ASHA New Dues Information
To meet rising costs caused by inflation, ASHA will change its dues for the 2025 membership year. Certified Member dues will rise to $250 (a $25 increase) beginning in 2025. Some types of membership and affiliation will also increase 11%. Initial application fees for new professionals will be reduced.
The updated membership dues structure is outlined below.
General Information About the Dues Increase
- When will the change affect me?
- How were these decisions made? By whom?
- What specific factors did the Board consider when voting to raise dues?
- Why are dues increasing for most memberships?
- Why are fees decreasing for new applicants?
- Has ASHA been blocking member comments about the dues increase on social media?
Financials
- Where does all of ASHA’s revenue go?
- Does the ASHA Board of Directors (BOD) receive any financial compensation for their work with ASHA?
- Why do we pay more for membership in our Association than physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) pay for membership in their respective associations?
Membership
- What are my member benefits?
- What is the cost of ASHA membership?
- Is access to journals included as part of my ASHA membership?
- Why aren’t professional development opportunities included in my dues?
Certification
- Why should I maintain my CCCs in addition to my state license?
- How can I become a certified non-member?
Advocacy
- What are you doing to advocate for us?
- What are you doing to help school-based SLPs with their salaries?
- Instead of raising dues, why aren’t you addressing salaries and caseloads?
- Does ASHA advocate for the Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCCs) to be required for practice?
- How does ASHA work with state associations?
- How does ASHA determine which politicians to donate to?
| ASHA Dues and Fees | |
|---|---|
| Category | 2025 Price |
| Certified member | $250 |
| Graduate student certified member | $150 |
| Member without certification | $90 |
| Certified nonmember | $221 |
| Life member | $71 |
| International affiliate | $75 |
| Certified assistant | $125 |
| ASHA Discount Application Fees | |
|---|---|
| Application Type | 2025 Fee |
| New Professional Membership Package | $490 |
| NSSLHA to ASHA Membership Conversion Discount | $240 |
General Information About the Dues Increase
When will the change affect me?
Payment for the 2025 membership year is due by December 31, 2024. You can pay your 2025 ASHA dues beginning in September 2024.
How were these decisions made? By whom?
The ASHA Board of Directors (BOD) votes to set dues every year. This year, the Financial Planning Board (FPB) recommended dues increases to meet rising costs. After careful analysis, the BOD approved the FPB’s recommendation.
What specific factors did the Board consider when voting to raise dues?
The decision to increase dues was informed by the 2023 preliminary financial results and updated projections for 2024. These results and projections underscored the increasing difficulty of obtaining a positive bottom line, which is required in ASHA’s Bylaws to
- sustain the organization’s fiscal trajectory moving forward and
- best support ASHA members and affiliates.
ASHA’s dues have remained steady for the past 15 years—even though inflation during that time increased an average of 6% each year. Over the last several years, ASHA has drawn on its reserves to forego a dues increase. Drawing on reserves as a routine measure is unsustainable; without an increase in dues, ASHA would be forced to draw even more from its reserves, thus limiting the ability to fund new initiatives and potentially causing the Association to eliminate certain services.
In addition, inflation has impacted ASHA’s operations. Items such as information technology costs (e.g., websites, online tools, and other related systems) have increased by more than 200% over the past 5 years. We cut expenses wherever possible and worked hard to increase non-dues revenue. Ultimately, however, we cannot sustain our current programs—much less add the new programs and support those programs critical to meeting member needs—without increasing dues.
Why are dues increasing for most memberships?
It’s necessary for ASHA to raise dues to meet rising costs caused by inflation. Since ASHA last raised its dues 15 years ago, the costs of providing programs, services, and products to members has increased. Updated dues will help us strengthen existing supports and create new professional tools.
Why are fees decreasing for new applicants?
ASHA recognizes the need to ease barriers to resources for early-career professionals. ASHA made this choice to encourage and invest in the new audiologists and speech-language pathologists joining our community.
