Get meeting, event, conference, and party planning resources, all at your fingertips

World Class — The Value of Certification and Continuing Ed

Whether you’re brand new to event planning or are a seasoned pro, being certified signifies to industry associates and potential clients that you have experience and training in the meeting and event planning industry. But do you know the fundamental differences between CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) and CSEP (Certified Special Events Professional)? More importantly, do you know which one is right for you? Owner and CEO at Type A Events, Jennifer Braun, CMP, CSEP, reveals the important differences, how to prepare and acquire certification, and other key details.

Q. Tell me about your organization and what you do there.

A. I'm the owner and CEO of Type A Events, a corporate meeting and event management company serving clients worldwide, as well as Festivities, an event rental, décor and floral company that primarily services the Twin Cities metro area.

Q. What is the difference between CMP and CSEP?

A. Both of these certifications evaluate an event professional's knowledge of certain areas of the event industry, but they differ in what experience they measure.

The CPM exam, administered by the Convention Industry Council, measures a candidate's specific knowledge and experience in meeting and conference planning, evaluating a variety of skill areas from strategic meeting management to the nuts and bolts of learning objectives and vendor management. The exam digs deep into specifics directly related to conventions and meetings, and so the CMP designation certifies a professional's experience in and knowledge of these areas.

While the CSEP exam, administered by the International Special Events Society, overlaps with the CMP exam a bit in areas such as budget management and risk assessment, it focuses more specifically on evaluating skills related to the design and execution of special events. Rather than focusing on the many project areas of a multi-day conference or meeting, the CSEP exam measures more specific skills related to planning a special event, such as a wedding, gala, or corporate evening event (to name only a few). This designation lets others know that you have in-depth knowledge of special events and are comfortable executing them from start to finish.

Q. How does one go about acquiring certification?

A. After identifying the certification you would like to pursue, you should visit the website for that exam and learn as much as possible about the type of experience you need to acquire prior to sitting for the exam. These websites also include information on how to study for the exam and provide resources for applicants. Once you feel ready, you can then register and select a date for testing.

Q. What types of meetings or events does CMP certification prepare one for?

A. The CMP certification is conference-oriented and the exam addresses areas that affect the success of a conference, such as attendee educational structures and outcomes, logistics and ROI measurements. It is primarily applicable for professionals who have built a career in conferences and meetings, and wish to continue doing so, validating their experience and knowledge of the industry.

Q. What types of meetings or events does CSEP certification prepare one for?

A. The CSEP certification is a great fit for professionals whose career has focused on the special events industry outside of meetings and conferences. It validates a professional's years of expertise in the special event industry and sets him or her up as an expert when working with clients or other vendors.

Q. Any additional thoughts or recommendations?

A. While these certifications are both worthwhile for furthering your career, nothing replaces experience. Whether approaching a prospective employer or client, your most valuable asset is not your certification, but rather the years of experience it signifies. Lucky for us, there is no shortage of opportunities to gain experience in this industry. Outside of day-to-day work relating to events, there are countless worthwhile organizations seeking volunteers to manage their events. In my experience, I've found these occasions to be not only rewarding, but also an excellent method of garnering valuable experience while providing outstanding opportunities for networking. I strongly encourage you to seek out as many of these "extracurricular" event-related roles as you can, as you are certain to gain real value from them.

Find Mentioned Suppliers

Jennifer Braun, CMP, CSEP | Type A Events | jennifer@typeaevents.com

Jennifer Braun is an event planner, designer, and entrepreneur. She is a professional event planner with a focus on designing unique events with a strategic focus. She has managed events of all types-from social events to city-wide conventions in cities all over the world. She specializes in bringing trend-forward elements to events and in keeping clients' brand experience on the pulse of new technology. Jennifer has spoken at conferences throughout the nation and has been the recipient of numerous industry awards.

Related Suppliers & Featured Content Advertise with meetingpages and create a complete profile for your facility, attraction, activity or service.

On Tap — Why Your Event Needs a Mobile App

Ask the Expert | By Stefanie Moon, Senior Meeting + Event Manager | June 28, 2016

Meeting and Event Planning Tip: How could my meeting, corporate conference or event benefit from a mobile app? Read more...

Your Selections