The Certified in Exhibition Management Advanced Professional certification program (CEM-AP) is for CEMs with at least 10 years of industry experience who have acquired 30 education/leadership credits (through a combination of leadership activities and industry-related continuing education). Applicants must complete one mandatory two-day course which will be taught by Georgetown University professor Dr. Sam Potolicchio. Dr. Potolicchio is also the Director of Global and Custom Education at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.

Each mandatory two-day course is $1,400 for IAEE Members and $1800 for Non-Members. In addition to the two-day course, applications must pass the CEM-AP exam and complete a CEM Commission approved case study.

Successful completion of all requirements will award attendees with the CEM-AP certification providing professional credentials.  Applicants have three years to complete the entire certification program.

An application and application fee ($200 IAEE Members/$250 Non-Members) is required before starting. The application process will include the idea for a case study to be approved by the CEM Commission as well as submission and verification of 30 educational/leadership credits.

Once approved as a CEM-AP candidate, applicants will begin mandatory course work and case study.  The case study should be built around one of the 12 CEM workbooks and should involve an issue and solution that has a significant impact on the exhibitions and events industry.

Completed case studies will be submitted through an online form which will then be sent to the CEM Commission for final approval. Once approved and the candidate has completed course work as well as passed the exam, the CEM-AP certificate is earned.

The CEM-AP designation recertification process will take place every five years requiring 15 total education/leadership credits.  The CEM designation will be automatically renewed and bundled with the CEM-AP designation.