Are you looking to learn all about event planning and management? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place… We’ve spent the time researching the best event planning courses that are available online so that you can update your skills from the comfort of your own home! We have included both free and paid courses, that are suitable for all levels, to ensure that you can find a course best suited to you!
But first, let’s answer a very important question – what is event planning?
Events planning is the process of managing a project such as a meeting, convention, trade show, ceremony, team building activity, party or convention. To plan events properly, you need to be able to workout budgets. You will also need to establish timelines, select sits, plan food, arranging activities, and so much more! There isn’t one common training or certificate program for events planning, but having some sort of training of certification in the industry can be incredibly helpful to planning a successful event.
Online learning is a fantastic place to start gathering all the knowledge you need. Suitable for all levels, I have spent the time researching the best online event planning tutorials out there. So, if you’re looking to progress your skills in this area, then there will be an online course out there for you!
1. Successful Events: Event Planning, Marketing & Management (Udemy)
- Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Completion time: 7h 3m
- Cost: $69.99
- Certification: No
- Number of people who have completed the course: 10,060
- Course rating: 4.4/5 (out of 1,238 ratings)
With over 10,000 students, this course is for anyone who wants to get into event planning, event management, or is looking for a new way to promote your business.
This is a fantastic course about how to create successful events. It covers important issues, like how to price your event, how to promote your event, different ways in which you can make money from your event, and much more. The course covers three mains topics: event marketing, event planning and event management. With lots of extra freebies offered, you will then have the skills to promote all sorts of events, from business events, festivals and music shows, charity events, fundraisers and meet ups.
2. Event Planning: Where to Start (Skillshare)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion time: 27m
- Cost: 14 day free trial
- Certification: No
- Number of people who have completed the course: 1,557
- Course rating: N/A
Offered by Skillshare, this course will help you learn how to overcome and handle all the stresses and worries related to event planning! Suitable for beginners only, this course is designed to help you get started on the right food and on the track.
In just 27 minutes, you will leave this course with the tips that you need so that you can confidently book the big-ticket items. You will leave knowing the basics of a budget, how to coordinate dates and venues, catering, audio visuals, rentals and event specific items. Once you have acquired this knowledge, you can then take further training to learn how to handle the small details.
3. Event Planning Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion time: 50m
- Cost: 1 month free trial
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: 1,557
- Course rating: 4.8/5 (out of 350 ratings)
Completed by thousands of LinkedIn Learning members, this course covers enterprise marketing and event planning that can be applied to nearly every industry.
Course instructor, Valerie Berry, will give you all the tips and tricks you need to ensure that your next event is a success, whether it’s your first or your fifty-first. You will cover topics such as understanding your clients objectives, selecting a venue, getting the right technology in place, negotiating your budget, and building menus! Plus, you’ll learn how to manage the thousands of details that occur in the two weeks leading to an event, and how you can follow up afterwards to make sure your clients and vendors are satisfied.
If you want to excel at bringing people together and turn your passion for event planning into a career (for free!) then this course is for you!
4. Event Management (Short Course) (HSC)
- Level: All levels
- Completion time: 20h
- Cost: Free
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: 71,852
- Course rating: 4.2/5 (out of 63,193 ratings)
Whether you are already working in the event planning industry, or if you’re just interested in trying something entirely new, this free online course will help you to take that important step towards the career of your dreams.
The course content covers three topics of importance, which explore contemporary event management as a concept, the fundamentals of event creation and a variety of effective and efficient event marketing strategies. Upon completion, you will find yourself with the knowledge, confidence and certification to put your career dreams into action. You will be able to join the best event planners in an industry that has recently had an enormous spike in demand for qualified, experienced and dedicated planners.
5. Marketing Your Event (LinkedIn Learning)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion time: 30m
- Cost: 1 month free trial
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: N/A
- Course rating: 4.6/5 (out of 88 ratings)
To make your next big event a success, you need to promote it far ahead of time. You also need to have the skills to be able to make it a huge success.
