Certification for Event Planner Worth It?

As a consumer, I don't think I would care if my event planner was "certified." I would be more interested in the types of events they had planned - style, $$, locations, etc.

My vote would be to spend that money on (or, in other words, save it for) planning events for nothing or next-to-nothing to get a portfolio together.

I do special events and many of the people that are certified are the people that work in Hotels, Restaurants and Event centers.

I have been doing this for years (almost 20). It began through word of mouth. I never had a chance to take a course.

I then helped a friend start a floral business and so I picked up clients from there.

I also am a native of Austin, so having a large clientele that entertain a lot helps.

I suggest you work with an event planner. Get an idea of what the work is like.. It can be hard with young children. I did not start until our daughter was in full time school. There are lots of meetings, lots of site visits and remember most events are during the weekends so it does cut into that free weekend time with your family. Children cannot be dragged along to any of this.

Also holidays are when most people entertain and so Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years.. are usually months of lots of constant work. That can mean on the actual day of Thanksgiving, Christmas etc..

I have found the vendors I trust that have good work ethics, that can be counted on..The Florists, the caterers, the photographers, the Bakers, rentals.. have proven to me that they are trustworthy, some of the best in town and have good work ethics.

If you can put together a good list of these people you have it made...

Make sure you are quick on your feet at making decisions, putting out fires and can bend to what your clients want. You need to be handy in all of the above, because if something falls through, YOU are the one that has to solve it.

It is exciting and fun, but also a tremendous amount of work.

I know many event planners, and they've built their businesses up without formal education or certification. When they started out, they were willing to work for cheap or even free to build a base and get their names out. The most successful ones have been those who have a natural inclination towards event planning and all that it entails.

Of course, things may be different in your neck of the woods. :)

Good luck on your new adventure, I hope that it all works out!

I think those certificates are a waste of money. Event planning is one of those businesses that you build from the ground up, usually starting by offering free or heavily discounted services. Maybe you could agree to run a school event or fundraiser? That would give you some experience and exposure in the community.
Most people looking for event planners are interested in referrals from past clients, as well as a solid portfolio and website, not a certificate. This can only come from time, experience and hard work. This is the kind of career that will likely take years before you start making any real money.
But if you are willing to put in the time and effort I say go for it, I have always thought that sounded like a great career!

I generally ignore 'certified' this or that unless it's in nursing. What you are really getting is documentation you completed a class and doesn't tell me that you really have experience in event planning.

Once I quit working clinically, I really found out how the rest of the world views 'certification'. When I became a Certified Case Manager in Nursing, I had to have so many years of general nursing experience AND so many years of case management experience AND take a State Board developed test for that specialty.

I can also claim to be a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practioner but don't because all I did was pay too much money to take a 14 week class and take a test developed by the woman who developed the class.

I would hire you based on your experience not a piece of paper.

I took a post graduate event planning course (1 yr intensive) and it got me NO WHERE! You need experience first otherwise, from what I have experienced no one wants to give you the time of day. After taking the course and working/volunteering at events and such I can totally see why. Just because someone can book learn something does not mean they can handle the actual work. Im not at all suggesting that you cant handle the work its just from an employers perspective I see why they value the experience over the courses
Good Luck with whichever route you take

Keep in mind the depending on what you want to do and where you end up, you might need that certification to get in some doors.
Consider what will happen if you don't do well on your own, and need/choose to seek employment at a corporation. Unless you want to start at the bottom (meaning, basic adminitrative...no actual planning) - at my company - you'll need that cert to get in the door.

So they are not totally worthless. You'll also learn quite a bit while you work on it. Tips for navigating difficult situations, work arounds, networking, etc...

So no, while most people don't notice the certs on the end of a person's name, they do exist for a reason. Consider it giving you a "leg up" when starting out.

my SIL is the special events coordinator for one of the cities in the DFW area, I don't know that she has a "certification" she's just been doing it for a very long time (at least 15 yrs) but you might check city websites for a similar type opening that will get you experience, I would think experience would be the best credentials you can have in that business.

Given the economy this is not something that I would pursue. I know two
event planners that have been trying to find work for over two years. Event
planners that have jobs are staying because they understand it is not the
time to make a move. Also event planners are usually on the list of down-
sizing. Maybe in several years, but I do not think it is the way to go now.

Maybe if you work for yourself you can get some work but it will be a slow
climb up the ladder. With two young children, it might be difficult. Good
luck whatever you decide.

I dont believe a "certification" is that necessary. If you start out helping someone in some form of the business, you build a network of clients, suppliers,e tc and go from there.

The main thing you would need to know and know well would be to have a complete business plan, good tax and legal counsel to help you get through the legal and tax issues of startup business. Get a good banker that will work with you and your business to help you grow.

Very much llike Laurie A said in her response... it is a matter of being at the right place at the right time and everything falling into place.

I am no accountant by certification, etc but I manage to run all the financials of our personally owned company with my husband and manage annual sales of over $3 million per year. When I do have questions that involve tax and legal, I have those people already set up and ready to help me get my questions answered... ex: pricessing W-2's, making quartly tax reports, paying monthly payroll taxes.

I've done most on my own for a while now and rarely need the extra help but it is good to have a network of people who can jump in and guide you in the right direction. Little did I know 3 yrs ago I would be doing this and I love it because we are working for ourselves!!

Good luck to you