Has ASHA been blocking member comments about the dues increase on social media?
We have not turned off comments on our social media posts and are leaving all comments on our posts visible, except for those that include profanity or bullying violations against other members and comments that violate our community guidelines.
We did turn off our Facebook reviews because of misinformation and inaccuracies being included in reviews.
We do not control Google reviews, but Google uses automated spam detection measures and will remove reviews that they classify as spam.
Financials
Where does all of ASHA’s revenue go?
For information on how ASHA’s revenue is allocated, and what you get for your dues, please visit Understanding Where Your ASHA Dues Money Goes.
Does the ASHA Board of Directors (BOD) receive any financial compensation for their work with ASHA?
Except for the ASHA chief executive officer (CEO), who is a non-voting member of the BOD, ASHA Board members are unpaid volunteers. Board members must be current ASHA members. Their member dues are not compensated by the Association. Although the Board does receive reimbursement for required travel undertaken as part of their official duties, they receive no compensation for their volunteer work.
Why do we pay more for membership in our Association than physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) pay for membership in their respective associations?
Dues for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) are $295 annually. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) recently started offering three tiers of membership; their middle (most popular) tier is $229 annually. Both fees cover membership only. Certification is an additional cost.
Membership
What are my member benefits?
To make sure you’re taking full advantage of ASHA’s support, visit your ASHA member benefits webpage.
ASHA is committed to collaborating with members to advocate for your needs, promote your work’s value, and provide trusted practical tools. As a member, you have access to a deep network to help you problem-solve.
If you want to advocate for an issue, if you want to talk through a professional challenge in a one-on-one consultation, or if you wish you had a specific tool to make your work easier, contact ASHA’s Action Center. We’ll connect you to ASHA’s supports. Your question may inspire a new resource!
What is the cost of ASHA membership?
- Certification without membership: $199 (increasing to $221 in 2025)
- Membership without certification: $84 (increasing to $90 in 2025)
- Membership with certification: $225 (increasing to $250 in 2025)
ASHA expenses support certified clinicians (including those who do not hold ASHA membership) and educators (including members without certification). Because of the overlap between these two groups, we can offer a package discount to those who want to be certified members.
Is access to journals included as part of my ASHA membership?
Yes! All ASHA members have free access to all four of ASHA’s scholarly journals as a benefit of their membership. The four scholarly journals include the following:
- American Journal of Audiology (AJA)
- American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (AJSLP)
- Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR)
- Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (LSHSS)
The scholarly review journal, Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, is available only to those who are current Special Interest Group (SIG) affiliates. If you are a member of any of ASHA’s 20 SIGs, you have access to all Perspectives content.
If you are a current ASHA member and are unable to access ASHA journals, please make sure that you are logged in to your ASHA account. If you are still having trouble, please contact the Action Center.
Why aren’t professional development opportunities included in my dues?
We understand the importance of continuing education for maintaining licensure and certification and for staying current in the profession of speech-language pathology. Although ASHA does offer a variety of continuing education opportunities—including webinars, courses, and events—we typically do not provide free courses for ASHA CEUs.
However, we want to assure you that ASHA strives to offer affordable, accessible continuing education options for our members. We offer discounted rates on many of our professional development resources. We host free or low-cost events and webinars for members. If you are unable to pay for any professional development programs, please apply for the ASHA Learning Pass Hardship Access.
We also encourage you to check out CEFind to search for continuing education from hundreds of approved providers.
Certification
Why should I maintain my CCCs in addition to my state license?
The Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) reflects that you have met and continue to meet a national set of standards and are committed to an ethical code of conduct that is consistent across states. As a practical matter, it also eases the burden of practicing in multiple states and conducting teletherapy. Without national certification standards, existing challenges to the professions—including concerns related to reimbursement and salary issues, as well as scope creep—may increase.
