• The APA instituted two new membership categories that replaced the Rule of 95* effective January 1, 2022 as approved by the Board of Trustees and Assembly in 2018.
• The newly created categories of semi-retired and retired provide more flexibility for a more diverse and changing workforce and simplify the membership structure.
• Members must opt-in by December 31 to take advantage of this for the coming dues year or have not paid their current year dues if after January 1.

*Members who entered the Rule of 95 in 2021 or earlier will pay reduced dues for ten years before becoming dues exempt.

• A General or Life Member who is near retirement age and works less than 15 hours per week in any administrative or clinical role or roles (i.e. across multiple settings).
• Members in this category will continue to receive all member benefits and be able to vote and hold office.
• APA dues will be 50% of APA's current full dues rate; District Branch and State Association dues may not exceed more than half of their current full dues rates (i.e. dues can be less but not more).

• A General or Life Member who has reached retirement age and is fully retired from all administrative or clinical responsibilities.
• Members in this category will continue to receive all member benefits and be able to vote and hold office.
• APA dues will be 1/3 of APA's current full dues rate; District Branch and State Association dues may not exceed more than one-third of their current full dues rates.

• Not currently, as these categories were developed to replace the Rule of 95, which was available for members in the United States and Canada.
• If you are age 70 or older and are retired, you may contact APA Membership at [email protected] to learn more about the retired dues waiver option.

• You may opt-in at any point in the year. If you have not remitted your dues yet for the current year, you may switch your membership category by following the opt-in process. If you have remitted your dues already, you can opt-in and approved members will be recognized and invoiced at the retired or semi-retired rate for the following renewal year.
• You may opt in by logging in to your member profile at my.psychiatry.org and clicking "Retired Opt In" on the left side of the page, which will be available all year other than August 1 – October 31.
• Between August 1 and October 31 of each year, you can opt in by contacting your Membership Coordinator.
• The form will include an attestation that must be read and checked off before proceeding. Attestation will ask the member to ethically certify that they meet the requirements and will let us know if any change occurs in the future that affects their qualification for these categories.
• The DBs and members of the APA can submit evidence that challenges the status of a member.

You will qualify if you are earning less (working 15 or fewer hours) or not earning any income, regardless of whether it is directly or not directly related to psychiatry (i.e. consulting, teaching, etc.). You will still need to meet the requirements of membership.

Starting in Spring 2021, for the 2022 renewal year, those who are currently in the Rule of 95 (LM1 – LM) can choose to opt into full dues paying, semi-retired and retired categories, OR can remain in the Rule of 95. A member cannot move back into the Rule 95 category once they have opted into a new category.

If you were a Life Member in the Rule of 95 in or prior to 2021, there is a one-year grace period through December 31, 2022 to reinstate back into the Rule of 95. Beginning January 1, 2023, if you reinstate your membership, it will need to be as a General Member (including Fellow or Distinguished Fellow), Retired or Semi-Retired, all at the current dues rates for those categories.

Dues Waivers and temporary inactive status moving forward is limited to those Members who have had an event that temporarily impacts their ability to work (such as a serious illness or job loss) and shall not be used to accommodate Semi-Retired or Retired Members starting with the 2022 renewal period.

Yes, as long as you meet membership criteria and criteria for the category that you will be opting into. You will need to submit an application for approval in advance of opting-in.

Yes, you will automatically matriculate to the Life status after 30 years of qualifying membership or paying lump sum dues. Beginning in 2022, there is no reduction of dues for any new life member not already in the Rule of 95 as of 2021.

Yes, you will automatically matriculate to the Life status designations after 30 years of qualifying membership or paying lump sum dues.

Learn more about lump sum dues for APA here APA Lump Sum Dues

• District Branches can reproduce APA information about this on their website or link to psychiatry.org.
• APA's Membership Team will be available to answer questions. Email [email protected].