In this 30 minute course, you will gather a wide range of tips to successfully market your event. Chartered marketer, Luan Wise, will go over the different types of events, the stages of event marketing and the resources you need to prepare and make your event more successful. To really make you an event planning superstar, you will also review different methods of promotion, from traditional advertising and public relations to emails, direct mail and social media.
6. Certificate Program in Event Management (Institute of Event Management)
- Level: All levels
- Completion time: N/A
- Cost: $495
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: N/A
- Course rating: N/A
Suitable for anyone wanting to learn about events planning and get a certificate for it, this course provides a comprehensive, self-paced program that prepares both beginners, and experience professionals, for career opportunities in Corporate Event Management.
You will cover the fundamentals of event management, such as event objectives, strategic planning, event venues, venue design, contracts, invitations, food and beverages and risk management. You will also take a look at how to plan for, and manage, different types of events, such as fundraisers, conferences, tradeshows, meetings and team building events.
7. Online Event Planning Courses (QC Event Planning)
- Level: All levels
- Completion time: Varied
- Cost: Varied
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: N/A
- Course rating: N/A
QC Event Schools offers a variety of online event planning courses in key sectors of the planning industry. Each course is approved and certified by the International Live Events Association, one of the most recognized institutions in the events industry. This means that every single on of QC’s courses meet the rigorous standards for approval and offer students high-quality training in event planning.
You can take event planning courses in event and wedding planning, corporate event planning and private event planning. Any of this courses offer you personal guidance from a tutor, real-world even planning case studies, and the skills and knowledge to walk away being able to launch a successful event planning business.
8. Digital Marketing for Events: Create sell-out events with solid planning and clever event marketing (Skillshare)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion time: 1h 6m
- Cost: 14 day free trial
- Certification: No
- Number of people who have completed the course: 790
- Course rating: N/A
Taught by Sue Keogh, the founder of an award-winning UK digital marketing agency and a content producer for the BBC, ITV, Magic FM, Yahoo, AOL and more, this Skillshare course is not one to be missed. You will cover the perfect digital marketing mix for a successful event, talking to your audience, what to cover behind the scenes, what to do on the big day and finally, but rather importantly, how to maximize impact after the event.
The course will then finish up with a hands-on class project. In this project you will answer a series of questions to test your knowledge. Such questions include the platforms you can use for event planning, what is essential info for attendees, what channels can you use to promote the event, and much more.
9. Online Class: Event Planning 101 (Universal Class)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion time: 9h
- Cost: $95.00
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: 4,977
- Course rating: N/A
Event planning is an exciting, lucrative and interesting career choice – and this course will show you how to develop the skills, energy and drive to thrive in this ever changing field.
The course will begin by defining event planning and highlighting the role of the event planner as a part liaison, part therapist, and part reassuring friend. You will then cover the nitty, gritty detail that is so important to understand. Such details include budgeting, date selection, invitations, acquisition of permits, transportation arrangements, entertainment, decorating, cleanup and much more. Finally, you will go over the skills you will need to be a great event planner, such as organization, sociability, team work and ingenuity.
Conclusion
These are the 9 best event planning courses that are available online. These courses are suited to anyone who is wanting to develop an understanding of events planning so that they can use it in their professional career. Specific careers where having an understanding of events planning might be incredibly helpful include:
- Actor
- Administrative Support
- Customer Service
- Director
- Interior Designer
- Management Consultant
- Marketing Assistant
- Marketing Manager
- Real Estate Agent
To gather these event planning skills, there are lots of online courses available for you. There are herbalism courses that are free and take less than an hour to complete. Then there are more expensive courses that take longer to complete! Some courses are suitable for those with no events planning experience. Whereas other courses are better suited for those with lots of experience in events management, but are specifically looking to increase their skillset or refresh their knowledge.
The online classes in this list are the best of the best. Each is taught by an experienced and dedicated teacher that has lots of satisfied and happy customers.
So, which course you decide take depends on your experience, funds and spare time. Do you have a huge amount of money to spend on your skill development? Do you have a lot of spare time, or are you just looking for a quick, but effective, skill top up?
