Introducing: Penn Foster’s Event Planning Career Diploma Program
While PCDI is no longer accepting enrollments in our Event Planning Program, we’re excited to introduce you to our partner school, Penn Foster.
If you're interested in becoming an event planner, Penn Foster’s online Event Planning Career Diploma Program can help you prepare for this career.
LEARN MOREThrow a Party Like It’s Your Job
Penn Foster’s Event Planning Career Diploma can help you prepare to take the next steps toward the job you want as an event planner. Learn the skills you need to launch and grow your business through flexible online courses you can do on your schedule.
Why Penn Foster?
Penn Foster has been on a mission to help people like you obtain skills and achieve their career goals for more than 130 years. We provide students with a quality education that fits their busy lifestyle and budget, offering over 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs across our College, Career School, and High School. Every course is designed to work with your schedule, anytime, anywhere you want to study. With a focus on relevant skills and career prep for the job you’re after, Penn Foster can help you graduate with confidence and help provide a guide towards your career goals.
What You'll Learn in Penn Foster’s Online Event Planning Career Diploma Program
- Understanding the event planner's role and the importance of client consultations in establishing event budgets, scale, and themes.
- Selecting the right vendors, caterers, and other services while working with venues.
- Handling event organization and oversight for various events: weddings, fundraisers, parties, anniversaries, galas, and beyond.
- Launching and growing a thriving event planning business, learning the value of marketing strategies and professional networking.
Penn Foster’s Event Planning Curriculum
As part of our Event Planning curriculum, you'll learn the skills you’ll need to prepare for entry-level jobs as an event planner. Your online classes include:
- Foundations of Event Planning
- Planning the Big Event
- Types of Events
- Setting Yourself Up for Success
Learn More About the Penn Foster Experience
At Penn Foster, we think online learning can make a big difference in people's lives, and it should be available to everyone. That's why we've made our programs affordable and tailored to fit your needs. You can learn and improve your skills for the job you want, all at your own pace and on your own schedule.
Event Planner FAQs
Event planners can work on-site for convention centers, hotels, and other hospitality businesses, and they spend their time between the office and event locations. You can also develop your own client and vendor relationships to start your own event planning business.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average entry-level salary for an event planner with a bachelor's degree was $52,560 per year in 2022.* Salary can vary based on your education, work experience, the company you work for, and even the state in which you live.
Most event planners need some background in the field. While a college degree may not be necessary to become an event planner, a certification through a career training program can help you stand out and prepare to be a confident and credentialed candidate when applying for jobs.
Industry credentials can help you stand out from the crowd of other applicants and assure potential employers you have the skills to perform your tasks. Certification is separate from education, so many event planners go through training and work in the field before sitting for any applicable exams.
Job descriptions for open event planner positions include skills like:
- Effective time management
- Negotiating with clients and vendors
- Having an eye for detail
Building your skills in areas like business management, customer service, and financial planning can be beneficial to someone working in this role.
Sources:
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed October 4, 2023.
Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.
