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  1. Programs
  2. Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE)

Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE)

National Association for Catering and Events

Certification

Become a contributor for free to openly demonstrate student outcomes, industry alignment & eligibility criteria.

The CPCE is the only certification focused on the catering and events business, emphasizing specialized expertise and areas of concentration, including catering services and operations, beverage management, event design and execution, human resources, accounting, sales and marketing, and contracts and risk management.

Format

Hybrid

Eligibility Calculator

Which aid programs apply to this program?

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Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

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Program Details

Detailed information about this program

How to Become a CPCE... CPCE certification benefits individuals in catering sales, catering operations, event professionals, and creative event partners. The process to become and maintain CPCE certification involves professional development hours, a thorough application process, and a final examination. Experience Requirements Applicants need three years of full-time catering and events experience within the last five years. Professional Development Completion of 30 hours of professional development in the past five years is also required. Final Exam The CPCE exam includes 175 multiple-choice questions covering seven core competencies in catering and event management. Flexible Testing Options Testing can be completed online or onsite with proctoring support, providing candidates with flexible exam options. Preparation Resources Candidates can prepare using in-person or virtual Fast Track courses, on-demand online education, and a professional reference guide.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

Internship/Fieldwork/Practicum Requirements

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.

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Locations

Where this program is offered

No locations specified.

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Related Programs

Programs related to this one

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Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

  • Apply generally accepted accounting principles to catering and event operations
  • Interpret financial statements including cash flow, balance sheet, and income statement for catering and event operations
  • Calculate food, beverage, and labor costs for catering and event operations
  • Develop and manage budgets for a catering and event operation
  • Describe and apply knowledge of beverage types in catering and event service
  • Comply with legal considerations regarding alcohol service in catering and event operations
Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

  • Food Servers, Nonrestaurant35-3041.00
  • Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners13-1121.00
  • Food Service Managers11-9051.00
What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populated·from NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Certification)

  • Food servings for multiple recipients — plate and arrange efficiently according to order tickets or meal schedules with minimal oversight in a high-volume cafeteria.
  • Special dietary guidelines such as low-sodium or allergen-restricted meals — monitor meal distribution to ensure each recipient receives the correct tray in a healthcare or care facility.
  • Tray accuracy checks — perform independently before each delivery round, identifying and correcting missing or incorrect items without prompting from a supervisor.
  • Kitchen equipment and service facilities — clean and sterilize on a routine schedule using knowledge of sanitation standards in a commercial food service environment.
  • Verbal food orders from customers with varied needs — listen carefully and relay to kitchen staff clearly and completely, adapting to pace changes during peak service periods.
  • Meal delivery routes and timing — coordinate to ensure food reaches correct recipients while still at appropriate temperature in a multi-unit institutional setting.
  • Serving techniques and portioning practices — monitor own performance and that of peers to ensure compliance with established procedures during daily service.
  • Customer inquiries about menu items or dietary needs — address using working knowledge of food production basics and customer service skills in a nonrestaurant context.
  • ERP or database software for meal ordering — use to look up resident dietary records or track food inventory with moderate proficiency during regular duties.
  • Used dishes and service ware — collect, stack, and return systematically after each meal period to maintain efficient kitchen workflow with limited supervision.

Some details on this page are auto-populated from public workforce data sources: O*NET (opens in new tab), BLS (opens in new tab), College Scorecard (opens in new tab), DOL Training Provider Results (opens in new tab), NSX (opens in new tab). Provided in partnership with LER.me Career Intelligence.

Student Outcomes

Performance metrics for this program

Auto-populated·from Scorecard + DOL
Completion Rate
88%
Placement Rate
42%