Top 12 Event Planning Courses to Become an Event Planner

Not sure where to start with event planning? If you’re looking for places where you can attend an event planning course or get your event planning certification, there are quite a lot on the web. The best thing about these websites is that most of them let you study at your own pace. Some of them are free, while others offer you a paid certified course that can be a lot of help when you start getting clients or decide to put up an event planning business of your own.

1. Cvent – Virtual Events Certification

According to Cvent, this is designed for event professionals who want to expand their skills and expertise, especially in the area of virtual events. We all know that these past couple of years have seen a rise in virtual events, and if you’ve attended or coordinated a virtual event in the past, you know how different it is from in-person events.

This virtual event planning course and certification will teach you how to build and launch successful virtual events. Their module includes collecting and analysing post-event data so you can tell if your event was successful or not. When you sign up for the events training course, you will receive information on how to join the live or on-demand training videos. The certification is granted if you score 75% or higher on the exam which must be taken within 60 days of registering.

Cost: Free
Certification: Good for 2 years
Who it is for: Event professionals who are looking to expand their skills in the area of virtual events
For more information: Cvent

2. Event Academy – Event Management Courses

Event Academy is the UK’s number one event planning course provider when it comes to event management. They provide self-guided, video tutorial event management courses that are endorsed by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). You can choose between their different courses: Online Foundation, Online Diploma, and Online Postgraduate.

Each courses’ duration varies, depending on which one you choose. Nevertheless, you will get to go through the same lessons and modules that they teach in their live classes, all at your own pace. You will learn all about logistics, budgeting, marketing, as well as the production and technical side of managing an event.

Whichever course you choose, you will be required to complete one project and one exam that will count towards your final marks.

Cost: $690 (Online Foundation Certificate), $1390 (Online Diploma), $5480 (Online Postgraduate Diploma)
Certifications: Yes (all courses are certified by CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Who it is for: People who are looking to become event professionals or are looking for a certificate in event planning
For more information: Event Academy

3. Events4Anyone – The Unstoppable Eventrepreneur Mentorship Program for Event & Wedding Planners

Sometimes, you can have the best kinds of ideas, but they can fall flat because there’s no one to help you manage your business. Events4Anyone teaches event planning uniquely—through a mentorship program with its founder, May Yeo Silvers, a 20-year veteran in the events industry.

Through her program, you’ll learn what it takes to start your own event-planning business, starting with gaining event experience. You’ll set financial goals, navigate the legalities that most event planners miss out on, and come up with a personalised business plan and growth chart. I’ve attended some of May’s sessions on Facebook and they are intense—but in a very good way!

Events4Anyone also teaches you the step-by-step of planning a successful event by teaching you how to convert prospects into paying clients and by learning and applying the best practices when it comes to events. You’ll learn to work on the tiniest of details that make up the success of your event, from looking for a venue to what to do on the event day and how to follow up with vendors, clients, and attendees even after the event.

Cost: Schedule a one-on-one call to find out more
Certification: None
Who it is for: Individuals who are really serious about putting up an events business (this one is heavy on accountability)
For more information: Events4Anyone

4. International Career Institute – Event Management Diploma

ICI has an event management course that has been designed by leaders in the events industry. It has nine modules that will teach you everything you need to know about events, from start to finish, from planning to cleaning up.

It’s a good course if you are looking to fast-track your career in event management. You’ll get to learn the secrets and the ins and outs of how to become an events professional. What’s best is that you’ll be able to study at your own pace, wherever you are, as this course is fully online. You’ll also get access to a tutor who can help you through the modules and answer any questions you might have.

When you complete this event planning course, you can get your Diploma or Advanced Diploma, depending on which level you enroll at. The average time for the completion of the diploma-level course is 24 weeks, while the advanced diploma level might take around 31 weeks.

Cost: $1199 (diploma), $1599 (advanced diploma)
Certification: Yes. Diploma/Advanced Diploma for this Event Management course is recognised and accredited by the International Association of Private Career Colleges (IAPCC).
Who it is for: Event planners with basic knowledge or event professionals who are in the industry but want to update their skills or work towards a promotion or better job.
For more information: International Career Institute

5. International Institute of Event Management – Certificate Program in Event Management

International Institute of Event Management provides various certificate programs pertaining to event management and wedding planning. This particular event planning course is designed to be a stepping stone towards a Master’s Certificate in Event Management.

It comes with three modules that talk about the Introduction to Event Management, Fundamentals of Event Management, and Corporate Event Management. For those who are looking at getting into MICE events, this is a good event planning course to take. You will learn all about doing fundraisers, conferences, trade shows, and even team-building events.

At the end of each module, students are required to answer and turn in written assignments. For those who are interested in the Master’s Certificate in Event Management, there are three more modules you will go through aside from the three modules in the certificate program.

Cost: $495 (complete program or $195 (pay-by-installment per module)
Certification: Yes
Who it is for: People looking for a career in event planning, particularly in MICE events
For more information: International Institute of Event Management

6. LinkedIn Learning – Event Planning Foundations

If you love doing events and are thinking of making it into a career, this event planning course by Valerie Berry will help you do that. It covers topics such as understanding your client’s objectives, selecting a venue, getting the right technology in place, negotiating a budget, and building menus.

You’ll also get to know-how when it comes to managing the hundreds of thousands of details that come with planning an event, starting from the early stages and up till the last few days leading to your event.

