Boost Your Effectiveness as an Association Professional

Essential Training for Association Professionals & Partners

Working for an association provides meaningful, mission-driven opportunities. However, success often requires a specialized understanding of how associations operate. CESSE’s Association Basics course serves as a foundational training experience for new association professionals and the teams who support them.

Supervisors, human resource professionals, and onboarding leads can register their staff for this two-day virtual course, which delivers core knowledge of association structure, governance, and operations.

Content for this course is generously provided by the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

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“The CESSE Association Basics course provided a holistic view of the Association world. The course was informative and broke down all components of Associations, from the people (the Board, staff, stakeholders, and members) to functions (business models, governance, and fiduciary responsibilities).”

Alysoun Park, Learning Programs Coordinator

Society of Women Enginners (SWE)

Program Details

association professionals at this educational event

The Association Basics course is delivered in two 4.5-hour Zoom sessions. Attendees participate in breakout rooms and use a workbook to engage and discuss topics with other association professionals. The training is led by experienced association professionals in the CESSE community. As a result of attending, participants will receive 8 CAE credits. CESSE is also a CMP Preferred Provider.

As a result of this virtual training, Attendees will be able to:

List the unique features of non-profits and associations compared to other types of companies.
Describe the mission and purpose of your association.
Evaluate the life cycle and ownership of associations.
Describe and analyze an association's core programs, products, and services.
Explain the need to find a balance between “margin” and “mission.”
Explain the volunteer governance structure of an association board and its supporting committees.
Describe the types of membership, benefits, member engagement, and membership structure.

Identify effective techniques for supporting and working with volunteers and their committees.

Meet the Course Facilitators

Upcoming Sessions

September 2025 Session

November 2025 Session

Day 1 | September 24, 2025 | 12pm - 4:30pm ET

Day 2 | September 25, 2025 | 10am - 2:30pm ET

Register for this Session

Day 1 | November 18, 2025 | 12pm - 4:30pm ET

Day 2 | November 19, 2025 | 10am - 2:30pm ET

Register for this Session

Who Should Register

This course is ideal for individuals who are building foundational knowledge or seeking to better understand how associations operate. Association Basics also provides value for experienced professionals who want to refresh their understanding of core concepts or gain a broader perspective on association operations. Whether participants are just starting out or looking to sharpen their skills, this training offers practical tools and insights they can apply immediately.

Space is Limited

If you’re new to the association world, don’t miss this opportunity to learn the ins and outs of working for an association. Once registration has closed, we will open a waitlist. If you have any questions, please email our team at [email protected].

“This course was extremely helpful because it helped me learn and understand how my association works from the board members duties, staff management, budget allocation and overall business strategy. As an associate, I’ll now be able to look at all the programs that I manage, and conduct the margin vs. mission activity so I know how valuable my programs are to the organization and be able to predict shifts in the future in terms of strategy and finances. Long term, this will help me prepare for future leadership roles.”

Camila Rico, Senior Marketing Specialist

American Geophysical Union (AGU)