| Membership Categories and Eligibility |
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You may join as a Member or as one of four types of Associate members. PRSA membership is not transferable (unless joining as part of a group; see below for details): |
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| Member (M) |
| Two or more years experience in public relations. $225 annual dues. Initiation fees may also be due. |
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Associate Member
Associate members do not pay initiation fees. |
Associate Member (AM1)
Less than one year experience in public relations. AM1 members are automatically upgraded to AM2 after one year of membership. $115 annual dues.
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Associate Member (AM2)
One to two years experience in public relations. AM2 members are automatically upgraded to Member after one year of membership. $155 annual dues.
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Associate Member, PRSSA Graduate (AMPG)
You must be an active PRSSA member at the time of graduation. Your application must be submitted within two years of graduating or up to five months before graduation. AMPG Members are automatically upgraded to Member after two years of membership. $60 annual dues.
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Associate Member, Graduate Student (AMGS)
You must be enrolled full-time in an advanced degree program for the purpose of teaching or practicing public relations. Proof of full-time matriculation is required and must be submitted with your application. You may remain an AMGS member for a maximum of six years, as long as you are a full-time student. $60 annual dues.
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| Group Membership |
Groups of eight or more individuals from the same organization receive special benefits and discounted rates on dues for the first year. One annual group invoice and the transferability of memberships are benefits only available to groups. Although a group membership may include current members, a minimum of six group members must be new or lapsed (more than 1 year) PRSA members. All members of the group must join as the same member type: Member or Associate (less than two years experience). Group members may be in various locales. Each group member receives all PRSA member benefits. For more information about group memberships please e-mail us.
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Eligibility for Membership
To qualify for membership, you must devote a substantial portion of time (at least 50%) to the paid professional practice of public relations* or to the teaching or administration of public relations curriculum in an Accredited college or university and adhere to the PRSA Member Code of Ethics. If you are currently not employed, a position held within the last five years must meet the above requirement, or you must have one of the following: a degree in public relations; another academic degree from a program which meets the standards for a PRSSA Charter or a program that has received PRSA Certification for Education in Public Relations; or you have achieved Accreditation in Public Relations.
*This includes any combination of the following functions:
Community relations...consumer affairs/public affairs...employee relations...financial communications/investor relations...government relations...institutional/corporate advertising...marketing communications...media relations...public relations counseling...public relations management/administration...public relations teaching...research...special events...other.
Join PRSA today! Also visit our homepage for details of any membership promotions.
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| Retired Members |
Members who have retired from full time employment may switch to retired member status if they are working less than 20 hours a week without the intent of returning to work full time, and have been a PRSA member in good standing for five or more consecutive years. Individuals may not join PRSA as retired members.
National dues for retired members are $50 per year. Retired members continue to receive all member benefits. Chapter and Professional Interest Section dues are additional. Some Chapters charge reduced dues for retired members, and retired members pay $15 per year for Professional Interest Sections (excluding Counselors Academy). Contact Member Services at 212-460-1400 or e-mail us with any questions. |
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| Dues |
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| Online Dues Renewal |
Renew your National, Chapter, Professional Interest Section and/or Affinity Group dues online with just a few clicks of your keyboard. If your membership is active and you have received a renewal invoice, you can renew online (credit card payments only).
To renew online visit MemberNet and select "My Dues" from the menu. Don't know your MemberNet username or password? Contact Member Services at 212-460-1400 or e-mail us.
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| Quarterly Dues Payments |
PRSA members have the option of renewing their membership with this payment plan. Your National dues will be automatically charged to your credit card each quarter (sorry, no checks or wire transfer payments, and we cannot defer any charges). Your Chapter, Professional Interest Section, and/or Affinity Group dues, plus a $10 annual service fee, will be charged in full in the first payment. Members cannot renew online if they have opted for quarterly dues billing. PRSA will continue to bill for quarterly dues until notified to do so otherwise by the member. A bimonthly e-mail is sent to members who have opted for quarterly payments to remind them how it works. To sign up for this program, contact Member Services at 212-460-1400 or e-mail us.
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| Reinstating Your Membership |
Inactive members may reinstate their membership with PRSA. You may reinstate by phone with a credit card, or request an invoice. A $35 reinstatement fee may be due. Contact Member Services at 212-460-1400 or e-mail us.
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| Chapter Dues |
Please refer to the Chapter dues page. Click here to find the Chapter(s) in your area.
Transferring a Chapter Membership
A member wishing to transfer their Chapter membership to another Chapter should
notify Member Services. Please provide your new contact
information if you are relocating. National will contact the current and new Chapters
to inform them of the transfer. PRSA may invoice you for the dues for the new Chapter. Contact Member Services at 212-460-1400 or e-mail us.
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| Affinity Group Dues |
New Professionals Affinity Group: $20 annual dues.
Members with three or less years' experience
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| Professional Interest Section Dues |
Professional Interest Sections are designed to focus on important public relations issues, trends and research in a specific area of practice.
Professional Interest Sections offer many programs and benefits including: teleseminars, in-person conferences and seminars, programs and networking events at the annual PRSA International Conference, newsletters, monographs/white papers, and online discussion forums. Offerings vary by Section.
In addition to the benefits of regular membership, Professional Interest Sections strengthen your expertise (and marketability) through seminars, workshops, conferences, newsletters, professional papers, listserves, Web sites, and more — all focused on your unique environment.
Dues for each Section are $60 per year unless noted: | Association/Nonprofit | | Corporate | | Corporate Social Responsibility | | Counselors Academy* | | Educators Academy | | Employee Communications | | Entertainment and Sports | | Environmental | | Financial Communications | | Food and Beverage | | Health Academy | | Independent Practitioners Alliance | | International | | Military and Public Safety | | Multicultural Communications | | Public Affairs and Government | | Technology | | Travel and Tourism | | *Counselors Academy has higher dues and separate eligibility requirements. |
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