Trying to decide whether getting my (CAE) Certified Automotive Engineer is worth the time and money investment. I've been doing research on "CAE" and the salary data is all over the place.
Some sources say it adds $5-8k/year on average, others suggest it's more of a requirement to even get considered for certain roles now rather than a pay bump.
Has anyone here seen a direct salary impact from getting CAE certified? Or is it more of a "required to apply" thing in your industry now?
Also — how long did the whole process take from starting to study to passing? And what was the exam fee in your state/country?
Trying to do a real cost-benefit before I commit 2-6 months to this.
Same boat a few months ago. Here's what I'd tell myself:
The CAE exam is more concept-focused than the study guides suggest. They test whether you understand CAE, not just whether you can define it.
My tip: when you see a scenario question, mentally walk through it step by step before looking at the answers. The wrong answers are designed to catch people who jump to conclusions.
Good luck — the fact that you're doing this level of prep means you're going to be fine.
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