Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) Program

Becoming an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) is a great way to command respect in the airport industry. Since 1954, AAAE has been committed to the advancement of aviation professionals by granting the A.A.E. designation to those who have demonstrated their ability to handle the responsibilities of airport management. The A.A.E. designation commands respect as the platinum standard among airport executives. Show your full skill at handling the ever-changing responsibilities of airport management by earning your A.A.E.

Candidates in the A.A.E. program will obtain the designation by completing a three-step process:

A 180-question, multiple choice examination
A management research paper, case study, proctored essay or memo examination, or an advanced degree waiver
A final interview with a panel of A.A.E.s

To enroll you must be: an Affiliate member of AAAE or IAAE; employed at a public use airport for at least one year; and have either a four-year college degree or eight years of public airport management experience.

Benefits

Earn the highest professional mark in the aviation industry
Gain upward mobility and open doors to new career opportunities
Understand the breadth and complexities of the airport environment
Expand your leadership opportunities in AAAE and across the industry
Be eligible to receive various accolades and rewards from AAAE

Questions? Contact the Accreditation Department at [email protected].

Note: You must be an Affiliate member of AAAE or IAAE to enroll in the Accreditation Program.
Join now if you are not an active Affiliate member.

Study Materials (Candidates Only)

Eligibility Requirements

Determine your eligibility for the program.
A prospective accreditation candidate must:

be at least 21 years old;
have current affiliate membership in AAAE or IAAE; Click here to join if you are not an Affiliate member
have worked full time for a public-use airport for at least one consecutive year*
have either a four-year college degree or eight years of civil airport management** experience

*Prior military experience may exempt you from the one-year of public-use airport experience (documentation required).
**Accreditation candidates may substitute civil airport management experience on a two-years-for-one basis, with a total of eight years of experience substituting for a four-year college degree.

Candidates upgrading from the Certified Member Program:
Candidates enrolled in the Certified Member (C.M.) program who wish to upgrade to the accreditation program may do so at any time, provided that the above pre-requisites are met. The fee to upgrade to the accreditation program is $100; successful completion of the C.M. program/multiple-choice exam prior to enrolling in the program is not necessary provided that you’ve met the pre-requisites listed above. Candidates who are C.M.s and have completed the multiple-choice exam will advance to the writing phase of the accreditation program.

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