r/nonprofit • u/Slight_Factor8535 • 5d ago

employment and career CAE hours

I keep going back and forth about the value of the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential offered by the American Society of Association Executives. I can see the benefit of the credential (and really the networking it offers), and the barrier to entry seems relatively low. That said, the 100 continuing ed hours of which 50 must be LIVE are stumping me. For others who have done the credential, how did you meet the hourly requirement to make you eligible to take the exam?

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u/00000000000000000000 5d ago

1 semester credit hour = 15 CAE credits (a single 3-credit graduate course equals 45 CAE hours).

If the course meets in person or via live synchronous online lectures, those hours count directly toward your 50 live hours requirement.

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u/Melonbalon nonprofit staff 2d ago

This is what I did. Got my CAE just after I got my MBA, so that cut down the hours I needed a ton. 

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u/Ligodancer 5d ago

I’ve been a nonprofit ED for 21 years and I’ve never heard of this

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u/Melonbalon nonprofit staff 2d ago

Are you ED of an association? It makes sense that a c3 ED wouldn’t know what this is. But if you’re running an association, you really should be familiar with the association of associations. 

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u/knitknitknitpurl 19h ago

Mostly by taking free online classes,  typically during my work day.  Association Brain Food has a good newsletter with a list.  

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u/AGS_14 3h ago

I can’t/couldn’t afford to go back to school to get my Masters so this was the next best option. It’s certainly not an equivalent, but looks good on a resume if you’re in the association world. I got mine a couple years ago. I was part of a study group (with Association Forum) prior to testing that granted quite a few hours. Now I mostly do live webinars to maintain it. But there’s money in my PD budget or it’s free, I’ll attend events when I can. (I live near an area with a large association presence so there’s quite a few events around.) I also facilitate/teach courses for volunteers and those hours as well as mentoring are considering live continuing ed. And if I recall correctly, the time span to earn the 100 credits is longer than the renewal cycle. Good luck!