Eligibility
To be a full member of APA you need a doctoral degree in psychology or a related field from: a regionally accredited institution; a school that achieved such accreditation within five years of the doctoral degree; or a school of similar standing outside of the United States. Your degree needs to be based, in part, upon a psychological dissertation or other evidence of proficiency in psychological scholarship. If your degree is from an institution outside of the United States you’ll need to show U.S. equivalency.
Don’t meet these criteria? That’s OK—we still welcome your participation. APA offers other membership categories that may be a better fit for you. To browse other options see Types of Membership.
APA membership is effective January 1 through December 31. If you join APA between September 1 and December 31, you will enjoy membership through the next calendar year.
Benefits
APA Membership offers a wide array of personal and professional benefits, including:
Expert career support
Career and professional development information tailored just for APA members.
Information on trends across psychology
Nine issues per year of the American Psychologist journal and 11 issues per year of Monitor on Psychology magazine
Even more information, for less
Discounts on APA books, videos, journals and online databases.
Lifelong learning
Access to a range of high-quality CE offerings including discounts on fee-based programs.
Advanced networking opportunities
Eligibility for membership in one of APA’s 54 divisions, and deep member discounts on registration for the APA Annual Convention.
A voice in APA governance
Voting rights and eligibility for election into APA governing bodies.
Additional savings opportunities
Discounts on brand-name products and services including car rentals, financial services and office supplies.
Support psychology
Feel good knowing your participation and dues support a variety of activities and programs that help move psychology, and society, forward. Every day, APA works to advance psychology education, training and research through programs and advocacy at the federal level. At the same time, APA works to expand the public’s access to, and understanding of, psychology through programs and partnerships with organizations like the YMCA, PTA and more.
Dues
Enjoy a special introductory rate of just $99 for the first year. Full member dues increase gradually over eight years to a base rate of $274.
- Year 1: $99
- Year 2: $99
- Year 3: $99
- Year 4: $124
- Year 5: $124
- Year 6: $124
- Year 7: $174
- Year 8: $224
- Year 9+: $274
Division Membership
APA’s 54 special interest divisions offer opportunities to network and grow within a specific area of psychology. Division membership is in addition to APA membership. However, most divisions offer free or low-cost membership for first-year members. Learn more about division membership.
Dues for CPA Members
Members living in Canada who belong to the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) are eligible to receive a 50% reduction on APA dues. Notify APA in writing to receive this discount.