Go to the Dues Renewal section of our Web site and enter your ASHA number and last name. A dues/fees invoice will appear on the screen; however, the amount due will be omitted when you print it out. Please be sure to complete the amount being paid before mailing.

If you do not have Internet access, please contact the Action Center at 800-498-2071 to request one. Please allow 7 business days for your request to be fulfilled.

How can I obtain a receipt?

Go to the Dues Renewal section of our Web site and enter your ASHA number and last name. If your payment was posted, a receipt will appear on the screen. Click the Printer Friendly Receipt link, which will bring your receipt up on the screen for you to print. If you do not have Internet access, please contact the Action Center at 800-498-2071 to request a receipt.

What do I do if I have a payment claim?

If our records indicate that we have not received your payment, we need to identify your account and obtain the following information:

When the payment was sent.
Where the payment was sent.
Was the payment made by check? If so, please submit the check number, amount, check date, and the name of the payer who issued the check. (Third parties frequently send payments on behalf of someone else.)
Specify to what the payment was to be applied.
Check with your bank to determine if the check has been cashed. If it was, you will need to fax legible copies of the front and back of the canceled check to our Accounts Receivable department at 301-296-8582.
If the payment was made by credit card, fax a copy of the credit card statement showing the line item for the ASHA charge and the last four digits of the credit card number to our Accounts Receivable department at 301-296-8582.

My receipt shows that my payment was applied to something else! What should I do?

If your receipt shows your payment was not applied correctly, please contact the Action Center at 800-498-2071.

Can my employer (or some other third party) pay my dues/fees?

We are pleased to accept payment from any source on behalf of our members/ affiliates. However, we do not accept purchase orders to bill third parties. Nor do we bill third parties directly. Members/affiliates may provide their invoices to third parties for payment on their behalf if the parties agree.

It is the responsibility of ASHA members/affiliates 1) to ensure that their dues/fees, when paid by a third party, are received in time to avoid late fees, 2) to make certain that their ASHA number is on the check, 3) to make the check payable to ASHA in U.S. funds, and finally, to make certain that your payment is accompanied by your dues invoice.

Please mail your payment to:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
P.O. Box 79952
Baltimore, MD 21279-0952

Written inquiries should be directed to:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard, #435
Rockville, MD 20850

Where can I find the list of codes used on ASHA and NSSLHA dues/fees invoices?

The code sheet was included in the envelope containing the dues invoice mailed to every member in October. You may also download and print the ASHA code sheet [PDF] and/or the NSSLHA code sheet [PDF].

Can I deduct my membership dues/fees on my income tax return?

Dues payments to ASHA, classified by the IRS as a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization, are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. However, they may be deductible under other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code subject to restrictions imposed as a result of lobbying activities. In those situations where dues may be deductible, ASHA estimates that the nondeductible portion of your 2009 dues ($200) is 5%. The nondeductible amount (5%) is calculated by dividing total ASHA lobbying expenditures by total dues income (excluding all other income).

If you have further questions, we recommend that you consult with your tax advisor.

Refunds

Can I cancel my membership/affiliation and receive a refund?

Members/affiliates desiring cancellation of paid membership dues/fees are advised to call ASHA's Action Center at 800-498-2071. Refunds are not permitted after January 1 for the year in which fees are due.

Two payments were mistakenly made for my annual dues/fees. How and when can I expect to receive a refund?

We issue refunds of duplicate dues/fees payments based on the method of payment used for the second payment received. If the first payment was by check and the second payment was by credit card, the refund is made to the credit card. If the first payment was made by credit card and the second payment was made by check, the refund is made by check. Please allow 6 weeks for a check refund to be issued and 2 weeks for a credit to be issued to your credit card.

I made out the check for my dues/fee payment for too much money. How and when can I expect a refund of my overpayment?

We automatically issue overpayment refunds 4 weeks after your payment was deposited. This is to ensure that checks are not recharged to our bank after the refund occurs. When overpayments have been made by credit card, refunds are credited to the same credit card account that was charged within 3 business days. It may take up to an additional 3 business days for the credit to appear on your credit card account.

Category Changes

How do I become a 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, call the Action Center's toll free number, 800-498-2071, to request that your status be changed to Life member. 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. Your Life membership status will become effective at the beginning of the next year after you made your request.

What is the difference between Life Member status and Retired Certification?

In accordance with the ASHA Bylaws, Life member status recognizes ASHA members who have been members for at least 25 consecutive years immediately prior to reaching age 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, but who 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 member status and Retired Certification offer a discounted annual dues/fee of $57 per /year.

I will be a stay-at-home parent (or will be staying home to care for a sick relative). Does ASHA have an inactive status?

