The 16 modules that make up the rigorous curriculum for the “Digital Event Strategist” Certification Program went live this past November. In the short space of two months, 50 industry professionals entered the program with qualified prerequisites and began work towards certification. Two completed their studies and sat for the first test administered by the Virtual Edge Institute during the Professional Convention Management Association’s Convening Leaders meeting in Orlando in mid-January.

Earning their “DES” were JoAnn Klinedinst, vice president, professional development, Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society, and Richard Naylor, president, Accucom Corporate Communications, Inc. As long as they fulfill continuing education requirements of 20 hours over two years, they will be recertified every two years.

The application fee is $175, the online learning course fee is $595, and the exam fee is $325. A 24-hour help desk is available for all participants in the program, and some participants have started study groups. The next test will take place in Denver in June at the PCMA Educational Conference. Earlier test dates are awaiting confirmation.

The Virtual Edge Institute is also working to enable government meeting professionals to access the DES program through their agencies’ training budgets, said founder and executive director Michael Doyle.

Find out more about the DES program at digitaleventstrategist.com. — Maxine Golding