The short course is split into 10 modules that you can study at your own pace. Several of the modules end with a chapter quiz that will let you test to see how much you have learned.

Cost: LinkedIn Learning membership (you can take advantage of the 1-month free trial if you haven’t yet) Certification: LinkedIn Learning Certificate of Completion
Who it is for: Beginners, people who want to start a career in events
For more information: LinkedIn Learning

7. QC Event School – Event & Wedding Planning Course

The QC Event School has a number of professional certification courses for you to choose from if you’re looking for an event planning course or certificate. Their courses and certifications are approved by the International Live Events Association, which is one of the most recognised institutions in the events industry.

Their most comprehensive and popular course is the Event & Wedding Planning Course that takes you through all the necessary components to plan a successful event. You’ll learn all about client care, vendor negotiation, budgeting, and more. This event planning course is designed to provide you with everything you need to know, whether you’re organising a party, a wedding, or a company event. You’ll also receive business training side-by-side with the event training so you’ll be able to launch your own successful event planning business.

Once you enroll, you can learn at your own pace. You’ll receive your materials and lifetime access to the QC Event School Online Student Center. You’ll get hands-on assignments that you can upload which will receive personalised audio feedback from the industry expert tutor assigned to you. After your studies, you can graduate and receive your certification as an event and wedding planning professional.

QC Event School also offers a bunch of other courses, such as the Corporate Event Planning Course, the Private Event Planning Course, the Wedding Planning Course, and more.

Cost: $1,159 (or $83.88 a month)
Certification: Yes (ILEA-approved)
Who it is for: People who are looking to enter the events industry and make event planning their career
For more information: QC Event School

8. Skillshare – Event Planning: Where to Start

If you’re looking for a basic event planning course that will take you through the whys and hows of events from the planning stage to the execution, you might want to check out this course on Skillshare. It is composed of short modules that come with audio or video content and that make it very easy to absorb.

The course teaches you all the things you need to know, from where to begin to basic budgeting to scouting for an event venue. It also touches up briefly on catering, audio-visual requirements during events, and vendors and rentals.

Teacher Hanna Ashcraft is a travel blogger, content creator, and event planner for some five years. She also has various other courses that are also related to events such as Launch Your Career in Events Management, Event Timelines for Event Success, and more.

Cost: Skillshare Premium account cost
Certification: None
Who it is for: People with basic or no knowledge about planning events
For more information: Skillshare

8. Udemy – Event Management for Beginners

Event Management for Beginners is a course that teaches you the process of creating events. It’s a great starter course for those who are new to the events industry or for those who are interested in becoming event planners. From Christmas parties to weddings to school fetes and social nights, this course will teach students all they need to know about event planning, from start to finish.

This event planning course is done by Lisa Price, an event professional with more than 25 years of experience in the events industry, including sports events, concerts, and artistic festivals. The course includes various lectures in video format that you can take at your own pace and an exam to help gauge how much you learned.

Cost: $44.99
Certification: None
Who it is for: People with little or no event management experience
For more information: Udemy

10. Udemy – Event Planning, Marketing & Management Course

If you’re looking for another event planning course that will teach you the basics of event promotion, event planning, event management, and more, you might want to check out this track by Alex Genadinik.

It teaches you the basics of starting your event planning as well as a little bit more, like how to hire staff, how to monetise events in an effective way, and how to use events to promote any business. The course includes extra freebies, downloadable worksheets, and exercises to make the course more interactive. After you complete it, you can be part of Alex Genadinik’s Facebook community to keep engaging with him and other students in case you have further questions

Cost: $49.99
Certification: None
Who it is for: Event organisers (starting out), entrepreneurs, small business owners
For more information: Udemy

11. Universal Class – Event Planning 101

Universal Class offers a course to teach you all about event planning, from budgeting to choosing a venue, acquiring permits, managing logistics, and more. You can start any time and work through their modules at your own pace, as long as you are able to complete the course within 6 months.

You have a total of 10 modules or lessons and learning will be done through videos, review articles, assignments, and more. Rather than focusing on event planning in general, Universal Class also zeroes in on how to plan for specific types of events, such as corporate events, social events, and weddings. Your learning is assessed by assignments and review exams.

After you have completed this event planning course, you can get a certification for it, as Universal Class is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

Cost: $70 (no certificate) or $95 (with CEU certificate)
Certification: Yes (accredited by IACET)
Who it is for: People who want to put up an event planning business or who want to get a certification in event planning
For more information: Universal Class

12. Wedding Academy – Certificate in Wedding Planning

This event planning course teaches you the basics of planning beautiful weddings as well as teaches you all the skills you need to become a successful wedding planner. You’ll get in-depth videos and audio content, as well as worksheets, course notes, and transcripts that you can go through at your own pace. The worksheets you complete will be part of your final certification assessment.

The course outline is broken up into five sections that discuss the following: wedding planning fundamentals, budgets and proposals, suppliers and your team, flower and decor, and the ins and outs of working during the wedding day.

Wedding Academy’s course also grants you lifetime access to templates and checklists as well as weekly tutorials and their private student Facebook community so you can ask questions and engage with other students. In case you plan to further your studies, they also have an Advanced Certification in Wedding Planning, Styling, & Business.

Cost: $597 (single payment), $218 (for 3 consecutive months), $115 (for 6 consecutive months)
Certification: Yes
Who it is for: Brides, people who are looking to get into the wedding planning industry
For more information: Wedding Academy

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