Certified Association Executive

The Certified Association Executive (CAE) is a professional certification for association executives. Two separate and unconnected certifications with this name are offered - a U.S. certification sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and a Canadian certification sponsored by Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE). Association management professionals must meet certain educational and experience requirements and pass an examination before either designation is awarded.

The CAE certification was introduced in 1960. It began as an essay exam, but eventually a psychometrically valid multiple-choice exam replaced it. In 2003, the CAE exam underwent a massive reorganization to align the concepts more closely with actual issues faced by association executives. The CAE program was accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies in 2010.

In order to become eligible to sit for the CAE exam, a professional must satisfy educational and experience requirements. At the time they apply to take the exam, an applicant must be employed by a nonprofit organization - a trade association, professional society, individual membership organization, philanthropic organization, tribal organization - or an association management company. Applicants must have 100 hours of professional education related to association management in the preceding five years. Applicants must also have either three years' experience as a chief staff officer or five years in an association staff role. A bachelor's degree or higher is required or, in lieu of a degree, eight additional years of professional work experience. Applicants must agree to abide by ASAE policies. Recertification and continuing education are required to maintain the designation.

The CAE exam is a psychometrically valid 200-item multiple choice test that must be completed in four hours. The content of the exam is divided into nine domains (the percentage of questions on the exam from each of the domains is in parentheses):

The Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) has certified not-for-profit leaders in the practice of association management in Canada since 1972. The designation is conferred to candidates who demonstrate mastery of the not-for-profit management competencies, whether by completing the CAE courses and professional examination or by Prior Learning Assessment Review.

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