CAE Study Plan

Theo Nakashima-Ward, NANA's director of learning and credentialing, earned his own CAE in 2021 and now runs the Learning catalog's CAE preparation programs. Jonah Whitcombe, who earned his CAE in 2019, co-leads NANA's CAE exam study group. Together they built this 12-week study plan for the May 1–14 testing window, working backward from test day to a fixed weekly study schedule rather than an open-ended "study when you can" approach.

The plan divides the CAE's content domains across twelve weeks, with a specific focus area assigned to each week, built-in review weeks at the plan's midpoint and final stretch, and a practice-question schedule that increases in volume as the test date approaches. It's built for someone studying around a full-time job.

The guide is explicit that NANA does not administer the CAE exam — the credentialing body sets the content domains and runs it — and that this plan is a preparation schedule, not official exam guidance. Candidates preparing for either the spring or winter window can adapt the same structure by starting their count back from their own target date.