Where Special Educators Come Together
Being part of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) empowers you with the tools, community, and advocacy needed to make a lasting impact on exceptional learners. And CEC is truly for everyone—teachers, support personnel, researchers, faculty, administrators, paraprofessionals, and all professionals committed to advancing special education.
Connect. Learn. Lead—with CEC.
CEC offers professional development opportunities designed to support and advance your work in the field. With members across the U.S. and Canada, you’ll expand your network and join a community that celebrates your success. When you share your expertise with us, it strengthens our collective voice in advocating for the profession.
Your Go-To Resource Hub
Save Up to $500
Get every live webinar free—save $30 per session, all year long.
270+ Resources
Utilize teacher-curated lesson plans and other classroom essentials
100+ Topics
Materials spanning a variety of special education areas
Get CEC Journals
Membership includes access to CEC’s award-winning journals, TEACHING Exceptional Children and Exceptional Children.
Special Member Pricing
Members save on all professional development opportunities, free registration for live webinars, and receive discounts on books and CEC products.
Connect With Your Community
Your CEC membership automatically connects you to your local unit, ensuring you can build meaningful networks right in your own community. Plus, members participate in the CECommunity All Member Forum, where you connect with colleagues across the U.S. and Canada. For deeper engagement, join one of CEC’s 18 Special Interest Divisions (additional fee required).
* Membership in CEC is individual-based and is non-transferable and non-refundable. *
Membership Rates
| Premier | Full | Basic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Service Student | Join | $135 | $80 | $40 | Pre-Service undergraduate or graduate (including doctoral) students who have not yet held any position as a professional in special education. All levels of Pre-Service Student membership receive a $1 million Student Educator Professional Liability Insurance policy. |
| Graduate Student | Join | $165 | $99 | $59 | Current graduate students (including doctoral) who are returning for an additional degree after or while concurrently holding a professional position in special education. |
| Early Career Professional | Join | $195 | $119 | $69 | Special or general education professionals with three or fewer years of professional experience. |
| Professional | Join | $219 | $139 | $85 | Special or general education professionals with more than three years of professional experience and interested parties |
| Paraeducator | Join | $139 | $85 | $45 | Individuals employed to provide instructional or related support to students and their families under the direction and supervision of a certified special education teacher. |
| Retired Professional | Join | $159 | $89 | $49 | Special education and education professionals who have retired from the field and no longer hold a professional position – employee, consultant, or otherwise - in education or special education. |
| Family/Parent Affiliate | Join | $139 | $85 | $45 | Individuals who are interested in special education but are not employed (including as consultants) in any field of education and/or special education. |
CEC offers three membership levels—Basic, Full, and Premier—each with a different mix of benefits.
Explore the options and find the right package that works best for you.
PREMIER MEMBERSHIPincludes Full benefits plus: |
|---|
|
|
* For eligibility, restrictions or questions, contact Forrest T. Jones & Company at https://www.trustforeducators.com/association-landing-page?association=…
FULL MEMBERSHIPincludes Basic benefits plus: |
|---|
|
BASIC MEMBERSHIP |
|---|
|