How to Make Event Accreditation: Complete Guide
Making accreditation for an event means defining the type of accreditation based on each attendee’s role, choosing the format (physical or digital), designing what information it should contain, and setting up how access will be validated on the day of the event. Its purpose is to identify personnel, ensure security, and control access to the event.
What Is Event Accreditation?
Event accreditation is the physical or digital credential that identifies each person at an event and determines which areas or sessions they can access. It can be issued to speakers, staff, press, VIP guests, or the general public, and it lets organizers keep track of who’s on-site at any given moment.
What Are the Types of Event Accreditation?
Accreditation varies depending on each person’s role and access level. The most common types are accreditation for general participants or attendees, VIP or special guest accreditation, press accreditation, organizer or staff accreditation, and exhibitor or vendor accreditation for trade fairs.
As for the physical format, accreditation can come as a wristband, card, or badge, and can incorporate technology such as QR codes or NFC.
Steps to Create Accreditation for Your Event
1. Define the Size and Types of Accreditation You Need
Before designing anything, work out how many attendees you’re expecting and which roles you need to accredit (staff, press, VIP, general public). This determines how many different types of accreditation you need and what access level each one gets.
2. Design the Information and Format
A professional accreditation should include, at minimum, the attendee’s name, their role or category within the event, and a QR or barcode for validation. The design should follow the event’s visual identity: legible fonts, brand colors, and a clearly visible logo.
3. Choose the Validation Technology
QR codes and NFC are now the standard for managing digital accreditation. They allow access to be validated in seconds, capacity to be tracked in real time, and duplicates or fraudulent access to be prevented without needing extra staff at every checkpoint.
4. Manage Distribution and Printing
You can choose to send digital accreditation by email ahead of the event, or print it on-site on the day itself. The digital option speeds up the process and cuts down on lines at the entrance.
5. Validate Access on the Day of the Event
Using a QR or NFC reader, staff can validate each piece of accreditation instantly. The system should log the entry time and automatically flag if a piece of accreditation has already been used or isn’t valid.
What Should Professional Accreditation Include?
Well-designed accreditation should contain:
- The attendee’s full name
- Category or role (speaker, staff, press, guest, exhibitor)
- A QR or barcode for access validation
- Event logo and visual identity elements
- Access level or authorized zones, if the event has restricted areas
Frequently Asked Questions About Event Accreditation
What Are the 3 Types of Accreditation?
While there are several categories, the three most common are: general attendee accreditation (access to common areas), staff or organizer accreditation (access to all areas needed to do their job), and press accreditation (access to specific areas for covering the event).
What Is Event Accreditation?
It’s the credential that identifies each person at an event and determines their access level. It can be a card, wristband, or digital credential with a QR code.
How Is Accreditation Made?
The type of accreditation is defined based on the attendee’s role, it’s designed with the necessary information (name, role, QR code), and access is validated on the day of the event using a QR, NFC, or barcode reader.
What Do You Need for Accreditation?
At minimum, the attendee’s details (name and role), a design system or template, and a validation technology such as QR code, NFC, or barcode to manage access quickly and securely.
