Certified Association Executive (CAE) Information

The Certified Association Executive (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.

CLICK HERE to learn about CAE Exam Study Groups.

CAE Eligibility Requirements

Meet work experience, bachelor’s degree, and professional development criteria
Commit to upholding the ASAE Standards of Conduct
Pay an application fee ($500 for ASAE members; $750 for non-members)

Preparing for and Taking the Exam

Once you fulfill the prerequisites and intend to sit for the exam within the next 12 months, submit your completed application
Review the list of core resources and the CAE exam content outline
Purchase the CAE Study Guide (2020 Edition) - currently on backorder
Key Concepts Flashcards - available through Michigan SAE (purchase) and Quizlet (free)
12 Steps for Thinking Through Exam Questions

Application Deadlines

The deadline for the May 2022 exam is Friday, February 25, 2022.

VSAE Resources

VSAE is a CAE Approved Provider. Every program which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of eligible CAE credits and we maintain records of your registration in accord with CAE policies.

Opportunities to Earn CAE Hours:

Annual Conference, AMC Retreat, CEO & Senior Staff Retreat, Meeting Planning Summit, and Fall Conference
Monthly seminars (both in-person and virtual)
Special Interest Group (SIG) programs (members only)
Online learning - monthly webinars through VSAE’s partnership with SeminarWeb
CAE Study Group

CAE Study Group

VSAE offers a structured Study Group in the winter/spring (for May exam) and fall (for December exam). Each of nine sessions is led by an experienced CAE.
Members may participate for free; non-members pay $150.

CLICK HERE for more information about current or upcoming Study Groups.

CAE Renewal

CAE's due to renew in 2021 must renew by December 31. The online CAE renewal portal automatically syncs with ASAE’s AMS, making the process easier. Those renewing are required to fulfill one of their 40 credits with an ethics-focused credit.

Tracking Your CAE Credit Hours

VSAE members can view and print a record of CAE-eligible events that they have attended from January 2020 to present. To access your registration record, follow these steps:

Log in at vsae.org.
Click on the "Mbr Center-My VSAE" blue menu tab.
Click on "CEU Tracking".
Your current CAE credit hours will appear. You can filter by date range, category, etc.
In the upper right corner is a button to Export a pdf.

If you need information prior to January 2020, a record of all events for which you have registered since 2015 is in your profile under "Submissions". You are responsible for verifying that you attended these events. Please allow 1-2 weeks after an event for CEU credits to be processed.

For non-members, VSAE also produces a yearly checklist of all events that qualify for CAE credit. Print a copy of the checklist and mark those events you attended to calculate your CAE hours for application or renewal.