CSA membership offers comprehensive support at every stage of the chief of staff career journey, acting as a one-stop shop for the role. Membership connects chiefs of staff to a vetted global community of senior peers, alongside a pathway to attaining the Certified Chief of Staff^® credential. Executive education is delivered through the University of Oxford, Harvard Business School and SDA Bocconi School of Management, giving members access to some of the world's leading business schools. We help chiefs of staff secure the right role, and run global searches for CEOs looking to appoint one. For larger organisations, we support cohorts of chiefs of staff so they can train and operate in formation. Members can also contribute to thought leadership through our biannual journal, The Chief of Staff podcast, industry reports and our monthly Guiding Principals newsletter.

Yes. Most members are sponsored by their employers. A chief of staff is a force multiplier for their principal, and forward-thinking employers treat membership as an investment in executive performance, not a cost. We can share a business case template to help you make that case.

Membership runs on an annual basis and is $4,950 (USD) per annum. Regional and sector-based scholarships are available. If relevant to you, flag this in your application and our team can talk through the process.

Every application is assessed on the substance of the role, not the title. We look closely at the seniority of the principal you support and your genuine commitment to the profession. Titles vary widely across organisations and sectors, so we look beyond labels to what the role actually demands. Membership is not automatic: each application is reviewed by our team, and every member who joins meets the same standard, which protects the integrity of the network for all in it. Applicants may be asked to complete a short membership interview, where we learn more about their motivations and share more about what membership offers. Owing to demand, a waitlist is periodically in place to stagger traffic through our certification programmes.

Email membership@csa.org at any time to check on your application or share an update on your role. Our Membership team will respond to you as soon as possible.

Yes. We do welcome former chiefs of staff, and those preparing to step into the role, whether for the first time or on their return.

We offer five programmes to our members: the Core Competency Programme, the Advanced Competency Programme, and executive education at Harvard Business School, the University of Oxford and SDA Bocconi School of Management. The Core Competency Programme builds the foundational skills every chief of staff needs, and the Advanced Competency Programme takes this further for members ready to deepen their expertise. Executive education is delivered with faculty at all three schools, giving members access to world-class teaching alongside senior peers. Every programme is led by senior academics and experienced chiefs of staff, and the Certified Chief of Staff^® credential is awarded on assessment, not attendance.

Programming includes a monthly Leadership Series with subject matter experts, virtual roundtables, masterclasses and peer support sessions, alongside in-person networking receptions across our major hubs in more than 75 countries. Our flagship event, the Global Chief of Staff Dialogue, brings together hundreds of chiefs of staff and their principals every year to reflect on best practice and address the most pressing questions facing the profession globally.

Our community gives chiefs of staff trusted peers who understand the demands of the role, with introductions made by our team rather than left to chance. Members connect through peer cohorts, regional groups and events, both online and in person, alongside bespoke mentoring matched to their stage of career. Larger organisations with multiple chiefs of staff can also train and operate as a cohort, so peers within the same business learn and grow together.

When members are ready for their next move, our Talent team supports the search, whether that means a permanent placement, a fractional chief of staff arrangement, or an interim appointment while an organisation defines the role. The same team also runs global searches on behalf of CEOs and principals looking to appoint a chief of staff for the first time, matching them with candidates who understand the demands of the role. A dedicated membership team supports each member throughout, from onboarding through to every career transition that follows.