Earn Your Certified Emcee Professional™ (CEP) Designation
A great emcee does more than introduce speakers and keep an event on schedule.
Professional emcees shape the audience experience, manage energy in the room, navigate the unexpected, connect every part of the program, and help create an event that feels intentional from beginning to end.
The Certified Emcee Professional™ (CEP) designation from the National Speakers Association recognizes professional excellence in event hosting, facilitation, and audience engagement.
2027 CEP applications open November 1, 2026.
What Is the Certified Emcee Professional™ Designation?
A professional emcee plays a critical role in the success of an event.
Beyond introducing speakers and managing the schedule, an experienced emcee helps create audience connection, sustain energy, navigate challenges in real time, maintain program continuity, and shape the culture of the event.
The Certified Emcee Professional™ designation recognizes professionals who demonstrate excellence in these areas while helping establish emceeing as a distinct professional discipline within the meetings and events industry.
The CEP is designed to:
- Recognize professional excellence in event leadership, audience engagement, and facilitation
- Establish standards that support continued professional development
- Increase the credibility and visibility of professional emcees within the meetings and events industry
- Promote ethical standards, professionalism, and accountability
- Strengthen a professional community committed to advancing the emceeing profession
Who Should Apply?
The CEP is designed for experienced professionals whose work includes leading event flow, engaging audiences, and creating continuity throughout meetings, conferences, and live events.
Qualifying professional roles may include:
Emcee • Host • Facilitator • Moderator • Entertainer
Applicants may combine engagements across these roles as long as the work reflects professional leadership of event flow, audience engagement, and program continuity.
Eligibility at a Glance
CEP applicants must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum of 100 professional event engagements serving in qualifying roles completed within the past 3–5 years
- A minimum of five years of professional experience in event hosting, facilitation, or program leadership
- At least $30,000 per year in income derived from emceeing or hosting services in at least three of the past five years
- Participation in NSA programming or equivalent professional development activities
- Attendance at at least one NSA or Global Speakers Federation-equivalent event within the past 10 years
- No ethics violations within the past 10 years and maintenance of professional standing
Applicants should review the 2027 Applicant Handbook and Applicant Requirement Short Form for complete requirements before preparing an application.
The Five E's of a CEP
CEP applicants are evaluated according to five core areas of professional excellence.
Eloquence
Communication mastery, clarity of message, and stage presence.
Enterprise
Business acumen, professional sustainability, and client relationship management.
Ethics
Integrity, inclusion, professionalism, and accountability.
Expertise
Event management, preparation, collaboration with event stakeholders, and adaptability.
Engagement
Audience activation, energy stewardship, and facilitation of meaningful experiences.
Together, the Five E’s reflect the range of skills required to lead dynamic, engaging, and successful event experiences.
Prepare for the 2027 CEP Application
2027 CEP applications open November 1, 2026.
If you are considering applying, you can begin preparing now by reviewing the program requirements and gathering the documentation you will need.
2027 Applicant Resources
2027 Applicant Checklist
Review the materials and documentation you'll need to prepare for your application.
CEP 2027 Oath
Review the professional commitments required of CEP applicants.
Applicant Requirement Short Form 2027
Use the short form to review the primary experience and eligibility requirements for the 2027 application cycle.
Applicant Engagement Spreadsheet 2027
Use this spreadsheet to document your qualifying professional event engagements for your application.
Applicant Handbook 2027
Review the complete CEP eligibility standards, competency framework, application materials, evaluation process, and certification requirements.
Questions?
Contact CEPAdmin@nsaspeaker.org.