ESPC - ESPA

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH EVENT SERVICE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

Your next big career milestone starts here.

The Event Service Professional Certification (ESPC) — the gold standard of excellence in event services — proves you have the skills, knowledge, and drive to deliver at the highest level. It’s a powerful way to show your commitment to growth, professionalism, and creating unforgettable experiences.

And the impact goes beyond you. Earning the ESPC builds trust with clients, strengthens relationships, and elevates your reputation as a true partner in their success.

Full Program Instructions

What it means to you

Stand out in a competitive industry. The ESPC validates your ability to solve problems, manage complex events and lead with confidence. It tells colleagues, employers and clients that you’re not just doing the job. You’re raising the bar.

For planners and stakeholders, your certification signals credibility and reliability, giving them peace of mind that their events are in expert hands.

What it means for the Event Service Profession

Event Service Professionals (ESPs) are the unsung heroes of meetings and conventions. Once the contract is signed, you become the face of the venue or destination, guiding clients through last-minute changes, balancing multiple priorities, and ensuring every detail is executed flawlessly.

By achieving the ESPC, you’re not just advancing your own career. You’re elevating the profession. This credential spotlights the essential role ESPs play in driving event success and fueling the economic impact of meetings and conventions.

Why the ESPC Stands Out:

The ESPC certification:

Proves expertise in the unique skill sets and problem-solving abilities that define top Event Service Professionals.
Confirms mastery of the core attributes required for excellence in service.
Prioritizes growth through ongoing education and development.
Celebrates collaboration across CVBs, DMOs, convention centers, and hotels to ensure seamless event execution.
Raises the profile of the Event Service profession as a critical driver of business and economic success.

ESPA is excited to bring this professional development opportunity to its members and to the events industry. The Event Service Professional Certification provides individuals in this dynamic profession with a program to help set them apart, demonstrating their skills and talents specifically as they relate to Event Servicing.

Congrats ESPC Designates

Zack Davis, ESPC, CMP Vice President of Destination Services Louisville Tourism - Jenny Huffman, ESPC Event Manager Morial Convention Center-New Orleans - Sean Keeney, ESPC Destination Experience Sr. Manager Visit Orlando - Matthew Robinette, ESPC, CDME, CMP Vice President of Visitor Experience Visit Richmond VA - Molly Self, ESPC, CMP Client Services Manager Visit Arlington - Mandy Spikes, ESPC Group Services Coordinator City of Waco - Economic Development and Tourism - Yvonne Williams, ESPC Director Destination Services The Palm Beaches

Your Path to Certification

The ESPC gives you a clear roadmap to career distinction and industry recognition.

Step one: Application & Eligibility

Candidates pay an application fee and submit an Application with the following eligibility requirements:

Event Services Training or Breadth of Work Experience

Option: 1: Take the online ESPA Event Service Professional Foundational Training Program
Option: 2: You may submit a Waiver Request to bypass the Training Program if you have a minimum of 10 years of event servicing experience and can clearly demonstrate knowledge and experience in all servicing segments.

Event Services Education

Candidate must have completed a minimum of 20 education hours specifically in Event Service topics within the past 3 years.

Download and submit the Application

Step two: Getting Certified; Demonstrate Skills and Knowledge

Approved candidates must demonstrate their knowledge and skillsets as an Event Service Professional through work on a Capstone Project which has two parts:

1. Candidate will be required to write an event services Challenge which you will, in part 2, then be required to write a Response to. The written Challenge involves developing and describing a hypothetical or real-world scenario which requires a solution that engages an event service professional within one of our designated subject matter areas (examples include Risk Management, Event Design, Sustainability, Customer Service). Your written Challenge must be reviewed by the ESPA Review Board before proceeding to the written Response. Use this Challenge Outline when you are ready for this step.

2. Once the Challenge scenario is approved, candidate will write a thorough Response paper that outlines a solution to the Challenge which engages an event service professional. The ESPA Review Board will evaluate the Response which must include hotel, facility/venue and DMO related elements as well as describe the final outcome of the challenge/solution. Response reviews are conducted quarterly, therefore certifications are issued quarterly.

A certification fee is required prior to commencing with this step. Download the full program requirements and instructions which provide more detail on the above steps.

Certification is good for 5 years. See FAQs section for details.

