CAE+5 Process
January 2008
Congratulations on your decision to accept the challenge and earn the REALTOR® association Certified Executive (RCE) designation. We believe you will find the process to be a stimulating journey in which your knowledge of REALTOR® association management will increase substantially, as will your reputation for being a leader in the field. And, since you already have your CAE designation, the process for you is streamlined!
- You initiate the certification process by completing the CAE+5 application. This application verifies that you are a current CAE designee and that you have at least 5 years REALTOR® association or real estate management experience.
- Submit your completed application along with the nonrefundable $325 fee. This fee covers the application and examination costs.
- Once your application is accepted, you have two years to take the examination.
- Complete a condensed exam, consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions on REALTOR® association management topics. Each of the multiple-choice questions covers aspects of REALTOR® association management, from among the following major topic areas: Manage the Association and Its Business Operations, Understand the Structure of the REALTOR Organization and Understand Real Estate Industry Issue and Trends. All of the exam questions are referenced to National Association publications. The Answer Book: The Source for REALTOR® Association Management Leadersis the primary reference. The RCE examination is administered twice a year at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo and the AE Institute. RCE candidates may choose to complete the exam during an NAR sponsored meeting, locally online with an RCE proctor (up to four weeks prior to being offered at an NAR meeting), or in conjunction with a local/state sponsored meeting at a pre-arranged time and location.
- Your exam is then scored. All candidates will be officially notified in writing of their examination results within three weeks of taking the examination. However, candidates will also be notified via email two days after the RCE Certification Board meets at the REALTOR® Conference and Expo and the AE Institute. Successful candidates receive notification of their passing status only. In this process your NRDS ID number is maintained to ensure confidentiality.
Please note that if you do not have your CAE certification, you must submit the RCE Online Applicant Data Form (ADF). Contact Renee Holland, 312/329-8545, rholland@realtors.org, or Krystal Allen, 312/329-8514, kallen@realtors.org for more information or go to RCE Online.
If you have questions on any aspect of the program, please contact Renee Holland, or Krystal Allen. Best wishes on your journey to becoming an RCE designee.
Eligibility Requirements
REALTOR® association employment requirements are the same as RCE eligibility requirements. In addition, you must have:
- A current CAE designation
- Five years of REALTOR® association or real estate management experience
ApplicationTo begin the process, you must complete and submit the CAE+5 application along with a non-refundable $325 application fee. This fee covers both the application and the exam costs. A $150 certification fee will be due after you successfully complete the exam.
Click on the application file below.
application.doc
ExamThe exam is a knowledge-based examination consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions administered in a single ninety-minute time frame.
The passing standard is a score of 75% or higher. Using this methodology there is no curve, and candidates do not compete against each other. There is no limit on the number of candidates who may pass or fail the test.
The examination is administered twice a year at the REALTORS® Conference and Expo and the AE Institute. All candidates will be officially notified in writing of their examination results within three weeks of taking the examination. However, candidates will also be notified via email two days after the RCE Certification Board meets at the REALTOR® Conference and Expo and the AE Institute. Successful candidates receive notification of their passing status only. Details and registration information will be provided to eligible candidates prior to each examination date.
Candidates who do not receive the minimum passing score after taking the examination have two years from the date of their application was submitted to retake the examination during the next time an examination is scheduled at an NAR sponsored meeting, locally online with an RCE Proctor (up to four weeks prior to being offered at an NAR meeting), or in conjunction wth a local/state sponsored meeting at a pre-arranged time and location. Candidates must pay an additional $75 fee to retake the examination.
Candidates who do not take the examination during the two-year period following application must reapply and submit $75 to take the examination.
Recognition

