Certified Asthma Educator (CAE)
The Certified Asthma Educator (CAE) credential recognizes healthcare professionals who provide asthma education to their clients. The CAE credential demonstrates to your clients, peers and supervisors that you have the competencies to provide comprehensive, evidence-informed care in asthma.
This credential is appropriate for those educators working in paediatrics. If healthcare professionals also see adult clients in their practice, CNRC recommends that you work to obtain the Certified Respiratory Educator credential, which also includes COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
The Certified Asthma Educator (CAE) exam tests educator proficiency in two important aspects of asthma education:
- up-to-date knowledge about asthma (the "what to teach")
- better understanding on the part of educators about educational theory and process
(the "how to teach")
National Learning Objectives (core competencies) provide a common set of technical and teaching skills, knowledge and abilities for asthma educators.
Requirements to challenge the Certified Asthma Educator (CAE) Exam
1 A degree or diploma in a recognized* healthcare profession, with a scope of practice
that includes counselling.
*Recognized healthcare profession must have the following:
• A governing, oversight or credentialling body or association
• A defined scope of practice
Recognized healthcare professions include the following:
Nurse Practitioner Nurse Pharmacist Respiratory Therapist
Physiotherapist Occupational Therapist Kinesiologist Medical Doctor
2 You must complete one of the following health education courses:
Primary Care Alberta
(For Alberta residents only)
Foundational Health Educator Workshop
Email: tvcp@primarycarealberta.ca
Website: Primary Care Alberta -
Public Access
On July 1, 2025 the Tobacco, Vaping & Cannabis program under Promoting Health transitioned from Alberta Health Services to Primary Care Alberta.
RespTrec©
c/o Lung Saskatchewan
Chronic Disease Management
Educator Course
Phone: 306 343-9511
Email: info@resptrec.org
www.resptrec.org
3 You must complete one of the following asthma education programs:
RespTrec©
c/o Lung Saskatchewan
Asthma Educator Course
Phone: 306 343-9511
Email: info@resptrec.org
www.resptrec.org
French Language Program
Quebec Respiratory Health
Education Network
Phone: 418 650-9500
Toll Free in Quebec: 1 877 441-5072
Email: info@rqesr.ca
The TEACH Project
Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health (CAMH)
Foundational Health Educator Workshop
Phone: 416 535-8501 ext. 31600
Email: teach@camh.ca
www.nicotinedependenceclinic.com/en/teach
International Program
Delphi HSA Inc.
HSA-Respiratory Educator Program
Contact: Ayman Khater MD CRE CTE
Email: draymankhater@gmail.com
+966 50 510 3378
Programs Eligible (but no longer operating)
- Alberta Asthma Centre Professional Certification
- The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences Asthma Educator Program
- Ontario Pharmacists Association CRE Prep Course
- Pear Healthcare Solutions
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology/Maple Respiratory Group Inc.
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