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. Fellowship certification is the highest level of certification offered by the AGO. For additional details, see the AGO Professional Certification Requirements for 2025.
2025 Examination Dates and Fees
June 5 and 6, 2025 (paperwork section both mornings; organ playing one of the afternoons). Both sections, $450; single section $350. Student rate: both sections, $325; single section $250. Surcharge for non-AGO members is $115. Application deadline is April 1, 2025.
New in 2025: Pricing for Repeated Attempts
Repeat attempt at organ repertoire performance portion of Section 1 (practical), $175 (student rate, $125).
Repeat attempt at keyboard skills portion of Section 1 (practical), $175 (student rate, $125).
Repeat attempt at first session of Section 2 (written), $175 (student rate, $125).
Repeat attempt at second session of Section 2 (written), $175 (student rate, $125).
Educational Resources for Fellowship Certification
Videos Demonstrating Certification Exam Procedures
Professional Certification Requirements 2025
2024 Manual of Procedure for Certification
100 Strategies for Successful AGO Certification
Webinars for Fellowship Certification
Monday, May 13, 2024
Compositional Techniques (AAGO, ChM, and FAGO)
Presented by Vince Carr FRCO,
Monday, May 6, 2024
Ear Tests (AAGO, ChM, and FAGO)
Ear Test Handout
Ear Test Solutions
Q&A
Presented by Vince Carr FRCO,
Monday, April 29, 2024
Fugue (AAGO, FAGO)
Q&A
Presented by Vince Carr FRCO,
Monday, May 8, 2023
Certification: Renaissance Counterpoint (FAGO)
Presented by David Shuler FAGO
Handout
Monday, May 1, 2023
Orchestrations
Presented by Texu Kim
Handout
Monday, April 24, 2023
Transposition (CAGO, AAGO and FAGO)
Presented by Gregory Gyllsdorff FAGO, ChM
Handout
Monday, March 27, 2023
Fugue: Modulation, Episode (AAGO and FAGO)
Presented by Eva Sze FAGO
Handout
March 20, 2023
Fugue: Subjects, Answer, Countersubject (AAGO and FAGO)
Presented by Eva Sze FAGO
Handout
Past Fellowship Exams
Fellowship Exam 2024
Fellowship Exam 2023
Fellowship Exam 2022 Solutions for the 2022 exam Ear Test A Ear Test B
Fellowship Exam 2021 Solutions for the 2021 Exam
The 2020 Fellowship exam was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Fellowship Exam 2019 Solutions for the 2019 Exam
Fellowship Exam 2018 Solutions for the 2018 Exam
Fellowship Exam 2017 Solutions for the 2017 Exam
Fellowship Exam 2016 Solutions for the 2016 Exam
Fellowship Exam 2015 Solutions for the 2015 Exam
Past TAO Articles for Exam Preparation
Preparing for AGO Exams (reprints from 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
Fellowship Ear Training Exercises
The ear training exercises and the past exams below are offered by the AGO Certification Committee for candidates to use to prepare for Fellowship certification. Click on an example, and then refer to the Ear Training Solutions.
Purchase the repertoire for the Fellowship Exam at Cliff Hill Music or Lois Fyfe Music.
