Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE): Certification Guide for Events Professionals

From Riyadh Season programming to the Kingdom’s growing calendar of cultural festivals and public celebrations, Saudi Arabia’s festival and large-scale public event sector has expanded quickly — and with it the need for senior leaders who can prove they can run one end to end: sponsorship, budget, risk, marketing, and a full production team. CFEE certification — Certified Festival & Event Executive — is built specifically for that level of responsibility. It is issued by the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA), a US-based association headquartered in Boise, Idaho that has represented festival and event professionals globally since the 1950s, with the CFEE program itself dating back to 1983 and currently sponsored by Kaliff Insurance.

Who It’s For / Why It Matters

Unlike entry-level event credentials, CFEE is explicitly built for experienced festival and event executives — IFEA requires five years of paid, full-time, festival or event-related industry experience at a professional level before certification can be awarded, and candidates must remain currently employed in the industry throughout the process. It suits directors, producers, and senior managers responsible for the full scope of a festival or large public event: sponsorship and revenue, operations and risk, marketing and media relations, and administration. IFEA frames the credential around establishing professional credibility, standing out in a competitive job market, and connecting with a global peer network of festival and event leaders, rather than around passing a single exam.

Eligibility Requirements

To be awarded the CFEE designation, IFEA requires that an applicant:

• Be enrolled in the CFEE program and have completed all program requirements
• Have five years of paid, full-time festival or event-related industry experience at a professional level
• Be currently employed in the festival and events industry
• Be an active IFEA member in good standing before the CFEE designation is awarded

All program components below — apart from the five-year experience requirement, which is a standing prerequisite — must be completed within three years of initial enrollment.

Exam Format & Process

CFEE has no single multiple-choice exam. Instead, IFEA assesses candidates through a structured set of program requirements that combine formal coursework with applied, real-world output:

• Core education (6 required classes): Non-Sponsorship Revenue, Project Management, Operations/Risk Management, Marketing & Media Relations, Administration & Management, and Sponsorship/Sponsor Service — offered individually or as a bundled FastTrack track, at IFEA’s Annual Convention or through the two-year IFEA/NRPA Event Management School at Oglebay.
• Electives: four additional elective educational courses completed through the IFEA Annual Convention or live attendance at IFEA Webinar presentations.
• Convention attendance: a minimum of two IFEA Annual Conventions or affiliate conferences, or a combination of live virtual attendance at 20 IFEA Webinars or Virtual Affinity Groups.
• Publication: at least one publishable article of no less than 1,800 words for IFEA’s “ie” magazine.
• Speaking presentation: a formal speaking presentation at an approved IFEA Webinar (IFEA’s preferred option), Annual Convention, Seminar, or affiliate conference.
• Final assessment: two case studies demonstrating how the applicant has applied core-class knowledge in the actual performance of their job.

IFEA maintains a strict originality policy for the written components: the required article and both case studies must be entirely the candidate’s own writing, reflecting their own research, experience, and voice. AI tools may be used only for limited proofreading — spelling, grammar, and minor clarity edits — and may not be used to draft, paraphrase, or generate any content. Upon completing every component, candidates submit a completion checklist along with the CFEE Certification Final Fee, and the designation is formally recognized at the nearest IFEA Annual Convention following completion.

Cost

CFEE pricing is modular and layered across enrollment, coursework, IFEA membership, and a final certification fee, all in USD:

• Enrollment fee (paid upon enrolling): $210 for IFEA members, $540 for non-members
• Core class fee: $205 per class for members ($410 non-members), or $625 for the FastTrack bundle covering all six core classes ($1,295 non-members); alternatively, the two-year IFEA/NRPA Event Management School at Oglebay runs approximately $2,028–$2,607 for members ($2,328–$2,907 non-members), all-inclusive
• Educational credit (covers electives and convention attendance): achieved via two IFEA Annual Conventions, 20 live webinars/Virtual Affinity Group sessions, or a mix of one convention plus 10 webinars. Convention registration runs $795–$995 for members ($1,095–$1,295 non-members) per convention depending on registration timing; webinar credit packages run $210 for 10 credits or $420 for 20 credits (members), and $420/$840 for non-members
• IFEA membership (must be active and in good standing to receive CFEE designation): organizational dues range from $375/year (budgets under $50,000) up to $2,505/year (budgets over $3 million), based on the applicant’s organization’s annual budget tier
• CFEE Certification Final Fee: $260 for members (a current IFEA membership is required to complete certification)

All figures above reflect official IFEA pricing published on ifea.com as of August 2026 and are subject to change — always verify current fees on the official CFEE certification page before enrolling.

Validity & Renewal

CFEE recertification has been required every five years since 2003, with no separate recertification fee beyond the cost of any conventions or courses attended to meet the requirements. To recertify, a CFEE holder must: show recorded proof of continued active professional employment in a directly related industry position; remain an IFEA member in good standing; have attended at least two IFEA Annual Conventions or affiliate chapter conferences within the three years prior to recertification; and complete at least one CFEE Core Curriculum class or three IFEA Webinars within the five years prior to recertification (publishing an article in IFEA’s “ie” magazine can substitute for one core class, subject to advance approval). Upon reaching age 55, or upon retirement from the industry, a CFEE holder is considered certified for life, with no further courses or recertification required.

How to Register

Enrollment runs directly through IFEA’s CFEE registration pages, with separate paths for current IFEA members and non-members. Questions about the program go to Cindy Lerick, CFEE Program Coordinator; registration questions go to Kaye Campbell, CFEE, Director of Finance.

Register (IFEA Members): https://www.ifea.com/p/education/cfeecertification/cfee-registration-m
Register (Non-Members): https://www.ifea.com/p/education/cfeecertification/cfee-registration-nm

Sources & Further Reading

• CFEE Certification overview — IFEA
• CFEE Recertification requirements — IFEA
• CFEE FAQs — IFEA
• Upcoming CFEE Core Classes — IFEA

Certification details reflect information published by IFEA as of August 2026 and are subject to change — always confirm current requirements and pricing at ifea.com before applying.