Learn what it takes to become a meeting planner and earn your meeting planner certification.
Meetings and conventions are an important part of business. They're how information is shared and spread and they allow for collaboration.
In the corporate world, meetings are put together by meeting planners. To be a certified meeting planner, you need training and experience. You also need to pass a certification exam.
Below, we'll explain the job duties of a certified meeting planner and dive into the individual steps it takes to become a meeting planner.
What Is a Certified Meeting Planner?
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.
Job duties of a meeting planner may include:
- communicating with their employer or client to design an event to their specifications
- coordinating services like hotel rooms and transportation
- creating a guest list and sending out invitations and reminders
- determining when and where an event will take place
- finding vendors for the event
- managing the budget for an event
- marketing and advertising for the event
- overseeing the event to ensure everything is running smoothly
Certified meeting planners may specialize in certain industries, such as healthcare or government.
A meeting planner who is certified is one who has taken the extra step of proving their knowledge and competency by becoming certified.
While certification is not a requirement for meeting planners, it helps your résumé stand out and many employers prefer to hire meeting planners who are certified.
<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>
