studied and passed the Certified Association Executive examination. Preparation was very straightforward. I learned some tricks along the way.

The American Society of Association Executives administers an accreditation and designation called the 'Certified Association Executive' (CAE). Only 5% of association professionals have pursued taking the exam, and you must have worked in the industry for a minimum of three years, plus completed around 50+ hours of development education prior to taking the exam. Since I'm not officially an Executive Director or EVP, the minimum for me was five years. I had some development hours, but mostly used my Masters coursework from WVU.

It was one of my goals this year to prepare and pass the test. I found out this week I passed. For what it's worth, I can now put the 'CAE' letters behind my name. That and 25 cents....

Here's what I came away with in taking the exam for others considering it:

The Material - Don't sweat the legal stuff as much. The Professional Practices book delves into all you need to know about that area. Also, of the three texts they recommend, principles and practices are by far the most important. Read them. It worked for me. Supposedly the authoritative literature is changing; if you are a specialist, you should have an idea on your area that atleast check off off learning segment.

The Tricks - Read Ben Martin's 13 Tips (http://caeexam.blogspot.com/2005/03/13-tips-to-help-you-pass-cae-exam.html [3]), especially Tip #7. Think at a national level. Read the question carefully. Always look to gather more data before acting on something. Staff - management. Board - policy. Study groups of some type help some, but your mileage will vary. If anything, you get to meet other association people and talk things out.

The Test - The questions on the exam we very similar to a variety of study exams out there. Check with your state/local society to help you connect with these materials. Remember to pace yourself; go back to the questions that were tough and stick with your gut instinct. Don't second guess this; it is usually right.

Work threw me a little party. My wife and family patted me on the back. Some of my professional colleagues took notice and have offered encouraging words.

For that it has been worth it. Go for it yourself.