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CAE Authoritative Literature

The CAE Commission's Authoritative Literature presents readings for the CAE exam, organized by the ten domains of the CAE exam outline. Most of these resources are available through ASAE & The Center's bookstore at special member prices. Several resources contain information applicable to more than one domain, and thus appear more than once in the Authoritative Literature. Whenever possible, specific chapters have been noted to provide further direction as to the sections applicable to that specific domain.

The Authoritative Literature provides a concise yet detailed guide to informative association management books in key knowledge areas. It serves as a valuable tool for all association professionals, especially those preparing for the CAE. For additional professional development resources and coursework, explore CenterU and our online knowledge resources.

This list is intended for use as a study aid only. The CAE Commission does not intend the list to imply endorsement of these specific references, nor are the test questions necessarily taken from these sources.


Domain 1: Strategic Management

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.


Domain 2: Planning and Research

ASAE. Conducting Marketing and Industry: An ASAE Background Kit.  Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 1998.

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Dalton, James G., Jennifer Jarratt, and John B. Mahaffie. From Scan to Plan: Integrating Trends Into the Strategy-Making. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2003.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Gordon, Gerald L. Strategic Planning for Association Executives. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 1997.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Meir, Dan. "The Seven Stages of Effective Survey Research". Chicago, IL: American Marketing Association, 2002. 

Domain 3: Leadership 

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management, 4th ed., Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Hesselbein, Frances, Marshall Goldsmith, and Iain Somerville, eds. Leading for Innovation: And Organizing for Results San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 2002.

Seglin, Jeffrey L. The Good, The Bad and Your Business - Choosing Right When Ethical Dilemmas Pull You Apart. New York, NY: Jeffrey L. John Wiley & Sons, 2000.

Domain 4: Administration 

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Barbeito, Carol. Human Resources Policies and Procedures for Nonprofit Organizations. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2004.

Domain 5: Knowledge Management

Davenport, Thomas H., and Lawrence Prusak. Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know.Boston, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998.

Tracey, Terri, and Kathleen M. Edwards, eds. Core Competencies in Association Professional Development. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2005. 

Domain 6: Governance and Structure

Carver, John, and Miriam M. Carver. Reinventing Your Board. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Inc., 1997.

Connors, Tracy D., ed. The Volunteer Management Handbook. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999.

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Kastner, Michael E., ed. Creating and Managing an Association Government Relations Program. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, l998.

Tecker, Glenn H., Kermit M. Eide, and Jean S. Frankel. Building a Knowledge-Based Culture. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 1997.

Domain 7: Public Policy and Government And External Relations

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Guyer, Robert L. Guide to State Legislative Lobbying. Gainesville, FL: Engineering THE LAW, Inc., 2000.

Kastner, Michael E., ed. Creating and Managing an Association Government Relations Program. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, l998.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Domain 8: Membership

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Levin, Mark. Millennium Membership: How to Attract and Keep Members in the New Marketplace.  Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2000.

Nicolais, Susan, ed. Membership Marketing. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2000.

Toth, Lorili, ed. Member Services. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.


Domain 9: Programs, Products, And Services

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Finkel, Coleman L. New Conference Models for the Information Age.  Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 1998.

Knapp, Lenora G., and Joan E. Knapp. The Business of Certification: A Comprehensive Guide to Developing a Successful Program.  Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2002.

Shuping, Frances, ed. A Guide to Periodicals Publishing for Associations. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2005.


Domain 10: Public Relations and External Communications

Shuping, Frances, ed. A Guide to Periodicals Publishing for Associations.  Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2005.

Cox, John B., ed. Professional Practices in Association Management, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.

Ernstthal, Henry L. Principles of Association Management, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2001.

Jacobs, Jerald A. Association Law Handbook, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 2007.