could earn an internship or externship, for either a salary or college credit, to get your first experience in event planning. There are even advanced degrees available in meeting management, and advanced degrees in marketing would be a huge benefit to job seekers in meeting planning.

Certificates

There are a number of ways to get certified as an event planner beyond college degrees and experience. There are schools dedicated to event planning and some are even online, which makes it easy for those who work or have families to get their certification.

Another way is through the Convention Industry Council. They offer the Certified Meeting Professional certificate, which is a popular credential among meeting planners. An applicant must have at least three years of experience in managing and planning meetings, currently be employed full time as a meeting manager or similar job, and show that he or she has planned and executed a number of meetings successfully. There is also an examination process covering financial aspects of meeting planning, facilities knowledge, meeting logistics, and more.

Those interested in government event planning may want to check out the Certified Government Meeting Professional certificate, offered by the Society of Government Meeting Professionals. The CGMP credential may be beneficial to those outside the government meeting industry as well–knowing government regulations is helpful in any job.

If you are interested in certifications, check with the Convention Industry Council, the Society of Government Meeting Professionals, and your local college or university to see how you can become an event and meeting planner with top credentials.