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You’re detail-oriented, extremely organized and a people person. You might be thinking that event planning could be the right career path for you. An online event planning course can be a great way for you to start to understand what event planning entails and learn the basics.
Quick Look: Best Event Planning Courses
- Event Planning Foundations by LinkedIn Learning
- Successful Events: Event Planning, Marketing and Management by Udemy
- Event Planning 101 by Universal Class
- Event Planner: Start Your Own Business Like a Rockstar by Udemy
- Learn Event Planning From Scratch - Earn 7k Per Event by Udemy
- Certificate in Event Manage by Institute of Event Management
- Event and Wedding Planning Course by QC Event School
- Event Management Certificate by Bryant University
- Certified Quality Event Planner by Management and Strategy Institute
What Makes an Event Planning Course Great?
An event planning course helps equip you with the best practices in the industry and ensures that you stand out in a crowded field. Regardless of whether you’re interested in pursuing event planning as a hobby or a career, event planning courses can teach you how to be successful. Here are a few things you should consider before you select an event planning course.
Knowledgeable Instructor
What field was the instructor in? How many years of experience does he or she have? Before you sign up for any course, make sure the instructor has relevant experience. Check to see how many students have signed up for the course and what they had to say about their experiences.
Relevant Curriculum
What type of event planning are you interested in pursuing? Wedding planning? Parties? Corporate events? There are many different paths you can take to become an event planner, so ensure that the course you’re considering is relevant to your desired career path. Some event planning courses will be more general, whereas others dive into a niche field. It might be best to start with a more general course to discover what truly clicks with you.
Gain Confidence
After parties and events, do all your friends say you would be a great event planner? If the only thing holding you back is confidence, event planning courses can be a great way to help boost your self-esteem and show you how to become successful. As you become more comfortable, you’ll be able to implement more strategies and tools that the courses teach you.
Our Top Picks
Not all event planning courses are equal. You will want an online course that teaches you strategies you wouldn’t be able to read about in online articles. These courses are designed to help you learn intensive subject matters.
Here is where Benzinga found the best online event planning courses:
- LinkedIn Learning
- Udemy
- Universal Class
- Institute of Event Management
- QC Event School
- Bryant University
- Management and Strategy Institute
Each course is split into 3 categories based on skill level: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Each category is also divided by price point, with the least expensive course listed first. You can find a challenging course that inspires you to learn more when you choose the right course at the correct skill level.
Event Planning Course for Beginners
Designed for beginners, the following courses will help you build an event planning foundation. You’ll be able to discover if your passion for event planning can be turned into a career.
1. Event Planning Foundations by LinkedIn Learning
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $14.99
Event Planning Foundations helps you to build a strong understanding of event planning and how to overcome obstacles that might intimidate new event planners like negotiating a budget, following up with vendors and selecting a venue.
Throughout the 1-hour course, you’ll also learn how to identify the two most important principles of event planning: planning a menu and understanding the different types of vendors.
You’ll get a certification of completion on LinkedIn once you’ve successfully finished the course. There are also continuing education units available if you wish to learn more.
2. Successful Events: Event Planning, Marketing and Management by Udemy
This course teaches new event planners the ins and outs of planning an event. Think you want to join this industry full time? This course helps teach you everything you need to know. The instructor spends time talking about how to monetize events effectively so your attendees spend more money, find the optimal price for events and how to hire your staff members.
The 5-hour course also covers how to get publicity, especially by using social media and SEO. You also get access to 2 articles and 33 downloadable resources to help you start your event-planning business.
Have any questions during the course? The instructor is very hands on, even though it is a prerecorded video course. You can join office hours or the instructor answers any emailed questions within 24 hours. He also offers one-on-one bonus time if you want to take advantage of that.
3. Event Planning 101 by Universal Class
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $70 for no certificate or $95 with CEU Certificate
Event Planning 101 is another course that can help you understand the basics of the field. Some of the material you’ll learn is how the business works and what your exact role as an event planner will be.