Holding the CCC indicates that you as a clinican have met either the Standards for the CCC-A and/or the Standards for the CCC-SLP, which are the product of both qualitative and quantitative data collection from subject-matter experts following best practices in standards-setting and are regularly reviewed to ensure that they meet current practice requirements.
The ASHA Certification Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), whose standards were developed to (a) help ensure the health, welfare, and safety to the public and (b) highlight the essential elements of a high-quality program.
This accreditation provides impartial, third-party validation and verifies that ASHA’s certification program meets recognized national and international credentialing industry standards for development, implementation, and maintenance of the certification program, which is why many state licensure requirements are modeled on the CCCs.
How can I become a certified non-member?
To become a certificate holder only, you may do so by contacting the Action Center. Please note that when resigning from or dropping your ASHA membership and/or certification, refunds are not permitted after January 1 for the year in which the fees apply.
If you make the switch now, you will lose access to all member benefits, and you will be invoiced for just the cost of certification for your 2025 renewal.
A few things to keep in mind when making the decision to drop membership:
- You will no longer have access to content, data, and resources from the ASHA journals, the National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS), and other member-specific resources.
- You will no longer have access to member discounts, including professional liability insurance, and you will be subject to higher rates for items such as the CE Registry or the ASHA Learning Pass, should you choose to purchase them.
- You will no longer be able to vote for ASHA Board members; serve on Committees, Boards, and Councils; or be tapped to participate in focus groups, surveys, and other volunteer opportunities that help shape the direction of the Association.
- Any break in membership will impact your ability to qualify for the reduced Life Member rate in the future.
Advocacy
What are you doing to advocate for us?
ASHA advocates for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) at the federal, state, and local level. ASHA has a large team of 19 government affairs professionals whose primary mission is to advocate for and directly influence public and payer policies beneficial to audiologists and SLPs. Members of ASHA’s Government Affairs and Public Policy team include congressional lobbyists, federal and state regulatory and policy experts, state policy specialists and state association liaisons, and advocacy communication specialists.
At the federal, state, and payer levels, ASHA advocates extensively for policies that members identify as priorities, such as better coverage of and payment for services provided by audiologists and SLPs, greater access and more efficient ways to deliver these services, and workplaces that encourage efficient, effective service delivery. We are at the table with key legislators, decision makers, and regulators to (a) show them the value and impact of your work and (b) ensure that the interests of audiologists and SLPs are fully represented.
We also work hard behind the scenes to stop or mitigate those policies that could negatively impact you. We know that the slow pace of advocacy work can be frustrating in the face of urgent needs. But we are here, working hard to make a difference for you—whether it’s fighting for big victories like payment increases or protecting your scope of practice, or small victories like helping an individual member navigate a particularly frustrating payer challenge.
In 2023, ASHA and its members achieved significant policy victories benefiting audiologists and SLPs. Here are the highlights.
We know that you’re facing urgent challenges every day. Successful advocacy takes time and sustained effort. Our staff is dedicated to working hard and continuously to make a difference for you. To see what members have identified as the advocacy priorities for 2024, take a look at ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda. For more information on ASHA’s advocacy activities—and the tools and resources that we develop to help you navigate daily challenges—visit ASHA Advocacy. Sign up to receive the ASHA Advocate newsletter by subscribing to ASHA Headlines email updates.
What are you doing to help school-based SLPs with their salaries?
ASHA is committed to supporting school-based SLPs and to advocating for fair wages.
Here are some ways in which ASHA is working to help increase wages for school-based SLPs:
- Advocacy Efforts: ASHA actively advocates for policies that support fair and competitive compensation for school-based SLPs. We work closely with policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels to (a) raise awareness of the importance of SLPs in schools and (b) advocate for adequate funding and resources to support competitive salaries.
- Research and Data: ASHA conducts research and collects data on salary trends and compensation practices in the profession of speech-language pathology, including specific data on school-based SLPs. This research helps inform advocacy efforts and provides valuable information for SLPs and employers alike. The ASHA Schools Survey is sent biannually to a sample of SLPs in schools to obtain updated information and to monitor state and national trends. Information from the ASHA Schools Survey provides members with an awareness of what their compensation is in order to assist with practice-based and self-advocacy.
