APA Opens Opt-In Option for Two New Membership Categories

Beginning in 2022, two new membership categories, “semi-retired” and “retired,” approved by the Board of Trustees and Assembly in 2018, will be available. Qualified members can now opt in online to these categories at my.psychiatry.org by clicking on the Retired Opt-In tab through July 31 for the 2022 membership renewal year.

A semi-retired member is defined as a general or life member who is near retirement age and works less than 15 hours a week in all administrative or clinical roles, including consulting. A retired member is defined as a general member who has reached retirement age and is fully retired from all administrative or clinical roles. Each category also has reduced dues rates for APA and district branches.

These categories will replace the Rule of 95* starting with the 2022 membership renewal year. Those in the life category prior to 2022 can remain there or can move into one of the new categories. The Rule of 95 allowed members whose age and years of APA membership equaled or exceeded 95 to become life members and pay dues on a graduated basis. Life status will no longer be tied to the Rule of 95 but will be achieved by either being a member for 30 or more years or paying lump sum dues. The new categories provide more flexibility for a more diverse and changing workforce and simplifies the membership structure.

More information on these changes and the dues structure for the two new membership categories is posted here.

_{*The Rule of 95/life membership, semi-retired, and retired membership categories are not available for international memberships.}