FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Everything admissions gets asked, answered without the sales language. If yours is not here, ask us.
Programs
Which program to take, and how they differ.
What is the difference between the Certificate and the Master’s Certificate?
The Certificate programs cover one specialty (wedding planning or event management) while the Master’s Certificate covers corporate, social and wedding events plus advanced planning, event technology and the business of running a practice. The Certificates are $795 and three modules each. The Master’s Certificate is $1,295 and all six modules, and completing it awards the GCPE® credential. If you only ever intend to plan weddings, take the Certificate in Wedding Planning. It is cheaper and more focused.
Should I take the wedding planning or the event management certificate?
Take wedding planning if your client will be the couple, and event management if your client will be an organization. Wedding planning covers discovery and booking, budgets and profitability, vendors and venues, design and the wedding-day timeline, and building the business. Event management covers briefs and concepts, event budgets, venues and suppliers, risk and compliance, and delivery and evaluation for corporate, association and non-profit events.
Do I need experience?
No. Requirements are English reading and writing, and an internet connection.
Enrollment & payment
What it costs, how to pay, and what happens if it isn’t right for you.
When can I start?
Any day. There is no application, no interview, no entrance exam and no term dates. You enroll, you get access immediately, and you begin whenever you like.
Can I pay monthly, and what does the plan cost in total?
Yes. Every program has a monthly plan, and the plan costs more in total than paying in full:Certificate in Wedding Planning, $795 in full, or 6 × $145 which totals $870; Certificate in Corporate Event Management, $795 in full, or 6 × $145 which totals $870; Master's Certificate in Event Management, $1,295 in full, or 12 × $119 which totals $1,428. You get full access from the first payment, and there is no credit check and no interest, the plan simply spreads the cost.
What is included in the price?
Everything needed to complete the program and receive the certificate. That means all course materials, every assignment marked with individual written feedback, the IIEM AI planning toolkit, your digital certificate and official transcripts, a digital badge for LinkedIn, and lifetime access to curriculum updates. There is no application fee, no exam fee and no textbook to buy separately.
What is your refund policy?
Fourteen days from the moment you pay, in full, no reason required. Module 1 is yours to explore in that window without affecting it. Two things end it early: opening Module 2, and submitting a graded assignment. The portal asks you to confirm before it opens Module 2 and records the date, so it never happens by accident. The full terms are on the refund policy page and you should read them before you enroll.
Studying
How the study itself works, how long it takes and how you are assessed.
How long does it take?
Most students finish in under six months studying part time. You have up to two years.
What if I need longer than expected?
You have up to two years from enrollment at no extra cost.
Is there an exam?
No proctored exam. Each module ends in three graded assignments, marked against a four-criteria rubric with a 70% pass mark, and you may resubmit once. You get written feedback on the work itself rather than a score.
How much time a week does it take?
Around four to six hours a week gets most people through in under six months. The programs are entirely self-paced, so a heavy week at work costs you nothing but time. There are no live classes to miss and no deadlines you did not choose.
Can I get help while I study?
Yes. Every assignment comes back with individual written feedback rather than a grade, and you can email admissions with a question at any point in the program.
Certification
What you receive, what GCPE® is, and, plainly, what it is not.
Is the certificate digital or printed?
Your certificate and official transcripts are issued digitally, the day you finish, along with a digital badge for LinkedIn. A printed copy can be ordered and posted to you for an additional fee.
What is GCPE® and is it accredited?
GCPE® is a professional certification awarded by IIEM to graduates of the Master’s Certificate. It is not an academic degree, not a license, and not an institutional accreditation. It certifies that you have completed a structured, assessed program in professional event management. Credentials like the CMP require several years of documented industry experience and a proctored exam; GCPE® is a completed-education credential and we say so. Many graduates use it to enter the field and pursue CMP once they have the hours.
Is IIEM accredited?
Not by an institutional accreditor, and we do not claim to be. IIEM operates as an exempt institution under California Education Code §94874, which is an exemption from state oversight for non-degree vocational programs rather than an accreditation. We are BBB accredited with an A+ rating and have been since 2012. We do not offer degrees.
Does my credential expire?
No. Your certificate, your transcripts and your GCPE® award are permanent. There is no annual fee, no renewal, and no continuing-education requirement. What you pay for the program is the whole cost of the credential.
Can an employer check my credential?
Yes. You receive a digital certificate and official transcripts you can send directly, and admissions will confirm a graduate’s award on request. Contact us with the name and the year and we will answer.
International students
Roughly the majority of our students are outside the United States. These are the questions they ask.
Is this recognized in my country?
IIEM is a California institution and the certificate is issued from the USA. It’s a professional certificate, not a license or a degree, and no country requires a license to plan events. Our graduates work in 70 countries.
Can I study from outside the United States?
Yes, that is most of our students. Everything is online and self-paced, there are no live classes to attend in a US time zone, and nothing about enrollment depends on where you live.
Can I get my certificate outside the United States?
Yes. The certificate, the transcripts and the LinkedIn badge are all digital and reach you the day you finish, wherever you are, so there is nothing to wait for in the post. If you want a printed copy it can be ordered for an additional fee and posted from California to any address in the world.
What language is the program in?
English. You need to be able to read and write English at a level that lets you produce a client proposal, because that is what the assignments ask for. There is no separate language test.
Still have a question?
Email admissions and we will answer it. We would rather talk you out of the wrong program before you pay than refund you afterwards.