FAQs About National Membership in NSSLHA
Eligibility
Becoming a Member
Membership Renewal
Who can apply for membership?
National membership is available to full- or part-time undergraduate and graduate students and to full time doctoral students interested in the study of human communication and its related disabilities. Communication Science Disorders (CSD) and Audiology majors are the most common among our members.
Students enrolled in Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) programs and students enrolled in a CSD program at a university outside of the United States are eligible for membership in the national association. Students may also join the national association even if there is not a chapter at the university where you are a student.
Students are NOT eligible if they've applied for or have received the Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCCs) from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). However, a graduate student with the CCCs is eligible for the "graduate student" membership category through ASHA. Students who qualify for this membership category are advised to contact the Action Center at 800-498-2071 for further information.
If I joined the local chapter of NSSLHA, can I receive national membership benefits?
If you belong to a local NSSLHA chapter, you are not official members of the national association and are not eligible to receive the benefits of national membership. You must apply to our national NSSLHA membership application to receive national benefits.
Read the FAQs about local vs. national membership to help with your decision. The student that benefits the most has membership in both!
Are national members bound to a code of ethics?
National members are not bound to a code of ethics. Instead the national association has developed professional guidelines for students to follow. The professional guidelines should be used by programs as a standard for conduct among students pursuing a professional degree in the communication sciences and disorders.
When is the best time to apply for national membership?
The national membership benefit period is from January through December and students must renew annually to retain their benefits if they still meet the eligibility requirements.
A student who applies for national membership between August 1 and December 31 as a NEW member receives membership and member benefits for the balance of the year and all of the following year.
Note to Master's/Doctoral Graduates: If you are applying for the year of your graduation (Example: 2010), by default, you will be given membership for the current year (Example: 2009 instead of 2010)to qualify you for the NSSLHA to ASHA Membership Conversion Discount. This will only happen prior to December 31. Otherwise, you will only have membership for the following year and not be eligible for the conversion discount. Read the FAQs about the Conversion Discount for more details about this program.
How do I apply for national membership?
National membership applications are available through your local NSSLHA chapter or you may join by one of the following methods:
- Applying Online
- Downloading the National Membership Brochure and Application [PDF] and mailing it with the payment to:
NSSLHA, P.O. Box 1160 #450, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
- Calling the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071 and enroll over the phone with a major credit card (MasterCard or Visa only).
What are the benefits of national membership?
National NSSLHA members receive all the benefits of an ASHA member at 1/3 the costs. Read a detailed explanation of benefits of national membership.
How long does it take to process the membership application?
It takes between 2–4 weeks on average to process a national membership application. August to February are the busiest months for application processing and therefore processing will take longer. The months of March and May through July are not as busy and membership processing is shorter.
Once a membership application is processed, a welcome e-mail from NSSLHA will be sent to you with your NSSLHA membership number. You will receive a membership card in the mail with your NSSLHA membership number within 14 to 21 days after processing is completed. The membership card should be retained for future reference, as it is helpful when making inquiries about the status of national membership.
How soon after I join are my benefits available?
Access to online member benefits and affiliate member benefits begin almost immediately upon joining. A new member should read the NSSLHA New Member Information to access those membership benefits immediately.
A new member will receive The ASHA Leader and other NSSLHA print publications, as soon as they are available. ASHA and NSSLHA journals are released on a schedule and are available online only. Consult the NSSLHA and ASHA Publication schedule to determine the publication run dates.
How do I change my name and address?
Learn more about how NSSLHA members may change their name, address, and/or update degree information.
I was a member of NSSLHA as an undergraduate. How do I reapply for national membership as a graduate student?
If your membership has lapsed for one year or more, complete the NSSLHA New Membership Application Form and enclose payment (check or credit card), making sure that you have indicated the month and year you expect to receive your master's or doctoral degree, and your journal choice on the application.
How will I know when it is time to renew my national membership?
National membership dues are collected in January of every year for members that are renewing their membership. An invoice is sent to members from the National Office in October reminding them that their membership will expire December 31. If that reminder is not acknowledged another reminder is sent in February. Read the Membership Renewal FAQ's.
Are the membership dues that I pay to the national association tax-deductible?
Dues payments to the national association are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. However, they may be deductible under other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
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