Association Credentials: CAE, CEM, and CMP.

Many Association Academy courses are eligible for credit toward the three major credentials in the association and events industry: the CAE, the CEM, and the CMP.

Check your credits. Your Academy transcript details the credits you have earned that are eligible for each certification.

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Certificate, credential, or certification?

These terms get used interchangeably, but they mean different things.

Certificate Proof you completed a defined course of study. No exam gate, and it does not expire. This is what Association Academy issues for each course.

Certification Earned by meeting eligibility requirements and passing an exam. It expires unless you renew it with continuing education. The CAE and CMP work this way.

Credential The umbrella term for any verified marker of professional standing, including certifications and designations. The CEM is formally a designation, earned by completing a required course series.

Why hold a credential?

A credential signals verified expertise to employers, boards, and clients. The pay difference is measurable: in PCMA’s 2025 salary survey, meeting professionals holding the CMP averaged $132,370, compared with $117,780 for those without it — a premium of roughly 12 percent. Beyond salary, credential holders stand out in hiring and promotion decisions, and renewal requirements keep their knowledge current across a career.

Side-by-side comparison

	CAE	CEM	CMP
Issuer	ASAE — American Society of Association Executives	IAEE — International Association of Exhibitions and Events	EIC — Events Industry Council
Learn More	CAE Certification at ASAE	CEM Learning Program at IAEE	CMP Program at EIC
Who typically earns it	Association executives, CEOs, and senior staff	Exhibition and trade show organizers	Meeting and event planners
Exam period	Twice a year — two-week windows in May and December	Year-round — each course has its own exam, taken within 90 days of the course	Year-round — remote proctoring or in-person test centers
Application fee	$500 members / $750 nonmembers (exam included)	$100 members / $125 nonmembers, plus per-course fees ($299–$605 per course)	$375 application (non-refundable) + $535 exam fee (non-refundable)
Application requirements	Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 5 years of association staff experience, or 1 year as a chief staff executive 100 hours of professional development in the past 5 years Pass the CAE exam	3 years of full-time industry experience Complete 9 of 12 CEM courses within 3 years Pass each course exam within 90 days of the course	Professional experience in the events industry 25 hours of continuing education in the past 5 years Pass the CMP exam
Renewal fee	$275–$350 members / $425–$500 nonmembers	$150	From $325
Renewal requirements	40 credits every 3 years Including 1 ethics credit	15 credit hours every 3 years	25 continuing education hours every 5 years

Preparing for the exam

The three credentials take different paths to the finish line, so prepare accordingly.

CAE: study groups are the norm

Widely considered the most demanding of the three — scenario-based questions spanning eight domains of association management, with roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of candidates passing. ASAE exam prep courses ASAE practice exam Many state societies of association executives also host structured study courses each cycle.

CEM: one course at a time

No single comprehensive exam. Each of the nine courses carries its own exam, taken within 90 days of the course, so preparation is a matter of keeping current with each course as you go.

CMP: manual and standards

The exam draws on the EIC Manual and the CMP International Standards. MPI chapter study groups PCMA online CMP prep

What you can do with each

CAE

The standard for association leadership. It is the credential boards look for when hiring CEOs and senior staff, and many association job postings list it as preferred or required.

CEM

The global standard in exposition and event management. It marks you as a specialist in producing trade shows and exhibitions, recognized across the industry worldwide.

CMP

The most widely held credential in the meetings industry. It opens doors across corporate, association, and independent planning roles, and is frequently required in senior planner job postings.

Start earning credits from the Association Academy

Every Association Academy course lists the credits it carries. Browse the course catalog, then request your transcript to see where you stand. Browse Courses Request Your Transcript

Fees and requirements as of August 2026. Confirm current details with each issuing organization.