Candidate Eligibility Requirements

All candidates for the APA National Election must be current, active voting members of the APA. Voting members of the APA are of the following member classifications: Resident-Fellow Member, General Member, Fellow, Distinguished Fellow, Distinguished Life Fellow, Life Fellow and Life Member. Medical Students and International Members are not eligible to run for national office.

Officers (President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer)

Candidates generally have leadership and governance experience within the APA and/or other organizations as well as a demonstrated capability to undertake the specific responsibilities of an APA Officer. Candidates are vetted by the National Nominating Committee, chaired by the immediate Past President.

Trustee-at-Large

Candidates generally have leadership experience within the APA and/or other organizations. Candidates are vetted by the National Nominating Committee.

Area Trustee

Candidates must be from the respective Area open for election – Area 1: New England & Eastern Canada, Area 2: New York, Area 3: Middle Atlantic, Area 4: North Central, Area 5: South & Puerto Rico, Area 6: California, Area 7: West & Western Canada. Area Trustee candidate nominations are vetted by each respective Area. Area Nominating Committees submit recommendations to the National Nominating Committee for consideration.

Community Engagement and Access (CEA) Trustee

Community Engagement and Access (CEA) Trustee candidates are vetted by Community Engagement and Access (CEA) vetting panel who submit recommendations to the National Nominating Committee for consideration.

Early Career Psychiatrist (ECP) Trustee-at-Large

Candidates must be in the first seven (7) years after becoming eligible to be a General Member; eligibility begins upon completion of training. ECP candidates are vetted by an ECP Nominating Subcommittee who submits recommendations to the National Nominating Committee for consideration.

Resident-Fellow Member Trustee-Elect (RFMTE)

Candidate must have the member classification Resident-Fellow Member (RFM). Because the RFMTE position is a two-year term with the RFMTE advancing to the Resident-Fellow Member Trustee (RFMT) position after the first year, candidates must be RFMs throughout the full two-year term. RFMs who are PGY-3 residents should be prepared to state their intent to continue through PGY-5. Candidates must complete the RFM Trustee Nomination Release Form (.pdf) and submit it to [email protected]. RFMTE candidates are vetted by a RFMTE Nominating Subcommittee who submits recommendations to the National Nominating Committee for consideration. The resident elected as RFMTE/RFMT cannot, while serving as RFMTE/RFMT, simultaneously belong to or hold a position as an RFM Area Representative or Deputy Representative, or any APA/American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) fellowship.