ACE Airport Finance Certification

1. Application and fees

Choose which ACE Program you would like to pursue.

Next, please submit your registration application online or by mail along with the $555 program fee. The one-time $555 ACE program fee includes:

• Access to electronic study materials
  • Hard copies can be purchased here for an additional fee
• One-time access to the online exam
  • Enrollment fee is non-refundable and non-transferable

2. Choose your method of study

After receiving electronic access to the study modules, download them and begin studying, then take the exam when you feel ready. You can also choose to attend one of our scheduled review courses. In either case, we recommend dedicating at least 90 days of study time and thoroughly reviewing the modules prior to testing. Check out the Study Tips for some guidance on how to prepare for your exam.

3. Review the guidelines and take your exam.

While we recommend at least 90 days of dedicated study time, candidates can access their exam any time they feel ready to take it, through our certification management platform. A computer with a webcam, internal microphone, and internet connection is required for all exams. Review the exam instructions and guidelines prior to scheduling an exam. Please refer to the FAQ for detailed information.

4. Successful completion of the multiple-choice exam

Candidates will receive a Pass/Fail result via email upon completion of the exam. Under usual circumstances, it can take up to ten business days for official results to be sent to the candidate from AAAE.

Successful completion of the multiple-choice exam includes scoring a 70% or above (answering 70 questions out of a possible 100). Additionally, new ACE’s receive the privilege of using the ACE designation behind their name, a digital certificate, and a lapel pin (upon request).

• • Are individuals required to become members of AAAE to enroll in an ACE program?
    • No. Individuals are not required to become members of AAAE to enroll in the ACE programs.
  • If I am already enrolled in one ACE program, do I need to pay another ACE program fee for another ACE program?
    • Yes. Individuals will have to pay a separate program fee of $555 for each ACE program of interest.
  • Does the ACE program count toward any portion of the AAAE Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) or Certified Member (C.M.) programs?
    
    • Although the ACE program may help candidates prepare for particular modules in the other certification programs, ACE is not affiliated with the C.M. and A.A.E. programs.
  • How is the ACE program different from the AAAE/FAA Airport Safety and Operations Specialist (ASOS) Schools?
    • The ASOS Schools are designed as an overview to FAR Part 139, as well as a recurrent training tool for airport operations personnel. The ACE - Operations Certification, a lengthier course, is designed to provide comprehensive training and professional designation for those who chose to become certified as airport operations professionals. ACE - Operations will reflect information applicable to all FAR Part 139 airfields and information that is specific to the airfield of an individual student. Unlike an ASOS, ACE candidates will be required to pass an online examination with a passing score of 70% (100 multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the blank questions).
  • How many questions are on the test?
    • There are 100 multiple choice questions on the exam. Candidates have up to 2 hours to complete the exam.
  • Are there any supplemental classes that I can take to assist me with the test?
    • Yes. Though candidates can opt to study and take the exam on their own, AAAE offers several review courses for many of the ACE programs throughout the year. The courses last between 2-4 days with the final exam on the last day of class. Professional and experienced instructors will cover all of the course materials in detail, providing an excellent opportunity for students to ask questions and understand the material better. There is a separate registration fee for the review course that is NOT included in the ACE program fee. For more information on review courses dates and locations, please view the Events Calendar.
  • When and how can I take the AAAE online examination?
    • The online exam must be taken within 26 months of enrollment date into the program. All exams will be taken online through a remote proctoring system via the certification management platform. Candidates must review the exam instructions and guidelines prior to scheduling an exam. Failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in AAAE invalidating your exam. Refer to the resource guide for more information about the certification platform.
  • Who may proctor the examination?
    • All exams are now administered through a secure online platform, and a live proctor is no longer needed. All sessions will be recorded to ensure that candidates follow the rules and guidelines set forth for all certification exams.
  • How long will it take to receive the test results?
    • Candidates will receive an email with preliminary Pass/Fail results within 3 business days of taking your exam. Once your exam session is evaluated for adherence to the guidelines, your full results will be available to you in your learning center. If you have passed the exam, you will also have the option to request to receive a packet in the mail with your certificate and pin. If you have failed, then you will receive emailed instructions regarding a retake.
  • If I don't pass, how many times may I retake the examination?
    • All candidates can take the online examination as many times as it is necessary to successfully complete it. A $75 retake fee is required for all additional exam attempts. Candidates can pay for the exam retake here.

Click here to purchase the ACE Airport Finance Modules.

Live Classroom Training

All AAAE training topics and certification programs can be taught live in-person for airport/corporate employees. These courses for the certification programs (ACE, A.M.F., C.M.) offer very extensive reviews of the program materials and incorporate many methods of learning including: quiz questions, teach-to-learns, case studies, and Jeopardy-style games.

A calendar of upcoming review courses can be found here.

Don't see a course for your topic of interest? You can find a full list of topics here.

If you have several employees who would like to attend one of our trainings, why not bring it to your airport? For more information on hosting a training at your airport/organization contact the Training Department. Trainings can be customized, so if you are interested in a training that you don't see listed, just ask.

Live Virtual Training

Virtual trainings are now being held for many of the AAAE certification programs. These are abbreviated reviews of the certification modules to help candidates understand the most complex areas of the program. Check out Upcoming Events for upcoming courses.

Self-Study

Once the program fee is paid, candidates can study for the specified certification exam, at their own pace, with PDFs or hard copies of the body of knowledge modules for that program. Candidates will receive a welcome email with program information and a link to the study materials, approximately 24-48 hours after registration (provided all eligibility requirements are met). Hard copies of the study materials for each program can be ordered here for an additional fee.

• To start or continue your certification journey, pay the applicable program fee and complete all eligibility requirements. Review the requirements for each program here.

• Log into the certification platform. We use Single Sign On, so you will be redirected to AAAE.org to sign in with your AAAE username and password and then redirected back to the platform. (If you do not remember your AAAE.org sign on, please use the forgot password link to reset your account. If you have not signed in to our system before, enter your email address as your username and click the Forgot Password link to receive an email and create a password.) You may want to ask your IT department to whitelist this URL.

• Once you are logged in, you can navigate to your Learning Center, where you will find all of your activities related to current or past certifications that you have pursued. This is also where you will launch your certification exam, when you are ready to take it.

• If payment is required for a retake attempt, please click here to make the payment.

Questions? Contact training@aaae.org