Professional Membership

Welcome to the field of special education! We’re glad you’re here.

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)'s membership keeps you up-to-date on the latest research, professional development offerings, reliable resources, member discounts, and peer support. that CEC membership offers. All professionals are welcome – classroom, itinerant, resource teachers, support personnel, researchers, faculty members, administrators, and others. 

Who this membership is for:

Special or general education professionals with more than three years of professional experience and interested parties.

BASIC

Join for $85/year

FULL

Join for $139/year

PREMIER

Join for $219/year

 

Member Benefits

INCLUDED WITH EVERY LEVEL

An AI-Powered Toolkit for Educators
Gain peace of mind with a comprehensive insurance policy, all at no extra cost.

Professional Development
Enhance your learning with hundreds of hours of high-quality professional development.

Find Your Niche
Connect with peers and gain deeper insights into specific topics through local Units and Special Interest Divisions.

Save with Exclusive Discounts
Gain access to discounts on movie tickets, hotels, theme parks, concerts, and more!

Supportive Community
Connect, collaborate, and learn with fellow special educators in CEC’s members-only virtual community.

Expertise You Can Trust
Stay up to date with complimentary subscriptions to CEC’s professional journals, TEACHING Exceptional Children and Exceptional Children.

Recognition for Your Achievements
Become eligible for national awards that recognize educators and students making a difference in special education.

$250,000 Professional Liability Insurance Policy
Upgrade to a Premier membership to gain coverage and peace of mind with a comprehensive insurance policy through Forrest T. Jones.

View a full list of all benefits available to you through membership!

Want even more value? Upgrade your membership!

FULL MEMBERSHIP 
Everything in Basic, plus:
  • Print and Online Access to TEACHING Exceptional Children Journal
PREMIER MEMBERSHIP
Everything in Basic and Full, plus:
  • Access to our entire catalog of Curated PD Collections – Over $500 worth of content FREE
  • One (1) Complimentary e-Book from the CEC Store
BASIC MEMBERSHIP

Join for $85/year

FULL MEMBERSHIP

Join for $139/year

PREMIER MEMBERSHIP

Join for $219/year

Can't join online? Click here to download an application.

people working together in a group

Explore discounted rates by joining together.

Learning is a collaborative effort, which is why CEC designed membership packages with you and your fellow students in mind. Joining as a group of five (5) or more unlocks discounted rates across all member levels!

 5-10 Students11-15 Students16+ Students
Basic Rates (per person)

$35

$30

$25

Full Rates (per person)

$69

$65

$59

Premier Rates (per person)

$119

$115

$109

Additional Details:
  • Group Membership consists of a Point of Contact (POC) and the individual members receiving the group rate.
    • The POC is responsible for:
      • Processing the membership application, including payment
      • Renewing at the end of the membership term
    • Individuals are responsible for:
      • Maintaining their own account
      • Ensuring the POC renews membership on time
  • All members in a package must select the same membership level at the time of application.
  • Payment or purchase order must be provided at the time of application; and
    • Include all required membership information
    • Reflect the total amount due as one (1) transaction
  • Memberships will only be processed after all requirements are met.
  • No additional discounts are available with this option.

Ready for your group discount? Complete the following form to get started.

Access Online Form

 

Questions or comments? 

CEC’s Member Services Team is here to assist you. Visit our Customer Service Center to learn how you can contact us for support.

 

CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER

 
Last Updated:  30 June, 2026

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