American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

Certified Association Executive (CAE)

Credential: Certified Association Executive (CAE)  NCCA resource
Credentialing Agency: American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification provides candidates with professional experiences in leadership roles or staff related roles, to take on further responsibilities of managing a non-profit organization or association. A CAE has a wide range of knowledge essential to managing an association. CAE candidates must meet academic, experience, and professional development requirements. Candidates must pass a written exam.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Certified Association Executive (CAE)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:    medium

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience: 5 years
  • Education: Bachelors
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

  • In-person exam
  • Remote proctored on-line exam
  • Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

1575 I Street NW
Washington, DC  20005-1168

Phone: (888) 950-2723

Fax: (202) 371-8315
Email: education@asaenet.org

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Candidate must have five years of experience as an employee at the staff level or one year employed as a chief staff executive or C-suite-level at a qualifying organization. 

NOTE: In lieu of employment at a qualifying organization, candidate may have 10 years of paid service as an employee, independent contractor, or consultant with demonstrated professional involvement within the association community by providing services as defined by the CAE exam content outline or five years of service if most of the work experiences are in a qualifying organization.

Candidate must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree or higher, or in lieu of a degree, candidate must have eight additional years of professional work experience.

NOTE: Work experience can be substituted for a degree on a calculated basis. Each year of completed undergraduate studies may be substituted for two years of professional work experience. Internship experience and service as a volunteer is not applicable toward the employment experience requirements.

The Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential has the following other requirements:

  • Candidate must have no felony convictions related to the practice of association management.
  • Candidate must have completed 100 hours of broad-based qualifying professional development within the last five years preceding the application submission.

Written Exam

  • Strategic  Management (16-18%)
    • General Management
    • Identity and Branding
    • Financial Management
    • Globalization
    • Strategic Planning and Thinking
  • Governance and Structure (10-12%)
    • Governance
    • Volunteer Leadership Development
    • Affiliate/Chapter Relations
  • Membership Development (7-9%)
    • Member Engagement
    • Membership Recruitment and Retention
    • Ethics Program
    • Standard-Setting Programs
  • Programs, Products, and Services (9-11%)
    • Development of Programs, Products, and Services
    • Fundraising, Sponsorships, and Development Programs
    • Meetings and Events
    • Certification, Accreditation, and Licensure
    • Affinity Programs
    • Professional Development Programs and Delivery Systems
  • Leadership (16-18%)
    • General Leadership
    • Ethics
    • Diversity
    • Interpersonal Skills and Group Facilitation
    • Negotiating
  • Administration (15-17%)
    • Human Resources
    • Technology
    • Legal and Risk Management
    • Facilities Management
    • Vendor/Supplier Management
    • Business Planning
  • Knowledge Management & Research (2-4%)
    • Knowledge Management
    • Research, Evaluation, and Statistics
  • Public Policy, Government Relations, and Coalition Building (7-9%)
    • Public Policy
    • Government Relations
    • Coalition Building
  • Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications (6-8%)
    • Marketing
    • Public Relations Programs
    • Publications, Media & Messages

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Association Executive (CAE) examination:

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

  • Exam Administration

    Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential where checked:

    • In-person exam
    • Remote proctored on-line exam
    • Third-party test vendor

  • For more information on the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Certified Association Executive (CAE)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential has the following recertification information:

  • The CAE certification must be renewed every three years. CAE certification holders must have completed a minimum of 40 credits of association management related professional development, or a minimum of 30 credits of association management development plus 10 credits of qualifying leadership, authorship, and teaching activities contributing to the profession. Of the 40 credits required, one credit must be focused on ethics.

    CAE certification holders must also pay a renewal fee and adhere to the ASAE Standard of Conduct.

    Additional information on CAE recertification can be found on the ASAE website.
  • Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current year, no arrears will be paid. Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored CareerOneStop's analysis indicates the certification is frequently mentioned in online job postings.

Click for external link to CareerOneStop's Credentials Center.

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

CA Eligible

This certification is eligible for CA.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click Menu at the top of any page, then click "2 Complete Voucher and Apply" under Credentialing Steps.

CG Bucks

Current Coast Guard policy states all credentials listed on CG COOL may be reimbursed assuming the enlisted service member meets the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program Policy (COMDTINST 1540.1(series))

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 through E9

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 through E9

Early Career

1-6 years experience; Officer O1 through O2

Mid Career

6-12 years experience; Officer O3 through O5

Late Career

12+ years experience; Officer O6 and Above

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click to go to the external link for GI Bill licensing and certification information.

ANAB (ANSI)

This credential has been accredited by ANAB (ANSI).

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ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC.

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ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC.

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NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA.

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IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS.

Click to go to the external IAS web site.

Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: minimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
Functional Area
Branch

Army e-learning

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NKO e-learning

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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Registered Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Go to the Apprenticeship Finder and enter career path or location to find apprenticeship opportunities.

Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Chief Executives
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Chief Executives

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for Chief Executives

Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - General and Operations Managers
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for General and Operations Managers

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for General and Operations Managers

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Updated: February 26, 2021
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