To maintain your current status with ASHA, your dues/fees must be paid annually. Certified Members and Nonmembers may apply for Inactive Certification status, which provides a temporary exemption from professional development requirements. To learn more about the Inactive Certification status, visit our Certification Maintenance section of the ASHA Web site.

My doctor has declared me physically unable to work. Do you have a Medical Inactive status?

Members and certificate holders who have been declared medically unable to work by a physician may be eligible for Life Disability status or Inactive Certification status with ASHA. To be eligible for this benefit you must:

Have 5 years of consecutive membership or certification with the Association
Provide a letter from your physician or proof of disability payments from the state or Social Security Administration
Members who provide the above-mentioned documentation receive a waiver from paying membership dues until they return to work. Certificate holders who provide the above-mentioned documentation will not be required to accumulate 30 contact hours of professional development every 3 years. In addition, evidence of your inability to work will be required on a periodic basis.

I am a graduate student—is there a dues reduction available?

Yes, Certified members who are enrolled part/full time in any accredited graduate program may pay reduced dues of $120.00. You must provide a form confirming your student status. [PDF]. The requested documentation must be signed and validated by the institution’s Office of the Registrar. Members who return to school may receive this benefit for a maximum of 7 years.

If you are not currently certified by ASHA, and not in the process of becoming certified, and are enrolled in an eligible doctorate program in the area of communication sciences and disorders, you may apply for membership in NSSLHA (National Student Speech-Language- Hearing Association) for $60.00 annual dues. Please visit NSSLHA's Web site for more information.

Certification/Professional Development

Do I have to be an ASHA member to be certified?

No, you do not have to be a member of ASHA to be certified. However, to maintain your Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCCs), your certification fee of $174 must be paid annually. Certified nonmembers must also comply with the Certification Maintenance standard that requires participation in 30 contact hours of professional development during each 3-year maintenance interval.

Do my annual ASHA dues include the Continuing Education (CE) Registry fee?

No. There is an additional fee to use the ASHA CE Registry. This fee can be found on your dues/fees invoice directly below the dues/fees amount. The annual CE Registry fee for ASHA/NSSLHA members is $24, and $34 for certificate holders and nonmembers.

Am I required to participate in continued professional development to maintain my certification?

Yes. All certificate holders are required to accumulate 30 certification maintenance hours every 3 years to maintain the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence. The Guidelines for Maintaining Certification are available on the ASHA Web site.

Members who do not hold certification are not subject to the professional development requirements for certification maintenance.

If you have additional questions, contact the Action Center at 800-498-2071 or send and e-mail inquiry to cccmaintenance@asha.org.

NSSLHA Students

Can NSSLHA members renew online?

Yes, NSSLHA members can renew their dues online. You will find a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding renewal for NSSLHA members on the NSSLHA Web site.

I am a NSSLHA member who graduated from a master's program in 2008. Do I need to renew my NSSLHA membership, or should I apply for conversion to ASHA membership and certification?

NSSLHA members who have graduated from a master's or doctoral program should refer to the information for 2008/2009 master's and doctoral graduates on the NSSLHA Web site, or contact the Action Center at 800-498-2071 to determine their status.

Journals

Do I have the option of changing my journal selection when I renew my dues?

All four ASHA scholarly journals are online with full-text access by all members at http://journals.asha.org. Not only can you read current and recent issues, but there is also an archive housed on this site that goes back as far as 1970. By following a link on any of the journal’s home pages, you can sign up to receive e-mail alerts for new journal content by journal title, key words, or author.

Members who cannot access the journals online or who prefer receiving a print journal may:

elect to receive one of the journals above as a member benefit, and
may subscribe to additional journals at a special member rate. Call the Action Center at 1-800-498-2071 to sign up to receive one print journal at no cost, and to set up additional subscriptions, if desired.

Special Interest Divisions

Am I eligible for membership in the Special Interest Divisions?

ASHA members are eligible to join one or more of 16 Special Interest Divisions. Special Interest Division Affiliates are eligible to vote for division leadership positions and to hold Division office. International Affiliates and NSSLHA members are eligible to join as Associate Affiliates. They enjoy all Affiliate benefits with the exception of voting and holding office. Affiliate fees are $35.00 for ASHA members, $45.00 for International Affiliates, and $10.00 per calendar year for NSSLHA members and full-time graduate students.

ASHA Political Action Committee

If my employer pays my membership dues and I choose to contribute to the ASHA-PAC, can my employer pay for my ASHA-PAC contribution as well?

No. ASHA-PAC cannot accept corporate contributions, only personal checks made payable to ASHA-PAC, or payment with a Visa or MasterCard. The only lawful exception is a check or Visa or MasterCard payment received from the private practice of an ASHA member who is contributing to the PAC on behalf of him or herself. To find out more information, you may send an e-mail to PAC@asha.org.