The American Guild of Organists was chartered in 1896 by the Board of Regents, University of the State of New York, to administer a comprehensive series of examinations for professional certification. Examinations have played a central role in the Guild’s work since its founding. Being professionally certified can play a major role in your life and career. For additional details, see the AGO Professional Certification Requirements for 2024. Also, click here for the 2023 Certification Requirements Summary Chart. (The updated 2023-2024 summary chart will be posted here July 5, 2023.)
2024 Examination Dates and Fees
The next exam is scheduled for June 6 and 7, 2024 (paperwork section both mornings; organ playing one of the afternoons). Both sections, $350; single section $250. Student rate: both sections, $275; single section $225. Surcharge for non-AGO members is $115. Application deadline is April 1, 2024.
Educational Resources for Associateship Certification
Videos Demonstrating Certification Exam Procedures
Manual of Procedure for Associate and Fellowship Examinations
100 Strategies for Successful AGO Certification
Detailed Professional Certification Requirements (2023)
Past TAO Articles for Exam Preparation
Preparing for AGO Exams (reprints of past TAO magazine articles)
“It Don’t Mean A Thing If You Can’t Make ‘Em Sing”/Leading Hymn Singing from the Organ: A Practical Checklist by Kenneth Grinnell, FAGO, ChM, April 2006
Regular Countersubjects in Fugue by Walter Hilse, FAGO, March 2008
Ten Tips on Sight-Reading by Jonathan B. Hall, FAGO, ChM, March 2009
The Fugal Answer by Walter Hilse, FAGO, April 2006
Transposition: Not a Four-Letter Word by Kenneth Grinnell, FAGO, ChM, May 2008
On Modulation by Dean Billmeyer, FAGO, Handout from a 2008 convention workshop
Past Exams for Associateship Certification
Associateship Exam 2022 Solutions for the 2022 exam Ear Test A Ear Test B
Associateship Exam 2021 Solutions for the 2021 exam
The 2020 Associateship exam was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Associateship Exam 2019 Solutions for the 2019 exam
Associateship Exam 2018 Solutions for the 2018 exam
Associateship Exam 2017 Solutions for the 2017 exam
Associateship Exam 2016 Solutions for the 2016 exam
Associateship Exam 2015 Solutions for the 2015 exam
Associateship Ear Training Exercises
The ear training exercises below are offered by the AGO Certification Committee for candidates to use to prepare for Associateship certification. Click on an example and then refer to the Ear Training Solutions.
Please note that for study purposes, the suggested pause time for each example is 60, “however, candidates are only allotted 30” during the actual exam.
Purchase the repertoire for the Associateship Exam at Cliff Hill Music or Lois Fyfe Music.
