Membership
Membership

Membership

ACA Is Your Professional Home

Join or Renew Now

As a counselor, you deserve a professional home where you can build community, deepen your knowledge and develop your commitment to enriching lives and contributing to societal well-being. Throughout your professional journey, no matter your practice setting, you can rely on the American Counseling Association for guidance and support.

The Value of Membership

Professional Credibility

Professional Credibility

Build and sharpen your skills
through leadership development programs

Membership Practice Support

Practice
Support

Discover and navigate the steps to build and sustain a successful career

Advocacy

Advocacy in Action

Amplify your voice on legislation and other issues impacting the profession

Community

Community Connections

Share & connect knowledge & expertise, showcase efforts & expand leadership skills

Learn more about membership benefits

  • Professional Credibility

    • Advance your knowledge and earn CEs at the Conference & Expo (spring) and Virtual Conference Experience (fall).

    • Enjoy in-depth news and features about professional counseling through the award-winning; Counseling Today and read the latest research in the online Journal of Counseling & Development (JCD).

    • Earn continuing education (CE) credits online at your convenience including 12 free online CE courses each year (a $299 value).

    • Find digital and print resources at member prices through the bookstore. Plus, listen to podcasts, webinars and blogs for engaging conversations on hot topics.

    • Receive discounts on malpractice liability insurance to protect your assets and cover your expenses in the event of a claim. (Free to master’s degree students. Professionals receive a 10% discount each year – some exclusions apply.)

  • Practice Support

    ACA helps you discover and navigate the steps to build and sustain a successful career.

    • State licensure requirements and education prerequisites, including private consultations scheduled exclusively with members.

    • Career Services Programs enable members to search job boards, post resumes, receive custom job alerts, schedule career consultations and/or resume, CV and cover letter reviews and more.

    • Ethics consultations with a staff expert are available if a challenging ethical dilemma arises—an exclusive member benefit. Guidance on setting up a private practice is available with experienced professionals.

    • Members-only savings discounts on professional malpractice liability, auto, home and personal insurance products, as well as discounts on car rentals and hotels.

  • Advocacy in Action 

    • Medicare reimbursement is now law. This law will allow over 200,000 mental health professionals to enroll as Medicare providers. Review the fact sheet on how to prepare to accept Medicare in January 2024.

    • Counseling Compact is a contract among states allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without the need for multiple licenses.

    • Virtual Hill Day is a chance to learn how to speak with legislators and understand the ins and outs of the Washington political field. Members listen to and learn from government affairs experts on a variety of topics affecting their careers and the counseling profession.

  • Community Connections

    Share your knowledge and expertise, showcase efforts, expand leadership skills and connect with other counselors to find answers to pressing professional questions.

    • Access Connect, a private, secure space where members ask for advice, gather input on counseling-related topics, join discussions about trends or challenges and more.

    • Share your knowledge – submit a proposal to present at a professional development event.

    • Celebrate your peers! Since 1956, the National Awards have shone a spotlight on those who go above and beyond in their commitment to the counseling profession.

Delivering Value Everyday wheel infographic

Become an ACA Member

We are the only organization committed to advancing the profession and career path of counselors through advocacy efforts, learning and continuing education, member savings programs, networking opportunities, and more. You deserve to be connected to this unique community throughout your education experience, practice setting and overall professional journey. We are here for you!

Already a Member? Login to renew or access benefits.

Download General or Student Membership Application. Read Membership FAQs.

Join or Renew Now

Membership Tiers*

Membership - Student

Student

$105

Individuals who are enrolled at least half-time in a regionally accredited college or university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Applicant must provide documented proof of program participation on university/college letterhead [e.g., current academic year unofficial/official transcript, current semester registration or current academic year (degree program) acceptance letter]. Documentation proof must be submitted via email to memberservices@counseling.org within one week of applying for student membership status. 

Masters – Membership term is up to two years. An additional year may be granted with proof of continued registration and/or special circumstances.

Doctoral – Membership term is up to four years (unless proof is provided indicating program allows more time for completion).

$105 Annual Dues

Membership - New Professional

New Professional

$105

Individuals who have graduated with a master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university recognized by CHEA within the past twelve months.

$105 (one year only)

Members - Professional

Professional

$189

Individuals who hold a master’s degree or higher in counseling or a closely related field from a college or university that was accredited when the degree was awarded by one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

$189 annual dues

Membership - regular

Regular

$189

Individuals whose interest and activities are consistent with those of the Association, but who are not qualified for Professional membership.

$189 annual dues

Membership - Retired

Retired

$105

This tier is only available with five continuous years of ACA regular or Professional membership in good standing immediately prior to retirement.

You cannot join this membership tier online. To verify eligibility, please contact Member Services at 800-298-2276 or memberservices@counseling.org.

$105 annual dues

* All members must abide by the ACA Code of Ethics.

Membership Testimonial

"It was through the ACA virtual career fair that I was able to successfully connect with local organizations and workers who could guide me into finding residency opportunities. Renewing my ACA membership made sense, especially since participation in the Virtual Career Fair was free."

—PRISCILLA BRANCH, Clinical Practitioner, Private Practice

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Join or Renew Now

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Quicklinks

American Counseling Association

  • PO Box 31110, Alexandria, VA 22310-9110
  • 800-347-6647 | 800-473-2329 (fax)
  • © 2023, American Counseling Association,
  • All Rights Reserved.