Specialist

What the specialist path is

The specialist path collects the Academy's focused tracks in one place. Each track takes one area of event planning further than the core modules can: weddings, corporate events, festivals, fundraisers, kids' parties, virtual and hybrid events, and entertainment booking. The tracks are shorter than the core modules and assume you already understand the basics of budgets, venues, vendors and the run of show. They are written for the GTA, with local permits, venues and booking patterns in mind.

Who should take it

This path suits working planners who want to deepen one area of their practice, venue and hotel staff who handle a particular type of booking, and graduates of the core modules who are deciding where to specialise. It also works for someone with a single large project in front of them, such as a festival committee member or a corporate events lead, who needs targeted guidance quickly. If you are new to planning, start with the professional path or, for a one-off personal event, the host path.

How to choose a track

• Pick the track that matches the events you are booked for now, not the ones you hope to plan someday.
• If you work across event types, the entertainment booking track and the virtual and hybrid track apply to almost everything.
• Take one track at a time and finish its worksheets with a real event before moving on.
• Review the related core module before starting, especially venues for festivals and budgeting for fundraisers.

Time and outcome

Most tracks take between one and two hours of study, plus the time to complete the worksheets. Specialist tracks are not required for the Academy certificate, which is based on the twelve core modules and the final exam, but they add the practical depth employers and clients expect from someone who claims a niche. The lesson on choosing a niche explains how to decide which specialism to build a business around, and the full overview is on the learning paths page.