Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®)

Prerequisites

You can earn the CHA designation if you have been employed for two years (and are currently employed) in one of these qualifying positions:

General manager, owner/operator in a lodging hospitality company, or corporate executive* at a lodging hospitality company responsible for the operation of two or more properties

Assistant general manager or director of operations/rooms division (after successfully completing the CRDE certification)

Candidate Time in Position: 2 years.

The time in position requirement can be reduced by one year by meeting the following conditions:

• One current AHLEI department head certification (limit 1)
• A degree from an accredited academic institution (limit 1)

* A corporate executive is defined as an individual, employed by a firm responsible for the operation of two or more properties, who serves as a regional or corporate director of operations, or has ultimate corporate responsibility for rooms, marketing, finance, food and beverage, revenue management, human resources or engineering.

How to Apply

• Access the online application

Have the following documents available to upload:

• Current Resume
• Job Description
• Employment Verification Form (signed by your immediate supervisor)
• Copy of diploma or transcripts

Once AHLEI has reviewed your application, you will receive an email accepting you into the program. That email will contain a link where you can order the CHA review online and pay the program fee.

Resource Materials

The Certified Hotel Administrator review program is a self-paced online program that helps you prepare for the CHA certification exam. You can access it online or download the content into a mobile device, tablet or computer.

The program is segmented by modules with topics including:

• Financial Management
• Food and Beverage Management
• Human Resources
• Leadership
• Marketing and Sales
• Revenue Management
• Rooms Management

You can focus on one area at a time in any order. Each module includes a practice quiz that you can take as many times as you wish before attempting to take any final sections of the certification exam.

Review Session

You can participate in an informally led review workshop and then take the CHA exam.

Review classes and exam sessions are open to any CHA candidate unless otherwise stated.

Typically a review session begins at 8 a.m. and ends at noon. After a break for lunch, you can take a proctored exam. All review classes and exam sessions are subject to change without notice. Some review sessions may require a nominal registration fee payable to the sponsoring organization.

Exam

The final CHA certification exam is broken down by sections at the end of each module. Each section of the final exam has 35 questions that you are allowed 35 minutes to complete. To pass, you must achieve 70 percent or higher on each segment. You have two attempts to pass each section of the final certification exam. If you do not achieve a passing score, you can purchase two additional retakes for $100 per section.

The hospitality industry constantly changes, so hospitality professionals must continually advance their knowledge and skills. For this reason, certification designees hold their certification for only five years.

During the next five years, the designee must:​

• Maintain their qualifying position within the industry​
• Earn points by fulfilling activity requirements ​

Points are earned for:​

• Professional experience​
• Professional development activities/seminars​
• Industry-related involvement​
• Educational services​

Other ways to earn recertification points include:​

• Complete any AHLEI hospitality management course online. They provide five points toward the recertification total. View course offerings and enroll today.
• Earn points for attending any industry-affiliated tradeshow, conference, or convention.​

Good news! You can take free courses that count toward your recertification.

Schneider Electric’s Energy University offers many free courses that count as education points toward recertification for the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation. For more information, visit MyEnergy University to enroll today.

Recertification Application

Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) - ( Application ) ( Maintenance Points ) ​

A candidate may elect to sit for the exam to earn recertification instead of earning points. The candidate must achieve a minimum score of 70 percent to recertify.​

The recertification fee* is $200. Candidates who recertify must pay the fee, complete a maintenance activity form, submit all supporting documentation, and sign the maintenance agreement - agreeing to all terms.​

Once recertified, you will receive a new jeweled lapel pin that reflects the number of years you are certified and a new certificate.

*Prices are subject to change without notice.​

Please submit your recertification packet to:​

American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute ​
6751 Forum Drive, Suite 220 ​
Orlando, Florida 32821​

For additional information, please contact the Professional Certification Department: ​

Email: certification@ahlei.org | Phone: 407-999-8100 or 888-575-8726 | Fax: 407-236-7848 or 407-999-8610​

How do I pay for my CHA program fee?

Once the Certification Department has accepted your online application, an email will be sent to you with payment instructions.

How do I access my online study material?

Instructions for access to the CHA Online Review will be emailed to you upon payment of the CHA program fee.

How long do I have to complete the CHA program?

Once payment has been received, you will have one year to pass all seven CHA online exam sections.

Are there any options to practice the exam before I take the real thing?

Yes. Within each online review section, under the Table of Contents, there is an icon labeled "Practice Quiz." Click on that icon to begin the practice exam for that section. You can take each "Practice Quiz" as many times as you need. Please keep in mind that the scores are overwritten each time you take the quiz.

How do I take the CHA exam?

Make sure that you are logged in to the CHA course. From there, you will be able to access all seven exam sections. Exam sections do not need to be taken in the order listed in the course.

Should I take all seven exam sections at one time?

Because the online review and exams are broken down in sections, we recommend focusing on one section at a time. The option is available to go through each course section, then take the corresponding exam section; or, if you feel well versed in the content, you can take the exam without reviewing the course material. Of course, we highly recommend a review of the material prior to taking any of the seven exam sections.

What is the time limit for each exam?

Once you have started the certification exam, you will have 35 minutes to complete the section. The exam is timed; if you leave your computer for any reason, the clock continues to run.

What score do I need to have to pass the exam?

To pass the CHA exam, each of the seven 35-question online exam sections will need to be successfully completed with a passing score of at least 70 percent. If for any reason you do not achieve a passing score on any section, you will need to retake that section.

How do I retake the exam?

Candidates are allotted one re-take of each of the seven CHA exam sections with payment of the CHA program fee. If you do not pass a retake exam, you can purchase two more retakes for US $100; once the retake fee has been processed, you will then have two more retakes available for EACH exam section that you did not pass.

What if I can't complete the program in the one-year time frame?

If you have not passed all seven section exams within your one-year enrollment period, there is an option to extend the program one year from your original program due date for a fee of US $100.

When I pass all seven sections of the exam, what do I receive?

Upon passing all seven sections, you will have earned the CHA designation. You will receive a CHA certificate, jeweled lapel pin, and CHA Maintenance Forms. For your convenience, we offer a temporary printable certificate and acceptance letter within the CHA course that can be used until you receive your certificate and pin package.

Can I earn college credit for my CHA?

AHLEI has agreements with the following educational organizations that will offer college credit for the CHA, to reduce the number of credits needed to complete a degree program.

American Public University

Through an agreement with American Public University, those who hold the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®) designation can earn undergraduate or graduate credit for their certification when they enroll in certain American Public University programs of study. For complete details, visit the Educational Institute page on American Public University's website.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix offers undergraduate or graduate credit for the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®) designation through its prior learning assessment (PLA) process when enrolling into a bachelor's or master's degree program. Details on academic credits are available on the Credit Recommendation Guide for AHLEI courses and certifications, including the CHA®.

American Council on Education (ACE)

The Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®) has been recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE). The American Council on Education College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has reviewed AHLEI's Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) certification and determined that it is worth six semester credits at an upper-division baccalaureate degree level and three semester credits at a graduate degree level in hospitality management.

ACE's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) connects workplace learning with colleges and universities by helping adults gain access to academic credit at colleges and universities for formal courses and examinations taken in the workplace or other settings outside traditional higher education. The service reviews programs and assigns to them a suggested level of college credit. Individuals applying to a college or university may submit ACE-recommended programs for possible awarding of college credit by that institution. For more information, visit the ACE CREDIT Transcript Service website at http://www.acenet.edu/acecredit.