How Do I Become a Certified Meeting Planner?

<p>A certified meeting planner is a professional who plans meetings, conventions, and other large events. They often work for large corporations, planning events on their behalf. </p> <p><b>Job duties of a meeting planner may include:</b> </p> <ul><li>communicating with their employer or client to design an event to their specifications </li><li>coordinating services like hotel rooms and transportation </li><li>creating a guest list and sending out invitations and reminders </li><li>determining when and where an event will take place </li><li>finding vendors for the event </li><li>managing the budget for an event </li><li>marketing and advertising for the event </li><li>overseeing the event to ensure everything is running smoothly </li></ul><p>Certified meeting planners may specialize in certain industries, such as <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/General_Medical_Career_Profiles.html">healthcare</a> or government. </p> <p>A meeting planner who is certified is one who has taken the extra step of proving their knowledge and competency by becoming certified. </p> <p>While certification is not a requirement for meeting planners, it helps your <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Job_Resume_FAQs.html">r&eacute;sum&eacute; stand out</a> and many employers prefer to hire meeting planners who are certified. </p> <h2 id="section---StepsToBecomingACertifiedMeetingPlanner">Steps to Becoming a Certified Meeting Planner</h2> <p>To become a certified meeting planner, you must meet the qualifications for certification and pass a certification exam. We've broken down all the steps below. </p> <h3 id="section---Step1EarnADegree">Step 1: Earn a Degree</h3> <p>While a degree isn't always necessary to become a certified meeting planner, there are some benefits to earning a degree. </p> <p>Many employers prefer to hire applicants with at least an associate degree, if not a <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Bachelor_Degree_FAQs.html">bachelor's degree</a>. </p> <p>Additionally, some certification boards allow you to have fewer months of experience if you have a degree. </p> <p>A degree program also teaches you the core principles you need to know to become a successful meeting planner and to pass your certification exams. </p> <p>Many meeting planners choose to earn degrees in event management or hospitality. </p> <p><b>Other degree options for meeting planners include:</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="https://learn.org/articles/Communications_Online_Bachelors_Degree.html">communications</a> </li><li><a href="https://learn.org/articles/Human_Resources_Bachelors_Degree_Program.html">human resources</a> </li><li><a href="https://learn.org/articles/Marketing_Majors_Your_Career_and_Salary_Questions_Answered.html">marketing</a> </li><li>public relations </li></ul><h3 id="section---Step2GainExperience">Step 2: Gain Experience</h3> <p>To qualify for the certification exam, you'll need to have some experience as a meeting planner under your belt. </p> <p>An internship is an excellent way to begin your experience. Internships allow you to train under a professional meeting planner and build your portfolio. </p> <p>A portfolio is a collection of pictures and information about events you've worked on. Portfolios are important because they showcase your experience and can help you get hired. </p> <p>While you're interning and gaining experience, you should also be networking and building connections with the people you work with. </p> <p>These connections can turn into future employers, partners, or vendors once you start building your career. </p> <h3 id="section---Step3ObtainCertification">Step 3: Obtain Certification</h3> <p>There are a few different options for certification that you can choose from. The type you choose will depend on what type of company you want to work for. </p> <h4 id="section---EventsIndustryCouncil">Events Industry Council</h4> <p>The Events Industry Council (EIC) is the primary body for certifying meeting planners. It offers a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification. </p> <p>To qualify for the certification exam, you must have 36 months of full-time employment in the meetings industry and 25 credit hours of continuing education. </p> <p>Alternatively, if you have a degree in event management or hospitality, you only need 24 months of employment experience. </p> <p>All your experience must be completed within the last five years of your exam. </p> <p>You can take your exam at a Prometric testing site or remotely through Prometric's testing application. The test is made up of 165 multiple-choice questions that you need to answer in three and a half hours. </p> <p>EIC also offers a CMP certification with a healthcare subspecialty for those planning events in the healthcare industry. You must first pass your CMP certification to qualify. </p> <p>You can find more information about the CMP exam as well as study materials and testing locations at eventscouncil.org. </p> <h4 id="section---SocietyOfGovernmentMeetingProfessionals">Society of Government Meeting Professionals</h4> <p>The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) is an organization that offers certification for meeting planners who work for or contract with the government. </p> <p>The Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) designation shows that you understand government regulations for meetings. </p> <p>To qualify, you'll need to be a member of the SGMP and have at least one year of experience in the industry. </p> <p>Before you can take your exam, you'll need to attend the virtual training courses. There are five consecutive half-days of courses to complete. </p> <p>Once you've finished the classes, you can sit for the exam. The exam is made up of 100 multiple-choice questions, and you must get 85 right to pass. </p> <h2 id="section---BecomeACertifiedMeetingManager">Become a Certified Meeting Manager</h2> <p>To become a certified meeting manager, you'll need training, experience, and to pass a certification exam.</p>