Candidates for Option 1, with participation the Training Program:

Member

Non-Member

Application Fee

$175

$250

Event Service Professional Foundational Training Program

$229

$329

Certification Fee

$525

$600

Total

$929

$1,179

Candidates for Option 2, with a Waiver Request to bypass the Training Program:

Member

Non-Member

Application Fee

$325

$450

Certification Fee

$525

$600

Total

$850

$1,050

Recertification

Member

Non-Member

Recertification Fee

$300

$500

We recommend that you have reviewed the full ESPC Program Guide so that you understand the eligibility requirements such as Training or a Waiver for the Training, proof of Continuing Education pre-requisites, and the fees. All ESPC forms can also be found on My ESPA Portal.

Download ESPC Program Guide

Guide

ESPC Forms

Visit Portal

1. Pay the Application fee in the My ESPA Portal. Application fee is non-refundable. Please be sure to pay the appropriate fee based on your preferred Option. NOTE: Your application cannot be reviewed until the fee is paid.

	Member	Non-Member
Candidates for Option 1, with participation in the Training Program:
Application Fee *Note: Training Program is a separate fee.	$175	$250
Candidates for Option 2, with a Waiver Request to bypass the Training Program:
Application Fee	$325	$450

2. Download and submit the Application.

Option 1: If you are applying under Option 1 which includes taking the Event Service Professional Foundational Training Program to meet your eligibility requirement, you should complete the Training Program and submit the Evaluation / Attestation Form with your Application to demonstrate that you have completed the Training.
Option 2: Foundational Training Waiver Request (Candidate must have a minimum of 10 years of event services experience). If you are submitting a Foundational Training Waiver Request to bypass the Event Service Professional Foundational Training Program, you must include the Waiver Request form with your Application, and you must pay the fee level for Option 2 which includes a waiver review.

3. To accelerate your certification timeline, you may also submit your written Challenge at the same time as you submit your Application and optional Training Waiver Request. This gives the ESPA Review Board the opportunity to review both documents together.

How do I Maintain My Certification?

Certification is good for 5 years. To keep your ESPC in good standing, designates must:

Earn 20 hours of continuing education in Event Servicing subject areas.
Demonstrate industry leadership and engagement through active participation in ESPA programs (through a point system). Point-earning activities include Board/Committee/Task Force roles, speaking, articles, organizing National Celebrate Services Week events.

Download the full program and recertification requirements and instructions.

When and why was the Event Service Professional Certification launched?

ESPA launched this program in September of 2022. The first class of ESPCs is anticipated in the first half of 2023. Event Service Professionals play a key role at DMOs, hotels, convention centers and other types of venues. As the key liaison to event planners executing all event details from the venue/destination side, ESPC evaluates the knowledge and skillsets required for effective event servicing.

How long will it take for my ESPC Application to be approved?

Applications for candidates who take the Foundational Training should be approved within 14 days; applications requiring review of a Training Waiver Request are expected to take up to 21 days.

What is the anticipated timeline for becoming certified?

The timeline is largely contingent on your timeframe for completing the Capstone Project. Capstone responses are reviewed on a quarterly basis so this would be the minimum amount of time required, but in order to put the proper amount of time, planning and thought into writing your Challenge and your Response, we anticipate 6 months being a reasonable timeframe.

What is the cost to become certified?

ESPA members can become certified along with taking the Event Services Professional Foundational Training Program for a total of $929. For members with 10+ years of event services experience who want to request a waiver for taking the Training Program, the cost is $850. Non-member fees are $1,179 and $1,050 respectively.

When does my ESPC need to be renewed?

The certification is good for 5 years. You will need to submit a recertification form demonstrating your ongoing continuing education (20 hours over 5 years), and professional engagement in ESPA.

How is the ESPC program governed?

The ESPC program is governed by a volunteer ESPA Review Board. The ESPA Review Board consists of Event Service Professionals who possess a passion for industry leadership and engagement, as well as for our profession. You must be an ESPA member to be on the ESPA Review Board. Terms for ESPA Review Board members are one year. Members interested in serving should contact Lynn McCullough, Executive Director, at Lmccullough@espaonline.org.

Ready to Stand Out?

The ESPC is your chance to elevate your career, gain recognition and contribute to the growth of the entire event services profession. Review the full program details, pay your application fee and start your journey today.

Questions?