Format
7 required courses (174 hours)
Delivery
Online | Learn more
Duration
Complete in 1 year, or up to 3 years
Event management involves managing, organizing, promoting and executing events of all sizes.
Prepare for a career in event management with the skills you need to manage events of all sizes. Gain practical skills and current professional knowledge to successfully organize, promote and execute an array of events.
The certificate’s seven courses are taught by event industry experts who share their real-world experience with you. As you build a foundation in the art and science of event management, you’ll learn core competencies and the 5-phase approach to event planning and execution. Gain project management skills that you can integrate in every aspect of your work, from managing logistics and mitigating risks to implementing effective event marketing.
As you progress through the program, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how the concepts, elements and processes of event planning come together to create memorable experiences, including large-scale fundraising events, corporate events, trade shows and more. Explore how building and maintaining relationships — from staff and volunteers to clients and vendors — can position you for success. Learn how aligning goals and objectives with the needs and desires of stakeholders provide a basis for ongoing decision-making and successful event management.
Highlights and benefits
Earn a recognized credential | Enhance your career prospects
Become career-ready | Prepare for a career as an event planner or gain additional skills for volunteer roles
Enhance your life | Develop your personal and professional skills
Real-world knowledge | Learn from experienced industry professionals
Online delivery | Enjoy the flexibility of online learning, and complete this program from anywhere
Developing a strong foundation to plan and manage successful events
Event planning can be part of every interest and profession. School staff can organize a talent show. A hospital can raise funds for a new piece of equipment. A gym can run a membership drive. A community can celebrate the holidays. The possibilities are endless.
Read more
Interested in becoming a wedding planner?
Consider our Wedding and Social Event Planner Certificate of Completion, where you can combine your artistic and business skills to help you plan weddings, celebrations and other social events.
View courses
Information session
Interested in learning more about our Event Management? Speak with program staff and instructors, and have your questions answered. Join us for a free virtual information session on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. MST.
Register nowCourse schedule
Course schedule by semester
| Fall (Sept. - Dec.) |
Winter (Jan. - April) |
Spring/Summer (May - Aug.) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Event Planning | ON | ON | ON |
| Resource Management for Event Planning | ON | ON | ON |
| Event Logistics | ON | ON | ON |
| Event Risk Management | ON | ON | ON |
| Event Marketing | ON | ON | ON |
| Event Production | ON | ON | ON |
| Event Management: Final Project | ON | ON | ON |
We strongly recommend completing the courses in the order presented above.
Legend
BL: Blended (Online & Classroom)
CL: Classroom
FT: Fast Track
ON: Online
IDS: Independent Study
P: Practicum
This schedule is subject to change. Courses start on various dates within each semester. Fall schedule and registration is available in June; Winter schedule and registration is available in November; and Spring/Summer schedule and registration is available in March.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this program intended for?
This program is intended for people who want to start a career in the event management industry, or those in a current role where they are expected to plan events. It is also valueable for individuals working at event venues.
What type of career options are available if I complete this certificate?
Roles such as event planner, wedding planner, catering manager, venue manager, marketing manager, production manager and volunteer coordinator, etc. You may also specialize in specific event types, such as corporate events, festivals, non-profit fundraisers, etc.
Note: additional education and training may be required for some positions.
Do I have to take the courses in order?
The only course that has a prerequisite is the XEVT 20006 Event Management: Final Project, you must take that course after successfully completing all of the other courses.
It is recommended that you take XEVT 10011 Introduction to Event Planning first.
How will I be graded in each course?
Each course has several graded assignments. These assignments vary per course; however, they are all designed to assess the outcomes of each course. These assessments include, but are not limited to, individual projects, discussion board posts, and short answers.
How many hours am I expected to work on each course?
You should plan to access your D2L course site at least 3 times per week. Depending on the course, you can expect to spend approximately 4-5 hours per week reading material, completing learning activities or assignments, and attending Google Meet sessions.
Is attendance required for Google Meet sessions?
We recommend you attend the virtual Google Meet sessions; however, they are not mandatory. Attending Google Meet sessions allows you to get to know your instructor and classmates and provides you with the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the content and assignments. Networking is a large part of this industry and you may want to start now with your classmates - you never know who you might meet that will be a great network connection in the industry.
Should I take both the Event Management and Wedding Certificates?
Students who wish to become an event manager should take the Event Management Extension Certificate program. If they want to also take the Wedding and Social Event Planner program, it provides specific wedding and party planning information, but it is not required unless you plan to specialize in weddings and social events.
Students who solely want to focus on weddings, and / or social events, may take only the Wedding and Social Event Planner Certificate of Completion program.
The Event Management program provides more detailed information than the Wedding and Social Event Planner program. It covers in more detail on specific topics, such as, risk management, logistics of events, marketing, resources, billing, scheduling of third party vendors and contractors, security, and transportation, etc.
How many courses can I take at a time?
You can take as many courses as your schedule will allow. There are no restrictions on the number of courses you can take at one time. For those students that have a busy schedule, we recommend not taking more than two courses at once, due to the reading and homework required.
Will I get a job once I'm done the certificate?
While having a professional certificate will certainly put you in a favourable position when looking for employment, there are many factors to consider for each individual that it would be impossible to pre-determine your employment success. Our graduate statistics have shown that a significant percentage of past students have experienced a measurable increase in salary, responsibility, and/or activity after completing our programs. For this industry, we also recommend that students volunteer at events to expand their resumé.
Will Mount Royal help me locate career opportunities?
No, Mount Royal does not have a system in place to assist students with career opportunities upon completion of our certificate. However, there are periodic job postings and volunteer opportunities advertised on our website.
Additional information
Refer to CE Student Information for more information.
Program questions?