- Collaboration With Related Professional Organizations: ASHA collaborates with other organizations to highlight school-based concerns and issues, such as salaries, workload, and critical shortages. Some of these organizations include the following: National Education Association (NEA); National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (NASISP); National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services (NCPSSERS); and State Education Agencies Communication Disabilities Council (SEACDC).
- Resources and Tools: ASHA provides resources and tools to help school-based SLPs negotiate fair compensation and advocate for themselves in their workplaces. This includes salary negotiation tips, advocacy toolkits, and resources for understanding salary trends and benchmarks in the field.
- Professional Development: ASHA offers a wide range of professional development opportunities to help school-based SLPs enhance their skills and qualifications, which can lead to increased earning potential. From continuing education courses to certification programs, ASHA supports lifelong learning and career advancement for SLPs in all settings. An upcoming Town Hall will specifically discuss this topic.
- Professional Consultation: Staff members of the ASHA School Services Team in Speech-Language Pathology are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., EST, to provide resources, support, and consultations regarding school-based concerns. They can be reached at schools@asha.org.
ASHA is committed to advocating for fair wages and supporting school-based SLPs in their efforts to achieve professional success and financial security. We are and will continue to be tireless in our efforts to ensure that school-based SLPs receive the compensation they deserve.
Instead of raising dues, why aren’t you addressing salaries and caseloads?
ASHA works to advocate for state legislation that proposes salary supplements for educational audiologists and school-based SLPs. This work is done in partnership with state associations (see “How Does ASHA Work with State Associations?”)
Does ASHA advocate for the Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCCs) to be required for practice?
ASHA recommends aligning state licensing standards with ASHA CCCs requirements as an indicator of quality achieved and maintained by the service provider and a commitment to continued learning. By obtaining the CCCs, you can feel assured that you’ve likely met your state’s licensure requirements. Consistent, high-level standards also provide assurance to patients and the public that all audiologists and SLPs who have earned the CCCs are qualified to provide care regardless of their state of residency or educational institution. Without these standards, you are at risk of other professionals providing these services, which further impacts the amount of scope-of-practice issues that we are already experiencing and potentially puts the consumer at risk.
Ensuring consistency and agreement in licensure requirements across states further supports our efforts to continue adding states to the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC), which will offer advantages to audiologists and SLPs by reducing costs and easing the burden of practicing in multiple states.
How does ASHA work with state associations?
ASHA and state associations work together to advocate at the state level. Every state association has direct access to ASHA’s State Affairs team to collaborate on state legislative and regulatory issues. ASHA assists state associations with various activities, including advocacy, member recruitment, and association management. ASHA also supports recognized state associations by:
- Providing grant funding for state advocacy initiatives
- Working closely with an extended network of representatives (SEALs, STAMPs, and STARS, all appointed by their state association)
- Networking and information sharing
- Supporting outreach to ASHA membership around urgent advocacy issues
- Providing expert advocacy support and consultation as states navigate state and local legislation as well as member needs
- Providing information and data on state trends in public policy areas
- Consulting with professionals in state association event planning, membership recruitment, and strategic planning
We encourage everyone to join and remain active with their state association.
How does ASHA determine which politicians to donate to?
The ASHA Political Action Committee (ASHA-PAC) considers politicians’ stances and statements on relevant health care and educational issues. ASHA-PAC also supports legislators whose leadership and committee roles position them to influence the success of ASHA’s legislative priorities. ASHA-PAC donations go directly to the congressional campaigns of candidates who support legislation that benefits ASHA members, your students, your clients, and your patients.
ASHA-PAC is funded by member donations—not member dues. The decision to support the political action committee’s work on behalf of members is up to you. However, not one cent of membership dues go to the ASHA-PAC.
