Delivery
Online
Meeting and Event Planning, Professional Certificate
Program Overview
Become a Confident, In-Demand Meeting and Event Planning Professional With Our Professional Certificate
Whether you’re launching a new career, pivoting from another field, or expanding your current role, UNC Charlotte’s fully online Meeting and Event Planning Certificate will prepare you to lead successful events in any setting: corporate, nonprofit, social, or virtual.
Through flexible, instructor-led courses, you’ll gain the practical tools and strategic insight needed to design, plan, and manage events with professionalism and creativity. Whether you’re organizing conferences, fundraisers, weddings, trade shows, hybrid events – or even launching your own event business – this certificate equips you to thrive in today’s fast-changing event landscape.
There are no prerequisites to get started, just choose your first course and begin. You can complete the entire certificate in as little as 2.5 months, or take up to 2 years from your first class to finish at a pace that fits your schedule. Along the way, you’ll benefit from expert instruction and real-world assignments designed to build your confidence and skills.
Program Contact
Enrollment Team
School of Professional Studies
Still trying to decide?
Ready to register?
UNC Charlotte is proud to be an Events Industry Council (EIC) Preferred Provider. All 80 instructional hours in the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate now qualify for Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) continuing education credit.
All instructional hours are automatically reported by UNC Charlotte — making it easier than ever to advance your professional credentials.
What You’ll Learn
Guided by experienced instructors and event industry professionals, you’ll develop skills to:
- Assess event needs and set clear goals
- Design engaging and impactful event experiences
- Create event budgets and production timelines
- Market events across multiple channels
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders, vendors, and potential clients
- Navigate contracts, legal considerations, risk management, and accessibility with confidence
- Explore specialized areas like fundraising, weddings, large-scale events, and entrepreneurship
- Plan and manage events from concept to execution
- Build a final event plan through your portfolio project
What Our Alumni Say
When Robin Sturdivant, owner of She That Finds, enrolled in UNC Charlotte's Meeting and Event Planning Professional Certificate program, she was confident it would give her the edge she needed to expand her hobby — events planning for family and friends — into a business.
“I want to be competitive, and being competitive means being able to position myself in all the different avenues out there. Each instructor brought something that I needed to understand.”
– Robin Sturdivant ’23
Courses
Expand your expertise. Build your network. Launch your future in events.
UNC Charlotte’s Meeting and Event Planning Certificate is a flexible, career-focused program designed for working professionals, career changers, and aspiring planners. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the modern events industry through targeted, instructor-led courses that cover logistics, design, strategy, marketing, and business development.
Whether you’re planning corporate meetings, nonprofit fundraisers, weddings, trade shows, or large-scale public events, this program helps you build the knowledge, confidence, and industry tools to thrive.
How the Program Works
The certificate is made up of 11 instructor-led courses, offered online in a mix of live and flexible formats. You’ll complete:
- 5 required courses
- 5 out of 6 available electives
- A self-paced portfolio project, designed to showcase your skills
- A 10-hour volunteer experience or informational interview assignment
Courses may be taken individually, in any order, and at your own pace. You’ll have up to two years from the start of your first course to complete the certificate, though most students finish in just under three months.
Featured Courses
- Event Communication and Sales Strategies for Event Professionals
- Strategic Event and Meeting Management
- Risk Management and Event Contracts
- Special Event Design and Production
- Event Marketing and Branding
- Fundraising and Nonprofit Event Planning
- Wedding Planning: The Business Behind the Big Day
- Hotel Operations for Hospitality and Event Planners
- Planning Virtual and Hybrid Events with Event Technology
- Large-Scale Experiences: From Conferences to Community Festivals
- Introduction to Event Entrepreneurship
- Event Planning Practicum
What Can You Do With Your Meeting and Event Planning Certificate?
Our graduates go on to launch businesses, start consulting careers, or advance into new professional roles at organizations like:
- Atrium Health
- LPL Financial
- Red Ventures
- Levine Museum of the New South
- BCBS of North Carolina
Common roles include:
- Event planner or event coordinator
- Event marketing manager
- Conference and meeting manager
- Proposal coordinator
- Project or operations manager
- Entrepreneur or business owner
Why Choose UNC Charlotte?
