Professional Certification Programs

Your Path to Certified Event Professional

Practical, real-world skills—not just theory.

Our signature pathway leads to the Certified Event Professional (CEP) designation, earned by completing our three core levels plus a CEP Capstone Project that pulls everything together in one real-world application.

Program Pathway

BASE CORE ACE CEP Capstone

Foundations → Professional Management → Advanced Strategy → Certification

All courses are online, self-paced, and designed so you can learn around a busy work schedule.

Who the Program Is For

The SEA program is designed for professionals at every stage of their event career.

New & Emerging Professionals

New and emerging event professionals who want a clear, credible pathway into the industry.

Working Coordinators & Managers

Working event coordinators and managers ready to level up their skills and confidence.

Festival & Nonprofit Organizers

Festival and non-profit organizers who need standardized training for staff and key volunteers.

Corporate, Government & Tourism Teams

Corporate, government, tourism, and venue teams who host events as part of their role.

Vendors & Suppliers

Vendors and suppliers (AV, rentals, décor, catering, security) looking to understand the planner's perspective.

Volunteers Transitioning

Volunteers transitioning into professional roles who need formal training and credentials.

If you're responsible for planning, managing, or supporting events of any size, SEA gives you a structured roadmap and a recognized credential.

BASE Certificate Badge

BASE – Foundations of Event Excellence

Foundation-Level Training

Ideal For: Beginners, career changers, volunteers, entry-level coordinators, and anyone who needs a solid, credible foundation.

The BASE Certificate provides the essential knowledge every event professional must master. Whether you're new to events or strengthening your foundation, this course delivers a clear understanding of how events work from concept to execution.

What You'll Learn

  • Event fundamentals and essential terminology
  • Scheduling and timeline development
  • Basic budgeting
  • Vendor management
  • Volunteer coordination
  • Site planning and layout basics
  • Marketing and audience engagement fundamentals
  • Safety essentials and incident readiness

Course Includes

Video lessons
Downloadable templates
Real-world examples
Quizzes
Final exam
Certificate + Badge

What You'll Learn

  • Operational planning and workflows
  • Sponsorship and partnership fundamentals
  • Staff management
  • Budget tracking and financial oversight
  • Marketing campaigns and ticketing
  • Guest experience design
  • Risk management and compliance

Course Includes

Advanced templates
Case studies
Skill assessments
Final exam
Digital badge
CORE Certificate Badge

CORE – Professional Event Management

Intermediate Training

Ideal For: Those who have completed BASE or already have basic event experience and want deeper professional-level training.

The CORE Certificate builds upon your foundational knowledge with in-depth operational, administrative, and logistical training focused on operational excellence.

ACE Certificate Badge
MOST POPULAR

ACE – Advanced Strategy & Leadership

Advanced Strategic Training

Ideal For: Experienced professionals, managers, and those aiming for leadership roles, executive responsibility, or multi-event oversight.

ACE is designed for professionals managing complex events, multi-department teams, large budgets, and high-stakes logistics. It prepares you for leadership roles within the events industry.

What You'll Master

  • Advanced operations & logistics
  • Contracting, procurement, and negotiations
  • Municipal relations & permitting
  • Sponsorship strategy
  • Crisis management
  • Large-scale site planning
  • High-level budgeting & financial modeling
  • Team leadership

Course Includes

Expert-level templates
Real event case analyses
Scenario simulations
Final exam
Digital credential

SEA's Highest Credential

Elite Professional Recognition

What It Represents

  • Mastery of event management
  • Ability to independently plan, manage, and deliver major events
  • Leadership-level knowledge and professionalism

Requirements

To qualify, students must:

  • Complete BASE, CORE, and ACE
  • Submit a professional capstone project

What You Receive

  • CEP Certificate
  • CEP Digital badge
  • Recognition as an elite-level event professional
ELITE CERTIFICATION

CEP – Certified Event Professional

Our Highest Professional Credential

The Certified Event Professional (CEP) designation represents the pinnacle of professional event management certification. This comprehensive credential demonstrates mastery across all aspects of event planning and execution.

Capstone Project Options:

  • A full-scale event operations plan
  • A multi-event portfolio
  • A complete festival or corporate event proposal
  • A strategic operations blueprint

The CEP Capstone is included as part of the overall pathway – there is no additional tuition beyond completing the three program levels.

Time Commitment

Our courses are self-paced, but most professionals finish each certificate in the following timeframes:

BASE

10-15

hours

CORE

12-20

hours

ACE

20-30

hours

CEP Capstone

Varies by

project scope

Assessments & Certification

Each certification stage includes comprehensive assessments to ensure you've mastered the material.

Unit Quizzes

Test your understanding as you progress through each module with knowledge checks.

Practical Assignments

Apply your learning to real-world scenarios with hands-on exercises and projects.

Scenario-Based Exercises

Navigate realistic event challenges and develop problem-solving skills.

Final Certificate Exam

Demonstrate mastery with a comprehensive exam covering all course material.

Digital Badge

Receive a verified digital credential to showcase on LinkedIn and your professional profiles.

Downloadable Certificate

Print and display your official certification document upon completion.

CEP Qualification

Upon completion of all three core programs (BASE, CORE, ACE)

You qualify for the CEP capstone project and our highest professional designation

Corporate & Municipal Pathways

We offer specialized training solutions for organizations looking to develop their entire team.

Team-Based Enrollment

Enroll your entire staff in one streamlined process

Volume Discounts

Save on certification costs for larger teams

Customized Training

Tailor programs to your organization's specific needs

Annual Licensing

Flexible licensing options for institutions

Ready to Begin Your Certification Journey?

Choose your starting point and take the first step toward professional recognition.

Self-Paced Learning
Industry Recognition
Professional Credentials