The CAE Registered Provider program was established in response to requests from CAE candidates for a clearer system to identify courses that qualify for CAE credit, as well as requests from course providers seeking a way to identify their program as eligible for CAE credit. The specific aspects of the program were designed with full consideration of National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs, and modeled after similar programs offered by other NCCA Accredited credentialing programs. 

By submitting this application, your organization pledges to provide training that meets or exceeds the CAE Program standards for CAE credit and agrees to accurately communicate course eligibility for credit. In addition, CAE Registered Providers must maintain the necessary records to support the use of coursework toward CAE applications and pay an annual fee to the CAE Program. 

Guidelines on what qualifies for CAE credits and how to properly represent the CAE eligibility of their courses are stated below. In addition, CAE Registered Providers receive the CAE Exam Content Outline and listing of the CAE Core Resources to help ensure that the provider is aware of the content of the examination, and the basis for the positions tested on the exam. 

CAE Credit Eligibility Criteria for Registered Providers 

To be eligible for CAE credit, courses must be directly related to association or nonprofit management topics as defined by the CAE Exam Content Outline. 

• Live/Synchronous courses (including face-to-face, audio/videoconference, and instructor-led online delivery) earn CAE credit for actual clock time of qualifying education including partial hours, up to a maximum of 8 CAE credits per day.  Example: 1½ hours of qualifying education equals 1.5 CAE credits. 
• College or university courses taken for academic credit at a U.S.-accredited academic institution earn 15 hours per earned semester credit, 14 hours per earned trimester credit, and 10 hours per earned quarter credit (e.g., a three-credit semester course earns 45 CAE hours). 
• Self-Study/A-synchronous: A non-live program used for individual, self-paced study may be recognized for CAE credits if it meets all of the following criteria:
  • The program must be suitably recent, as defined by the oldest reference included in the CAE Core Resources. 
  • The program must have clearly identified learning objectives linked to the CAE Exam Content Outline. 
  • It must include an interactive component such as quizzes, post-tests, or other learning assessment exercises or activities by which participants apply and demonstrate comprehension of the covered content areas. 
  • The program must meet recognized standards for effective self-study programs.
  • Proof of completion (i.e. a certificate of completion) must be submitted by the applicant/certificant with the exam or renewal application. Self-study credits may only account for one-half of any applicant’s education hours. To offer CAE credits for a self-study program, the program description must be submitted for review by ASAE credentialing staff with a $195 fee per course.   

Approval or denial of CAE credit for self-study programs is the sole discretion of the CAE Program, and may not be appealed.   

Of the 40 credits required for renewal, one credit must be focused on ethics. To meet the ethics requirement, courses should meet the criteria for CAE credit and be focused on ethics indicated by the title and description of the course, and add up to at least 1 CAE credit. 

The following are not eligible to earn CAE credit:

• Expo hall hours 
• Industry-specific programs (not general association management;  courses specific to the industry/profession an association represents) 
• Networking receptions 
• Breaks between educational sessions 
• Product-specific promotional courses or training

Determination of CAE credit eligibility does not imply endorsement, accreditation, or assessment of education quality.