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The American Psychiatric Association and the Connecticut Psychiatric Society are organizations composed primarily of medical specialists who are qualified, or in the process of becoming qualified, as psychiatrists. APA and CPS have a dual membership requirement for members in the United States and Canada. This is terrific because it means with one dues payment you get access to the best federal, state, and local resources. Join APA/CPS by category at the links below:

Assistance: You may join APA/CPS online at the links above. If you have questions, you may call the APA Membership Department at (703) 907-8691 or click here.

Qualifications: The basic eligibility requirement is the completion of a residency program (or currently enrolled in an accredited residency training program) in psychiatry accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Psychiatry of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPS), or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Applicants for membership must also hold a valid medical license (exception: hold an academic, research, or governmental position that does not require licensure), and provide one reference who is an APA member.

Categories of Membership: The APA has a dual membership requirement whereby APA members must also be members of the district branch within whose jurisdiction they reside or practice. Likewise, to be a CPS member, you must also be a member of the APA. 

  • Medical Students are enrolled in a school of medicine, in the U.S. or internationally, including osteopathic medicine are eligible to join the APA as a Medical Student Member.
  • Resident-Fellows are physicians who have been accepted into a psychiatric residency training program that is approved by the ACGME, RCPS(C), or AOA and remain enrolled therein. Residents enrolled in a one-year primary care training program to be followed by an approved psychiatric residency are eligible for Resident-Fellow Member status.
  • Early Career Psychiatrists are General Members of APA who are within their first seven years after completion of training (ACGME accredited residency/fellowship). Dues are reduced for the first six years of General Membership to ease the financial burdens of early-career psychiatrists.
  • General Members are practicing psychiatrists who have completed an acceptable residency training program in psychiatry and hold either a valid license to practice medicine or an academic, research, or governmental position that does not require licensure.
  • Semi-Retired is defined as a General (including Fellow and Distinguished Fellow) or Life Member (including Life Fellow and Distinguished Life Fellow) 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).
  • Retired is defined as a General (including Fellow and Distinguished Fellow) or Life Member (including Life Fellow and Distinguished Life Fellow) who has reached retirement age and is fully retired from all administrative or clinical responsibilities.
  • Life is a designation that can be achieved by either (i) being a member for 30 or more years; or (ii) paying lump sum dues.