Two hundred seventy-eight association executives have earned their Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential this winter from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), it announced this week.The Winter 2010 CAE class completed the CAE examination on Dec. 4, 2010, and will be honored along with the Summer 2010 CAE class during ASAE & The Center's 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition, taking place Aug. 21-24 in Los Angeles."Congratulations to the newest class of CAEs who have demonstrated mastery of the competencies essential to association management," said CAE Commission Chair Chris Lundeen, , CAE, director of member and leader services for the California Water Environment Association. "The CAE certification not only sets the standard of knowledge for association professionals to achieve, but also defines the profession of association management itself."The Winter 2010 CAE class joins more than 3,600 industry leaders worldwide who've already earned the distinction, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and requires passing a rigorous examination on all aspects of association management.The next CAE examination will be administered on May 7, 2010. The application deadline is Feb. 12, 2009.