Please contact Allison Kelley at RWA (Romance Writers of America) for more information on the Houston area CAE Study Group.
Certified Association Executive Program (CAE)
A voluntary certification effort founded in 1960, the Certified Association Executive program is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and designate those who demonstrate knowledge essential to the practice of association management.
The CAE designation is your key to enhanced professional stature.
The CAE program is periodically updated to reflect the growth and changes in the practice of association management. Beginning in Fall 2003, the CAE program undertook a comprehensive study to identify the knowledge essential to successful association management. For an overview of this study, click here . The findings of this study will be used to structure the CAE examination beginning in May 2005.
To see the new CAE Exam Content Outline, click here .
The facts
- 21.5 percent of all eligible ASAE members hold the CAE designation
- Approximately 3,000 association executives are CAEs
- 56 percent of all CAEs are chief executive officers
The benefits
If you have made a commitment to make association management your career, you should consider obtaining your CAE. You'll enjoy these important benefits:
- Expanded knowledge. Gain in-depth insights into every aspect of association management.
- National professional recognition. Peers, staff, and volunteer leaders all value the CAE designation.
- Extensive peer-level communication. Increase networking opportunities as a result of participating in study groups and CAE events.
The value
"Obtaining the CAE designation was the most important step I took to grow and commit to the association management profession. Those (who) invest in themselves through the CAE program understand and embrace the need for continuous improvement through education to enhance their opportunity for professional success." Ralph J. Nappi, CAE , Past Chairman, American Machine Tool Distributors Association, Rockville, Maryland
CAE Eligibility Requirements
If the following statements describe you, then you should make attaining the Certified Association Executive designation your goal.
- You are currently employed (effective June 1st - or recent employment within the last seven years) in a trade association, professional society, individual membership organization, philanthropic organization or association management company
- You are a chief executive officer and have three years of experience as CEO and a bachelor's degree or higher, or you have five years of experience without a degree.
OR
You are working at the staff level in association management and have five years of experience and a bachelor's degree or higher, or you have seven years of experience without a degree.
- You must pledge to adhere to the ASAE code of conduct and have no felony convictions.
- You have made the decision to make association management your career, and you are willing to commit yourself to career-long professional development.
Those who are or would be classified as an association executive or staff specialist are eligible for the CAE credential. Those who are or would be classified as a supplier, vendor, or consultant are not eligible for the CAE credential.
Continuing Education/Professional Development Application Requirements
Completion of 75 hours of broad-based, association management-related continuing education/professional development within the last five years . This education must be directly related to nonprofit management. It should not be industry-specific, or required for candidate's particular position within their organization. The hourly credits are listed below.
Conferences, Workshops, Seminars, or Courses
Continuing education programs offered by ASAE or its allied societies, or other associations and private providers offering practical programs directly related to association or nonprofit management are all acceptable. Delivery may be by face-to-face, audio conference (with or without web casting), or online (a)synchronous.
Video or audio tapes of conferences, workshops, seminars, or courses are approved provided they include the reactive discussion that occurred at the activity, and all hand-outs distributed at the activity are made available to the learner
Hours Approved:
- 1 hour for each clock hour, up to a maximum of 3 hours for each half-day program or 6 hours for each full day program.
Other Approved Credit:
- Credit hours are given for participation in the Institute for Organization Management offered by the U.S. Chamber of the Chamber of Commerce.
- Credit hours are given for participation in the ASAE Annual Meeting or Winter Conference for the number of days/half days attended
- Credit hours are given for participation in Allied Societies Education Programs or Conference
Documentation Required if Audited:
- Copy of the program brochure listing topics and agenda (including time spent on continuing education versus meals, breaks, etc.)
Academic Coursework
Course taken for credit (on association or nonprofit management) at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university, regardless of the delivery (e.g., face-to-face, independent study/correspondence, online).
Hours Approved:
- 15 hours per earned semester credit
- 14 hours per earned trimester credit
- 10 hours per earned quarter credit
Examples:
A 3-credit semester course would earn 45 hours.
A 2-credit quarter course would earn 20 hours.
Documentation Required if Audited:
- Copy of an official transcript and a course description
Learning Group
Preplanned group learning activities of in-depth study of specific topics(s) related to association management that include a minimum of three participants and provide for group interaction.
Hours Approved:
- 1 hour for each clock hour, up to a maximum of 20 hours for CAE application
Exclusions:
- Learning groups with all participants from the same employing organization are not approved for hours.
Documentation Required if Audited:
- Correspondence identifying group participants, meeting dates, agendas, topics discussed, and name/contact information of group organizer.
Self-Study Programs
Educational materials used for individual, self-paced study. Examples include asynchronous courses, print-based publications, and any combinations of these media.
Hours Approved
- 1 hour for each clock hour, up to a maximum of 20 hours for CAE initial application.
- The hours approved will be determined by peer reviewers of the individual programs.
Exclusions:
- All self-study programs must have prior approval by the CAE Commission. The Commission will include a listing of programs as they are approved on the CAE section of the ASAE web site and in CAE literature.
- Video or audiotapes of previously held conference, workshops, seminars or courses are approved under the category of Conferences, Workshops, Seminars, or Courses and do not need to be pre-approved.
Documentation Required if Audited:
- Proof of purchase and/or completion by self-study provider (receipt, test scores, etc.)
