There are two ways to become certified through the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (see Resources below). You can take a personalized 5-day course in Los Gatos, West Hollywood, or Atlanta, or you can take a self-directed study course at home. You will receive ACPWC certification after completing the course, consulting for 2 years, coordinating 12 weddings, receiving 14 letters of recommendation and completing a certification project.
You can receive June Wedding Inc. certification (JWIC) by completing a two-part home study course. June Wedding Inc. is a Las Vegas-based organization for event professionals (see Resources below).
The National Bridal Association offers the Wedding Beautiful Worldwide training program, which consists of eighteen specialized assignments. You will receive certification when you complete all of the assignments (see Resources below).
There are normally no prerequisites for certification, but some programs require that you have received your high school diploma or GED.
The ACPWC charges $795 for the 5-day program and $650 for the home study program. The tuition for each June Wedding seminar is $1,000, and annual dues are $150. Courses at the National Bridal Association cost $495.