Important Event Planning Certification Dates in 2012

Right now it’s hard to believe that 2012 is three weeks away. With all that we have on the go in the month of December it always seems like January is, no pun intended, a year away. Well, believe it or not, we’re going to be toasting the new year in just a few weeks time. With that in mind many event planners are considering what they’re going to do in 2012 to further their careers.

Event Planning Certification Shows People That You Are Serious about Your Industry

I’ve been asked in the past whether or not I think certification is important for the event planning industry. Well, not that what I think really matters, I do happen to think that if you’re serious about your career then you should consider a certification program. Not only does it tell people that you have a vested interest in yourself it also provides you with important training for event planning.

As the Convention Industry Council, CIC, website states, one of the industry’s most important certification program is the CMP.  or Certified Meeting Professional, recognizes industry leaders who have achieved the highest standards of professionalism. You may have noticed a lot of people will use the CMP designation after their name. And they do so for a reason. The CMP designation indicates that the individual has pursued a continuing education, have increased their industry involvement and thus have gained industry wide recognition.

The fees associated with the CMP certification program alone will tell you that people are serious about their continuing education. The application submission fee is $225 and the exam registration fee is another $450. Certainly anyone that doesn’t take their position seriously would not invest that much money to become certified.

So if you’ve decided that 2012 is the year that you’re going to invest in yourself and you already have been in the meetings and invents industry for some time now and you may want to consider the Certified Meeting Professional designation. You’ll be surrounded by like-minded industry colleagues with whom you can share your stories and experiences with as well as gain valuable insights from their experiences as well. The CIC website has a great page devoted to the CMP examination schedule for 2012. It’s certainly worth taking a look and if you do find that some of the dates will work within your schedule, you can register right there on the site as well.