CHICAGO — When Trade Show Executive launched its Young Professionals Corner in 2024, we looked at some of the most impactful credentialing programs and certifications for events professionals.
A lot can change in two years, though. Get an update on events industry education below, which includes ways to level up even if you are in a more senior role.
International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE)®
With the acquisition of The Exhibitor Group, IAEE now offers an additional certification: Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM).
The CTSM program is meant for all levels of experience and can build your expertise in trade show and event marketing, boost your credibility and confidence, open doors to career advancement opportunities, connect you with a valuable network of peers and mentors, demonstrate your commitment to professional growth and excellence, help you stand out in a competitive, evolving industry and contribute to an average salary increase of 9%.
It is a three-step process:
- Classroom Training, which includes 23 required sessions and 7.5 hours of elective sessions
- Final Exam, which is a two-and-a-half-to-three-hour online evaluation
- Portfolio, a collection of materials which showcase your trade show marketing abilities and your application of essential learning components gained through your attendance at EXHIBITOR conference sessions.
Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
The reimagined MPI Academy offers a more personalized, connected learning experience that is engineered to support professionals throughout their careers.
It’s designed as a one-stop shop for event career growth and has personalized education recommendations, a social feed that promotes connected learning and a Creator Marketplace that turns industry expertise into education.
Are you a more senior professional who wants to expand their toolkit?
In March 2026, MPI and San Diego State University partnered to reimagine MPI’s senior-level certificate program: the Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM).
Using the input of three alumni-led committees, the curriculum was updated to meet the needs of today’s professionals and create greater impact and support for future cohorts.
The new 8-10-week structure is meant to foster deeper connection and peer learning with an immersive, in-person, two-to-three-day component designed to strengthen the cohort and create a mini community experience.
Also, it will extend beyond the classroom into an alumni community, which includes more than 1,500 CMM holders worldwide.
According to MPI, CMM is one of the highest-paying designations in our industry, with CMM holders earning an average of $20,000 more per year than those with a CMP, and nearly $30,000 more per year than professionals with no credentials.
To apply, you need more than seven years of professional experience in the meeting and event or business travel industry, more than three years of management experience and more than two years of profit and loss or budget responsibility.
PCMA offers a variety of certifications and programs that are updated frequently, and can be found here: https://pcmainstitute.org/certificate-courses/
Also, the organization now has a Business Event Strategist Certification, which is meant for professionals with more than 10 years of experience in business events, more than five years in a leadership role and with business or financial ownership, and more than three years in a strategic remit.
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This article’s featured image was created with AI.
