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Certified Association Executive (CAE)

The CAE program is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and designate association professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of association management. Founded in 1960, the CAE program stands as a mark of excellence and has evolved to reflect what it takes to manage an association in today's challenging climate.

Getting the CAE isn't simply a one time thing, but an ongoing commitment to professional growth. Professionals hold the designation pledge to continually advance their knowledge and achieve higher levels of excellence in association management.

  • The CAE program is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and designate association professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of association management.
  • CAEs must also actively advance, support, and promote association membership and the association profession as a whole.

Benefits to obtaining your CAE

  • 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.

CAE resources

Here are some other helpful resources on your CAE journey:

Michigan CAE Prep Course - Member Discount

Associations North partners with Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) to offer three highly regarded CAE prep courses. MSAE’s CAE Prep Programs are designed to help candidates prepare confidently and efficiently - and they deliver results with pass rates of 80-85%! These courses offer a process-based approach that incorporates study guides, reading comprehension questions, flashcards and practice tests.

Associations North members receive a Member Discount. Use code: ASN-CAE to save!

If you are interested in a CAE study group or to be connected with others studying for the exam, contact Associations North. Additional independent study tools can be found here. 

In order to sit for the exam, you must:

  • Be currently employed - or have been employed with in the last seven years - by a trade association, professional society, individual membership organization, philanthropic organization or association management company.
  • Be either a chief executive officer with three years of experience as CEO and a bachelor's degree - or five years of experience without a degree - or be working at the staff level in association management with five years of experience and a bachelor's degree - or seven years of experience with out a degree.
  • Have made the decision to make association management your career.
  • Be willing to commit yourself to career-long professional development.
  • Have completed 100 hours of broad-based association management-related professional development activities within the five years preceding your application. Within those 100 hours, no more than 20 can be from any one domain topic.

Those who are or would be classified as an association professional 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.

Accumulating 100 hours to sit for the CAE exam can be challenging for some. A generally rule of thumb is that one hour of education equals one credit. Associations North tracks your education in your member profile and offers several online CAE bundles, complimentary Meetup Groups and educational programs to earn additional credit. Please note, some outside/master's classes and prep courses (taken before application deadline) can be applied towards the CAE application.

Is Associations North a CAE Approved Provider?

Yes, Associations North is a CAE Approved Provider. Every program that we offer which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation, and we will maintain records of your participation in accord with CAE policies.

Note: Associations North programs are not endorsed, accredited, or affiliated with ASAE or the CAE program. Applicants may use any program that meets eligibility requirements in the specific time frame towards the exam application or renewal. There are no specific individual courses required as part of the applications – selection of eligible education is up to the applicant based on his/her needs.

Here is a guide to Associations North program hours:

Program
 CAE Hours
 CEOSync 1 Hour
LeadershipSync 2 Hours
 MeetingSync 1 Hour
Webinars 1 Hour
Other Meetings / Symposiums / Conferences    1-7 Hours


All upcoming programs are listed on the Calendar of Events. If you have any questions regarding education hours from Associations North, please contact us.

The CAE exam is a knowledge-based exam consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions. Questions were written by CAEs under the direction of exam-writing experts called psychometricians. The content outline is derived from a role delineation study conducted by ASAE that forms the body of knowledge for the association management profession.

12 steps for thinking through a CAE exam question infographic.

In 2020, ASAE moved to computer-based administration and the exam is administered through Scantron. Candidates have a two-week window to take the exam at one of Scantron’s testing sites throughout the U.S. and internationally. Take a Scantron practice test.

Candidates will not receive results immediately after completing the exam at a testing center. After the test, the questions are analyzed statistically to identify if there are any hidden flaws. Questions that appear to be flawed are reviewed by the CAE Examination Committee to determine how that question should be scored. After these issues are resolved, the test is scored and results are finalized. With this careful process, candidates are sent results approximately six weeks after the exam testing window closes.

How long does the exam take to complete?

The exam is administered in a single four-hour time frame.

How is the exam scored?

The passing standard is a pre-determined standard of knowledge set by criterion-referenced methodology - similar to setting par in golf - using the combined judgments of the Examination Committee and resulting in a recommendation to the CAE Commission for final review. There is no curve and candidates do not compete against each other. There is no limit on the number of candidates who pass or fail the exam.

When will I know if I passed?

All candidates will be notified in writing of their examination results within six weeks of taking the exam. Unsuccessful candidates will receive a summary report that lists potential and actual points. Successful candidates receive notification of their passing status only. No results are reported over the telephone.

What if I don't pass?

Unsuccessful candidates may file a written petition to the CAE appeals committee. Although a candidate may only take the exam once in a given year, there is no limit on the number of times candidates may take the examination.