Flexible pace: Take courses in any order, at your own speed.
Learn from experts: Courses are taught by experienced faculty and working professionals.
Online convenience: All courses are offered fully online with live and/or flexible components.
Accessible pricing: Pay-as-you-go option and discounts available.
Real-world focus: Build a professional event plan and connect with the industry through volunteer work or interviews.
Program Cost
- Per course: $275
- Certificate bundle: $2,571.25 for all required courses (includes bundle discount)
You can register and pay for individual courses as you go, there’s no need to commit to the full certificate up front.
However, if you know you want to complete the full program, enrolling in the certificate bundle saves you money (over $450) and secures your spot in all required courses. The bundle offers a discounted rate of $2,571.25.
Discounts may be available for UNC Charlotte alumni, faculty/staff, or early bird registration windows.
Financial Options:
Course Schedule
The Meeting & Event Planning Certificate is designed for busy professionals. Classes are held live online on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with weekly assignments to help you apply what you learn right away. The program concludes with a practicum, followed by a celebratory graduation event.
Please Note: Although this year’s program has concluded, the course schedule remains available to help you understand the course flow and pacing. Details for the next program will be announced when available.
March 2026
All courses are held live online on Zoom, 6:00-9:00 PM EST. On average, students spend around 3 hours on independent assignments each week. Assignments are due the Thursday following each class week.
March 5 – Orientation
March 10 & 12 – Communication and Sales Strategies for Event Professionals
March 17 & 19 – Strategic Event and Meeting Management
March 24 & 26 – Event Contracts and Risk Management
March 31 & April 2 – Hotel Operations for Hospitality and Event Planners
April 2026
All courses are held live online on Zoom, 6:00-9:00 PM EST. On average, students spend around 3 hours on independent assignments each week. Assignments are due the Thursday following each class week.
April 14 & 16 – Special Event Design and Production
April 21 & 23 – Event Marketing and Branding
April 28 & 30 – Event Planning Entrepreneurship: Launch Your Business
May 2026
All courses are held live online on Zoom, 6:00-9:00 PM EST. On average, students spend around 3 hours on independent assignments each week. Assignments are due the Thursday following each class week.
May 5 & 7 – Planning Virtual and Hybrid Events with Event Technology
May 12 & 14 – Fundraising and Nonprofit Event Planning
May 19 & 21 – Wedding Planning: The Business Behind the Big Day
May 26 & 28 – Large-Scale Experiences: From Conferences to Community Festivals
June 2026
June 11 – Practicum Project Due
June 16 – Graduation Celebration
Which Option Is Right for Me?
We offer two enrollment paths to fit your goals, budget, and schedule.
Not sure yet? Start with one course, then apply your completed classes toward the certificate later. You’ll still have the flexibility to switch paths as your goals evolve.
Pay-as-You-Go
Cost: $275 per course—no bundle commitment required.
Best for: Students exploring the program at their own pace, taking one course at a time, or unsure if they want the full certificate. Great for professional development or testing the waters before committing to the full program.
Full Certificate Bundle
Discounted Rate: $2,571.25 (save over $450)
Best for: Students planning to complete the full certificate and want to save. Secure your spot in high-demand courses, enroll in all required courses at once and stay on track to finish within 2.5 months (you also have up to two years to complete the program after starting your first class).
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Program Details & Duration
What is the difference between an event planning certificate and an event planning degree?
A certificate is focused, skills-based, and can be completed in months. A degree is broader and takes longer. This program is designed to help you gain job-ready event planning and event management skills quickly.
What topics or courses are included?
You’ll cover event design, budgeting and financials, contracts and negotiations, vendor selection, logistics and risk management, and event marketing and technology tools.
Is this an online program?
Yes. The certificate is delivered fully online with flexible pacing and instructor-led support, so you can complete your event planning certificate online from anywhere.
How long does it take to complete the certificate?
Students may complete the certificate in as little as 3.5 months if they follow the full program schedule. However, students have up to two years from their first course enrollment to complete all certificate requirements. Many students choose to take courses at a pace that fits their professional and personal commitments.
