Life Membership FAQs
- What is Life Membership?
- What are the dues for Life Membership?
- What benefits and services will I receive with Life Membership?
- How do I become a Life Member?
- I just found out from a friend about the Life Membership category. I am 67 years old. When I call to request Life Member status, will it be retroactive to when I turned 65?
- I am 58 years of age and have just retired from my career in the public school system. I've been with ASHA for 35 years. Am I eligible for Life Membership?
- I am currently retired, but I might want to work part-time to supplement my income/to volunteer my services. Can I become a Life Member?
- What if I had a break in my membership when I took a year off from work to take care of an ailing family member?
- What is the difference between Life Membership and Retired Certification?
Life Membership is a category of membership available to current ASHA members who meet the following requirements:
- age of at least 65 at the time of application, and
- at least 25 years of consecutive ASHA membership or 35 years of cumulative membership immediately prior to attaining age 65
ASHA's elected volunteer leaders have established eligibility requirements for this and all ASHA membership categories.
What are the dues for Life Membership?
The annual dues for Life Members are $71.
What benefits and services will I receive with Life Membership?
Life Members receive The ASHA Leader, online content for all four ASHA journals with archives going back to 1936, and all other member benefits. In addition, Life Members receive a significant discount on Convention registration fees. View the complete list of ASHA member benefits and services.
How do I become a Life Member?
If you have been an ASHA member for 25 consecutive years or have 35 years of cumulative membership and you must be at least 65 at the beginning of the membership year. Please contact the Action Center's toll free number at 800-498-2071 to request a life membership status. Your Life Membership status will become effective at the beginning of the next year after you made your request. You may be asked to provide verification of your age in the form of a copy of your driver's license, birth certificate, or passport.
I just found out from a friend about the Life Membership category. I am 67 years old. When I call to request Life Member status, will it be retroactive to when I turned 65?
No, it will not be effective retroactively. The change in your membership status will become effective in the year following the year in which you made the request.
I am 58 years of age and have just retired from my career in the public school system. I've been with ASHA for 35 years. Am I eligible for Life Membership?
No. ASHA's Bylaws established the minimum age required for life membership eligibility to be 65. Even if you have more than the required minimum of 25 years of consecutive or 35 years of cumulative ASHA membership, you must also meet the age requirement to be eligible for Life Membership.
I am currently retired, but I might want to work part-time to supplement my income/to volunteer my services. Can I become a Life Member?
Yes, as long as you are at least 65 and have at least 25 consecutive years of ASHA membership or 35 years of cumulative ASHA membership, you will be eligible for Life Membership. However, if you are going to be working, even part time or as a volunteer, you must be certified and complete your certification maintenance requirements.
What if I had a break in my membership when I took a year off from work to take care of an ailing family member?
Life membership is available as long as you have 25 years of uninterrupted membership or 35 years of cumulative membership immediately prior to attaining the age of 65, and you are at least 65 years of age.
What is the difference between Life Membership and Retired Certification?
In accordance with the ASHA Bylaws, Life Membership recognizes ASHA members who have been members for at least 25 consecutive years or have 35 years of cumulative membership immediately prior to attaining age 65 and have reached the minimum age of 65. Life members who continue to provide clinical services are required to meet certification maintenance professional development requirements.
Retired Certification is granted through the Council For Clinical Certification to recognize certificate holders who have held certification for 25 consecutive years or who have reached the age of 65, and are no longer providing clinical services. Retired Certification status exempts individuals from the professional development requirements to maintain certification.
Life Members who are no longer providing clinical services may request a retired certification status. If you believe this status applies to you, please complete and submit the CCC Retired Affidavit form [PDF].
