Join ASPA
Information and Resources for ASPA membership
Membership Categories
Membership categories include full member and affiliate member. Select the category below to see individual benefits for each.
Full Member
A specialized and professional accrediting organization with a national scope that accredits higher education programs or institutions that prepare individuals for entry into practice in a specialized discipline or defined profession, or educate individuals in a concentrated area of study.
Learn More About Full Membership
Why become a Full Member?
Benefits of ASPA membership
- Unified and common voice for issues of importance to specialized accreditation and higher education nationally.
- Net-working and peer interaction in conference settings; participating in a community of specialized accreditors; sharing best practices in carrying out accreditation work; benchmarking to improve performance.
- Professional development for volunteers, staff and educators as well as opportunities to learn from other accreditors.
- Current information on pertinent issues and important developments.
- Advocacy to broader communities including higher education, government, regional and national accreditors, and recognition bodies.
- Enhancement of the credibility and image of accreditation through endorsement of the ASPA-Member Code of Good Practice.
Member Services
- Regular newsletters to broad community and e-letters within membership.
- Development of position papers on issues and good practices.
- In person and written representation on specialized accreditation on legislation and recognition issues to stakeholders.
- Proprietary database of member profiles and organization structure.
- Periodic compensation survey.
- Access to internal e-list to gather and share information within the membership.
Full Membership Eligibility Criteria
For Full ASPA Membership, the accrediting organization must:
- Demonstrate that it meets ASPA’s definition of Specialized or Professional and the supporting definitions (see list of definitions);
- endorse the ASPA-Member Code of Good Practice; and
- Submit the application and other required materials with the application fee of $500.00.
If the membership criteria are met and the applicant is accepted into membership by the ASPA Board of Directors, the term of membership will continue as long as the organization is a member in good standing.
Dues
Membership is contingent upon payment of current dues.
Dues for July, 1 2015 – June 30, 2016 are $4,700 + ($8.00 multiplied by the number of institutions that sponsor accredited programs, capped at 500). Dues will be pro-rated based on the date of approval for membership.
Affiliate Member
An organization with a defined interest in education and quality assurance, but which does not meet the criteria for full member eligibility as a programmatic accreditor. Examples: professional associations, organizations providing continuing education, regional accreditors, national institutional accreditors, and vendors to the higher education community. An organization eligible for full ASPA membership is not eligible for affiliate membership.
OR
An individual interested in the mission and purposes of ASPA. Examples: Persons serving as accreditation directors within institutions, faculty, staff of professional associations, peer reviewers, education consultants, curriculum designers, deans, and program directors. An individual employed by an organization eligible for full ASPA membership is not eligible for affiliate membership.
Learn More About Affliate Membership
Why become an Affiliate?
Organizations and individuals who become affiliate members of ASPA benefit with reduced fees for open meetings and educational offerings, networking and peer interaction and the opportunity to engage on recognition and higher education issues.
Accreditor Members
See a full list of accreditors who are members of ASPA and the professions and fields of study for which they set quality standards.
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