If you’ve spent years managing catering operations, planning weddings, running a venue, or leading sales for an events company — there’s one credential built specifically for you: CPCE, the Certified Professional in Catering and Events, issued by NACE (the National Association for Catering and Events).
NACE calls it “the only certification focused on the catering and events business” — and that’s the point. It’s not a general event-planning badge. It tests whether you can actually run the business side: contracts, accounting, HR, beverage programs, sales — the stuff that determines whether a catering or events company survives, not just throws a good party.
More than 330 professionals worldwide now hold it.
Who It’s For
- Catering managers and directors
- Event planners and coordinators
- Venue managers and operators
- Sales and marketing pros in the events space
- Anyone who wants formal recognition of hands-on industry expertise
The 7 Things It Actually Tests
The exam is built around seven core competencies:
- Accounting
- Beverage Management
- Catering Services & Operations
- Contracts & Risk Management
- Event Design & Execution
- Human Resources & Administration
- Sales & Marketing
175 multiple-choice questions, covering all seven. You can sit it in person at a NACE Evolve or Experience conference, or schedule it online.
Do You Qualify?
- General applicants: 3 years of full-time catering/events experience within the last 4 years
- Recent grads of an accredited hospitality program: 2 years of experience
- Everyone: 30 hours of professional development completed in the last 5 years
What It Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $295 |
| Exam fee | $295 |
| Reference guide (optional, recommended) | $99 + tax/shipping |
| Group rate | $50 off per person for 5+ applying together |
Scholarships are available through the Foundation of NACE and the Timothy S. Y. Lam Foundation (deadlines: Feb 15, May 15, Aug 15, Nov 15).
How to Actually Get It
- Confirm you meet the experience + 30-hour requirement
- Read the CPCE Policy Manual and gather your documentation
- Apply online via the official CPCE application
- Pay the $295 application fee — NACE reviews and approves
- Pay the $295 exam fee, schedule your sitting (in person or online)
- Take the 175-question exam
- Pass → you’re CPCE certified. Maintain it with 30 CE hours every 5 years.
Apply now: https://form.jotform.com/nacenational/CPCE_Application
Learn more: https://www.nace.net/about-cpce
Sources
- About the CPCE — nace.net
- Apply to Become a CPCE — nace.net
- Prepare for the CPCE Exam — nace.net
- Maintaining Your CPCE Certification — nace.net
- CPCE Policy Manual (PDF, April 2024) — nace.net
- CPCE Directory — nace.net
Fees and requirements reflect NACE’s published information as of July 2026 and are subject to change — always confirm current details on nace.net before applying.
