Professional Development and Certifications

MSAE's Young Professionals Networking Group met to discuss the various certifications one can receive in the association and hospitality industry as well as where to get professional development courses, credits and classes.

• CAE (Certified Association Executive)
• Consists of 100 multiple choice questions based on 9 domains.  Each domain is content from different areas of association management and weighed based on importance. 
• Exam is given twice a year (May & December).
• Fees associated with application, study materials and re-certification.
• CMP (Certified Meeting Planner)
• Consists of 250 multiple choice questions based on a series of course content.  Content based on the meetings, convention and exhibitions industry. 
• This exam is given five times a year and has different windows to apply by.  
• Fees are association with application, study materials and re-certification.
• Professional Development
• MSAE offers a variety of education and courses to help earn credits towards either one of these certifications.
• You may get credits for online or in-person education.

Tips:

1. It helps to get buy-in from your company to help you along in this process. Whether it be in fees or flexible time to study.

2. The knowledge you learn from obtaining a certification can be directly transferred to your job and in turn help out your organization.

3. You have to make the commitment to taking an exam.  Once you make the commitment put 100% into in.