IEC aims at internationally acknowledging professionals’ quality, thus creating a community of networking, apprenticeships and growth.
It’s the first professional certification for wedding and event professionals, applying also to some categories of suppliers as well as major venues. 22 countries are represented.
The restart of the events industry bears the mark of IEC, International Event Certification, the new certification expressly conceived for meeting professionals and wedding planners, the only one certified by the AJA Europe Group and valid all over the world, as well as unique to specifically address both the wedding and the meeting industries. Suppliers and even major venues may get certified too.
IEC aims at internationally acknowledging professionals’ quality, thus creating a community of networking, apprenticeships and growth. 24 countries are represented by 17 international professionals of undisputed fame, enrolled as Country Partner Examiners, plus another 100 leading international partners for post-exam apprenticeship programs.
IEC is available in the following versions:
For professionals
- Wedding and Event Planner and Destination Wedding and Event Planner
- Virtual and Hybrid Event Planner
- Wedding and Events Designer
- LGBT Weddings & Events Planner
- Wedding & Events Producer
For venues
- Specialized Wedding & Events Venue
For suppliers
- Weddings & Events Vendor
Eligible suppliers: Catering and Banqueting, Audio/Visuals, Florist and Decor, Photographer, Videographer, Entertainment (DJ, performer, band, talent agency). To be stressed that IEC is not a course: it is a professional certification guaranteeing the skills’ compliance to the standards set by Aja Europe Group and its partners. The aim of IEC is not to sell courses but to verify whether or not the candidates know how to carry out an event in every detail of its design, planning and implementation.
The examination
As mentioned, the certification is obtained after examination – a written and oral test currently scheduled only face-to-face by international professional examiners and validated both by AJA Europe and the Country partner examiner. Conflicts of interest are not tolerated, and a proven experience in the examination field is strictly required. The country partners have all great authority in their countries, in the sense that they set de-facto standards, previously validated by the AJA Group, to which the entire industry levels up. The examination takes place with uniform open tests, country by country, and gets to be assessed by homogeneous rating.
To be admitted, one must create a portfolio by following a checklist issued at the time of registration. One can submit for only one certification as well as for more than one, always following the checklist.
Admission is finalized by the Country partner, who checks and verifies the checklist. Each exam involves a full day of written and oral test. It is about creating an event from A to Z with solutions and plans as if it were a real event with the client sitting in front of the candidate.
The mark is expressed in hundredths. The exam is passed with a minimum grade of 65/100. Three levels, depending on the grade:
- 65-84/100: professional
- 85-9 /100: élite
- 100/100: master
Each of these levels gives access to different privileges, listed on the site. Candidates may refuse the grade as well as retake the exam as many times as they want, the aim being to grow and not to flaunt success.
The exam has a cost: the same amount is always due, no matter where and how many times one takes it. The progress of the candidate, from pre-selection to certificate, is online, as are the costs.
Successful candidates must demonstrate year by year that they have maintained their professional level (or levels, in case of multiple certifications) by proving ongoing professional activity as well as the frequency of continuing education according to a specific course-checklist.
Certifications must be renewed every five years by taking new test, so to demonstrate improvements and progress in the community.
IEC is certified by the AJA Europe Group, an organization based in numerous countries around the world, holding many accreditations and/or awards through related companies. It operates through a network of local offices managed and coordinated by the Group itself. The local offices are responsible for assessment and implementation of economic and financial relationships with client organizations.
AJA Europe is accredited by the main international Accreditation Bodies:
- UKAS United Kingdom Accreditation Services – System Certification ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO22000, ISO 13485, ISO 45001 (ISO 17021)
- EFfCI – European Federation for Cosmetics Ingredients
- EXCiPACT
- SAC Singapore Accreditation Council – GDPMDS (Good distribution practice for medical devices) certification, ISO 9001, ISO 45001 (ISO 17021)
- GNI – Global Network Initiative
- ACCREDIA – several Products Certification Schemes (ISO 17024)
- ACCREDIA – several Persons Certification Schemes (ISO 17065)
- ACCREDIA – IFCC Certification (ISO 17021)
- European Commission notification for Construction Products
- Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation for Construction Products
The aforementioned Accreditation Bodies are all members of the MLA – International Accreditation Forum (IAF). Participation in the MLA Agreements guarantees the competence and procedural rigor of the signatory Entity, as well as its way of operating being uniform to those of the other signatory Entities.
Therefore, the certificates of conformity issued by Accredited Entities by Accreditation Bodies signing the MLA agreements are valid and credible, as they are subject to the control of a competent Accreditation Body, as well as equivalent to each other, and as such universally accepted and recognized, issued as they are in a context of uniform rules and procedures.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
