CAE Orientation

So You Want to Be a

Certified Association Executive

Welcome & Introductions

Presenters:

• Steve Smith, CAEDirector, Business Development & Marketing ServicesAmerican Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Joyce L. Paschall, CMP, CAE Vice President, The Center for Association Growth

Top Reasons Why People Earn the CAE

1. Professional development – career planning

2. Dedication to association management as a career

3. Belief in the profession

4. Self-fulfillment

Benefits of having your CAE

1. Expanded knowledge: gain in-depth insights into every aspect of association management.

2. National professional recognition: peers, staff, and volunteer leaders all value the CAE designation.

3. Extensive peer-level communication: increase networking opportunities as a result of participating in study groups and CAE only events.

What is CAE?

• Certified Association Executive. Just like a CPA for accountants, CAE is the association profession's recognized certification designation.

• It’s a process of accumulating substantial experience and demonstrating a commitment to the association profession over time.

CAE eligibility requirements:

• If you are a chief executive officer with at least three years of experience as CEO and a bachelor's degree or higher, or CEOs with five years of experience without a degree.

• If you are an association staff member with at least five years of experience and a bachelor's degree or higher or seven years of experience without a degree.

CAE eligibility requirements:

• You must be an employee of a trade association, professional society, individual membership organization, philanthropic organization, or association management company.

• 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.

The following categories areNot Eligible for the CAE

• Suppliers

• Vendors

• Consultants

How Many CAE’s Are There?

• 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

Who Administers the CAE Program?

• ASAE administers the examination under the direction of an 11-member CAE Commission, which provides the credential.

• All applications are sent to and processed by ASAE.

The Steps To Achieve The CAE1. You can print out your application online at

http://info.asaenet.org/pdf/CAE_application.pdf

2. Attend an orientation session conducted by the Association Forum's CAE working group.

3. File the application form and appropriate fees.

4. Register for an Association Forum study group (most candidates go through the study group process).

The Steps To Achieve The CAE

5. Order the ASAE reference materials.

6. Read the materials, attend study groups, and prepare for the exam.

7. Take the CAE exam.

8. Celebrate your accomplishment! Pass or fail, you

are richer.

The Application Form

• Documents your professional and educational background.

• 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.

The Application Form• You will remain eligible to sit for the exam for three

years after your application has been accepted.

• If you are unsuccessful on the CAE exam, you may re-take the exam until your eligibility expires.

• Within 6-8 weeks of submitting the application, you will be notified of eligibility.

The Application Form

How long to complete?

• Anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

• It is up to you to remember and record your achievements; The Forum doesn’t do it for you.

How Much Does It Cost?

• Application fee of $500 for ASAE members and $700 for non-ASAE members.

• The CAE study group costs $165 for Forum members and $220 for nonmembers.

• Reference materials can be purchased in a set from MSAE for $400.

How Much Does It Cost?

• Rescheduling/cancellation fee of $25 if you cancel or reschedule with less than two weeks notice before the exam date.

• There is a $250 fee for each re-examination.

Bibliography of references• The CAE Commission’s Authoritative Literature presents

readings for the CAE exam, organized by the ten domains of the CAE exam outline. Most of these resources are available through ASAE's bookstore at special member prices. Several resources contain information applicable to more than one domain, and thus appear more than once in the Authoritative Literature. Where possible, specific chapters have been noted to provide further direction as to the sections applicable to that specific domain.

• The Authoritative Literature provides a concise yet detailed guide to informative association management books in key knowledge areas. It serves as a valuable tool for all association professionals, especially those preparing for the CAE.

Bibliography of References

• References are available through ASAE & the Center’s Web site http://www.asaecenter.org/

• Remember!!– The study aides are designed to help

candidates gain an understanding of the topics covered in the exam. The specific questions, however, are not derived from the reading material. – In other words, the answers aren’t necessarily in the references!

 Forum’s Study Group• CAE Working Group plans study groups for both

the fall and spring exams. Study group locations are based on the number of candidates and geographic location.

What's the format?• Informal, interactive discussion facilitated by

“graduates” of the CAE program.• Discussion is tailored to build on participants'

existing knowledge base, and focuses on integrating experience and knowledge.

How Much Time Does It Take?

• Groups meet 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. once a week for seven weeks.

• How much time you spend preparing for each study group and the exam will relate to your comfort level with the material for each domain.

About The Exam

• A knowledge-based, paper and pencil examination.– 200 multiple-choice questions.

– Questions were written by CAEs under the direction of psychometricians (exam writing experts).

– The content outline is derived from a role delineation study conducted by ASAE & the Center that forms the body of knowledge for the association management profession.

• Four hours or less to complete.

When Will I Know If I Passed?

• All candidates notified in writing within eight weeks.

• Exams are computer graded.

• Successful candidates receive notification of their passing status only.

• No results are reported over the telephone.

What If I Don’t Make It?

• Unsuccessful candidates receive a summary report.

• Unsuccessful candidates may file a written petition to the CAE appeals committee.

• Although a candidate may only take the exam once in a calendar year, there is no limit on the number of times candidates may take the examination.

When Is The Exam?

• The next exams are scheduled:– December 2, 2005

• Deadline to apply: September 9, 2005

• Late deadline: October 7, 2005 ($100 additional)

– May 5, 2006

• Deadline to apply: February 3, 2006

• Late deadline: March 3, 2006 ($100 additional)

How Is The Examination Scored?

• A pre-determined standard of knowledge set by a criterion-referenced methodology (similar to setting par in golf).

• There is no curve and candidates do not compete against each other.

• There is no limit on the number of candidates who may pass or fail the exam.

CAE Recognition

• Successful candidates are recognized at ASAE & the Center’s next national educational event.

• By Association Forum in the FORUM magazine and on Forum’s Web site.

• All successful candidates receive a CAE pin as a gift from the Forum, and are honored at a Forum reception at ASAE & the Center’s Annual Meeting.

Certification Renewal

• Must accumulate 40 points of continuing education, professional development or

30 points of continuing education and 10 points in other areas--such as

leadership, instruction, or writing.• Every three years. • Must complete CAE renewal report

form.

What Does Renewal Cost?

• $185 for members and $265 for nonmembers.

• Must be paid when the renewal report form is submitted.

For More Information

• On Forum’s CAE study groups contact Julie Sullivan Assistant Director of Membership, Association Forum of Chicagoland 312-924-7042 (direct) or get more info on the Forum’s Web site at www.associationforum.org

• For general information on the CAE program, access ASAE’s Web site at http://www.asaecenter.org/YourCareer/contentcae.cfm?ItemNumber=16097&navItemNumber=14985

CAE Orientation

Thank you for attending!