You’ll also learn about the importance of networking and some effective tips and strategies on how to do it more successfully. It also covers the major types of event planning like corporate events, weddings and special celebrations. You’ll give a comprehensive overview of how to start your own company as well.
Intermediate Event Planning Courses
These courses are meant for people who have done a couple of events but feel like they need a bit of help to become an amazing event planner.
1. Event Planner: Start Your Own Business Like a Rockstar by Udemy
This course teaches you how to become a successful event planner, even if you have no budget or money. You’ll gain insights on how to create additional income streams for your events, as well as the recourse you need to get more clients and money.
The 1-hour course also teaches you some fundamental knowledge you need to know in order to become successful, like how to create an event contract and an event plan to help you host events that run smoothly.
2. Learn Event Planning From Scratch - Earn 7k Per Event by Udemy
Learn Event Planning From Scratch - Earn 7k Per Event is a great course if you’re just starting your event planning career. The instructor helps walk you through all the components of event planning, from the initial client contact to analyzing your event afterward.
The 1.5-hour course also teaches you skills related to needs assessment, event research, developing event decor and design concept, working with stakeholders and vendors and keeping to a schedule and timeline.
If anything goes wrong at your event, you’ll also learn strategies of how to overcome issues and mitigate risk factors.
3. Certificate in Event Manage by Institute of Event Management
- Who it's for: Intermediate learners
- Price: $445
This certificate program is designed as a self-paced online course that can help intermediate learners become more experienced in event management. To earn your certificate, you must pass 3 modules: Introduction to Event Management, Fundamentals of Event Management and Corporate Event Management.
You’ll learn different strategies for managing events, including venue design, contracts, food and beverage and risk management. Interested in learning more about corporate events? There is a comprehensive module that covers fundraisers, trade shows, conferences, meetings and team-building events.
Advanced Event Planning Courses
These advanced event planning courses are designed for learners who are serious about pursuing a career in event planning.
1. Event and Wedding Planning Course by QC Event School
- Who it's for: Advanced learners who want to pursue wedding planning
- Price: $1,294
The Event and Wedding Planning Course fully prepares to succeed as an event planner. Whether you want to get a job with a company or start your own business, you’ll learn the practical tools and strategies necessary.
The course will show you how to plan parties and events, develop a theme and atmosphere, plan a wedding program where you learn to take religious or culture into consideration, create a budget, market your business and achieve your client’s goals.
2. Event Management Certificate by Bryant University
- Who it's for: Professionals or serious learners
- Price: $499 per course or $1,995 for all 5
The Event Management Certificate gets its material from the Event Management Body of Knowledge (EMBOK), a 3-dimensional description of the skills and knowledge that you need to develop and deliver an event successfully.
Bryan University has built up an interactive online learning environment so you can engage with industry professionals and apply your newfound knowledge to case studies and real-life scenarios.
You must complete 5 modules that cover the foundations of event planning, marketing, design and decor, logistics and leadership.
3. Certified Quality Event Planner by Management and Strategy Institute
- Who it's for: Professionals or serious learners
- Price: $299.95
Brought to you by the Management and Strategy Institute, the Quality Event Planner course is designed to help you learn how to plan every type of event, from small to large.
Throughout the self-paced exam, you’ll learn how to strategically plan, filter out ideas, storyboard, promote an event, do a cost-benefit analysis and manage risks. Once you’ve purchased the course, you have 1 year from the purchase date to complete the course.
This course helps to prepare you for the certification exam, and you’ll get free online study material as well as access to the MSI Certification exam. You’ll be mailed a certificate and transcripts if you successfully pass.
Get the Best Event Planning Course for You
Event planning isn’t for everyone. It requires you to be highly organized, be able to keep track of minute details and stick to a schedule. Those qualities are very important and are hard to teach in a class. But if you feel like you already possess those talents, you might want to consider pursuing event planning as a career or side gig. Take an online event planning course to see if it’s right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is event planning projected to grow?
Event planning is expected to grow 8% by 2029.
How much do event planners earn?
Event planners make an average of $51,560 yearly.
Related content: The Best Event Planning Classes
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