Do the volunteer hours, as a part of the program, require in-person work?
As part of the certificate, students complete an Industry Engagement Requirement designed to help them build professional connections and gain insight into the events industry.
Students may fulfill this requirement in several ways, including:
- Volunteering with an event or event-related organization
- Participating in event planning activities in person or virtually
- Conducting an informational interview with an event industry professional
- Completing a professional networking assignment through LinkedIn
While many students choose to volunteer in person to gain firsthand exposure to event operations, we recognize that not everyone’s schedule, location, or circumstances allow for in-person opportunities. The Industry Engagement Requirement is intentionally flexible and may be completed in person, virtually, or through a combination of both formats.
Enrolled students receive access to a list of suggested opportunities and are also encouraged to leverage their own professional networks and connect with event professionals in their local communities.
Do I need prior experience to start?
No specific background is required. The curriculum supports beginners, career-changers, and professionals looking to upskill.
How long has this program been offered?
UNC Charlotte’s Meeting and Event Planning Certificate has been preparing event professionals since 1999. For more than 25 years, the program has helped students develop the skills needed to plan and manage successful events across corporate, nonprofit, hospitality, community, and social event settings.
FAQ
Accreditation & Outcomes
Does this certificate qualify for Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credit?
Yes. UNC Charlotte is an Events Industry Council (EIC) Preferred Provider. The 80 in the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate are automatically reported to the EIC and qualify toward CMP continuing education requirements.
This recognition ensures your education aligns with globally recognized industry standards.
Is this the same thing as a certification in the field?
No. This program awards a professional certificate from UNC Charlotte upon successful completion of the required coursework and program requirements.
Unlike an industry certification, which is typically granted by a professional association after meeting specific eligibility requirements and passing an exam, this certificate is designed to help you build practical event planning knowledge, strengthen your professional skills, and prepare for opportunities across the events and hospitality industries.
What is the difference between a certificate and a certification in meeting and event planning?
A certificate is a structured education program. The UNC Charlotte Meeting and Event Planning Professional Certificate teaches practical skills such as budgeting, logistics, contracts, vendor management, and event marketing.
A certification (for example, the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) from the Events Industry Council) is an industry credential earned by meeting eligibility requirements and passing an exam. Our certificate helps you prepare for certifications like the CMP, but it is not itself a certification.
The UNC Charlotte Meeting & Event Planning Certificate provides 80 hours of professional education that fulfills the educational requirements for several globally recognized certifications, including the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). UNC Charlotte is an Events Industry Council (EIC) Preferred Provider, offering approved continuing education credit toward the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential. Instructional hours will be reported automatically by UNC Charlotte, so students will not need to submit their attendance for credit.
Is the program accredited?
UNC Charlotte is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Meeting and Event Planning Certificate is a professional certificate program offered through UNC Charlotte’s School of Professional Studies.
In addition, UNC Charlotte is an Events Industry Council (EIC) Preferred Provider, which means eligible courses may qualify for continuing education credits toward maintaining certain industry credentials.
What job roles can you apply for once you have finished the program?
Graduates may pursue a variety of roles across the events, hospitality, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.
Common career paths include:
- Event Planner
- Event Coordinator
- Conference and Meeting Manager
- Event Marketing Manager
- Fundraising Event Coordinator
- Wedding Planner
- Trade Show and Exhibition Coordinator
- Hotel Event Manager
- Community Events Coordinator
- Entrepreneur or Event Planning Business Owner
Many students also use the program to enhance event planning responsibilities within their current role or prepare for career advancement opportunities.
FAQ
Students & Support
Who should enroll in this program?
Aspiring or current event planners, event coordinators, meeting managers, and professionals in hospitality, marketing, or operations who want formal training in planning and managing events.
Are there any scholarships available for students registering? If so, when are they available, and how can I apply?
Yes, scholarship opportunities may be available for eligible students through the Anne Spychala Scholarship and the Laura J. Campbell Scholarship, which support individuals pursuing professional development in meeting and event planning.
Scholarship availability, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and award amounts may vary. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the School of Professional Studies for current scholarship information and application details.
