Membership

Why become a member?
From early education to retirement planning - from child psychiatry to geriatric psychiatry, the APA's strength comes from its many members and their dedication to the field of psychiatry. Membership in the APA offers a great deal for you, your patients and your practice.
As soon as your membership starts, you can take advantage of benefits such as:

  • Legislative Presence & Other Advocacy
  • Clinical & Research Updates
  • Patient & Public Education
  • Practice Management & Reimbursement
  • Employment Assistance
  • Insurance
  • Member Benefit Programs

Please click here for membership information.

Dues
To encourage continued membership in APA, National Dues have been restructured to take into account of the realities of an Early Career Psychiatrist. They have been reduced and will be increased on a gradual basis up to full General Membership Level. A number of district branches are matching the model on the national level.

Categories of Entry Membership
Medical Student Member (MS) - Individuals who are enrolled in a U.S. or Canadian school of medicine, including osteopathic medicine, and remain enrolled therein. Medical Student Members are dues exempt and are required to belong at the national level only (exempt from dual membership requirement).
Members-in-Training (MT) - Physicians who have been accepted into a psychiatric residency training program that is approved by the ACGME, RCPS(C), or AOA and remain enrolled therein. Residents enrolled in a one-year primary care training program to be followed by an approved psychiatric residency are eligible for Member-in-Training status.
General Members (GM) - Physicians who have completed an acceptable program of training in psychiatry, and hold either a valid license to practice medicine or hold an academic, research, or governmental position that does not require licensure.
International Member (IM) - Physicians who live outside the United States and Canada and who meet the criteria established for General Members. Applicants for this category must be licensed physicians who have completed an acceptable program of training in psychiatry; they must also have the support of one APA member (not including Medical Students and Members-in-Training.
International Fellow (IF) - Physicians who live outside the United States and Canada and who meet the criteria for Fellowship (i.e., having made significant and continued contributions to the field of psychiatry) and who have the support of one Fellow and/or International Fellow of APA.

CME Requirements
All APA members in the active practice of psychiatry must participate in at least 150 hours of continuing medical education activities during a three year reporting period, of which a minimum of 60 hours must be in Category 1 CME activities. Category 1 activities are those programs sponsored or co-sponsored by organizations accredited for CME and that meet specific standards of needs assessments, planning, professional participation and leadership, and evaluation. The Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association satisfies APA CME requirements.

Clinical & Research Updates
Discounts for APA resources including DSM-IV and the Membership Directory: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) is THE standard for psychiatric diagnosis and other evidence-based information.

Legislative Presence & Other Advocacy
APA's Office of Communication and Marketing supports our professional status with public relations initiatives such as Mental Awareness Week, Mental Health Month, and various mental illness screening days. Plus, through the Division of Government Relations, APA maintains ongoing lobbying activities. Recent successes include: Federal parity law and the introduction of a full parity bill for mental illnesses, including substance abuse disorders, and patient protections and fairness to physicians in managed care. Advocacy News, monthly publication for APA members reporting on advocacy developments at the federal and state levels on behalf of you and your patients.

Patient & Public Education
APA provides you with Education Materials on several topics including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Contact the Answer Center to receive FREE sample copy.

Practice Management & Reimbursement
It takes work running your own practice today. That's why you'll want to call for economic and practice management information on anything from a listing of useful practice management software, to information on starting or closing a practice, to fees paid by major managed care organizations, to the cost offset of psychiatric care. If it relates to running a successful psychiatric practice, the Office of Healthcare Systems and Financing and Practice Management can provide assistance. And remember, other Early Career Psychiatrists have gone through similar experiences, we'll be happy to help! Also check out the APA Ethics Committee.

Employment Assistance
Whether you're looking for work or expanding your practice with new staff, APA is there to help. APA's Job Bank lists information on hundreds of available positions that APA members can access for FREE. Plus, this computerized service helps employers locate qualified physician candidates currently looking for employment.

Malpractice Insurance
Choosing a malpractice insurance policy is one of the first - and most important - decisions you will face in your career. The APA-endorsed Professional Liability Insurance Program (The Program) offers the most tailored coverage and risk management advice available for psychiatrists. To ease the transition from residency to entering a practice, The Program offers discounts for first-year, second-year and third year in practice as well as discounts for child/adolescent, part-time, risk management education and more. Participants have access to the toll-free Risk Management Consultation Service helpline, risk management seminars and articles. For more information on The Program, visit www.APA-PLIP.com or call 1-800-245-3333, ext. 389.