What is Life Membership?
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 years of ASHA 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 $57.
What benefits and services will I receive with Life Membership?
Life Members receive The ASHA Leader, online content for all four ASHA journals from 1980 to date, 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?
Call the Action Center's toll free number, 800-498-2071, to request that your status be changed to Life Member. If you are at least 65 years old at the time of your request, and have held ASHA membership for a minimum of 25 consecutive years immediately prior to attaining the age of 65, 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 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, you will be eligible for Life Membership.
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 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 immediately prior to attaining age 65 and have reached the minimum age of 65. Retired Certification is an exemption from the professional development requirements to maintain certification. It is granted through the Council For Clinical Certification to recognize certificate holders who have held certification for 25 consecutive years and who have reached the age of 65, and are no longer providing clinical services. Many Life Members continue to provide clinical services, and so they would not qualify for the exemption to the certification maintenance requirement. Both Life Membership and Retired Certification offer a discounted annual dues/fee of $57/year.
I'm not a member of ASHA, but I've been certified for 25 consecutive years and am 65 years old. Will I qualify for the discounted annual fee?
No. The Life Member discount is a benefit enjoyed by ASHA members. However, if you are a certificate holder who qualifies for Retired Certification, that is, you no longer provide clinical services, you will receive the discounted annual fee of $57/year.
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