At its March 2025 meeting, the APA Board of Trustees approved an adjustment to the APA rates for the 2026 dues year. While not an easy decision, this adjustment will facilitate our ongoing pursuit of innovation, enabling continued free and discounted cutting-edge practice resources, scholarly journals, research, continuing medical education (CME) opportunities, and avenues for networking and collaboration in person and across our digital platforms. The APA Administration remains steadfast in its commitment to thoughtfully managing members’ dues. However, the impact of inflation in recent years has resulted in increased costs across APA programs.

Your dues contribute to the creation of practice and continuing education resources and bolstering U.S. advocacy efforts. Some recent successes include:

• Ensured care provided by telehealth was paid the same as in-person care under Medicare.
• Increased Medicaid coverage for Collaborative Care Services to 36 states.
• Secured federal and state funding for the integration of behavioral health and primary care for the Collaborative Care Model.
• Elevated the psychiatric workforce with increased Medicare Graduate Medical Education slots and reauthorization of the Conrad 30 program.
• Protected patients by opposing psychologist and non-physician prescribing privileges of psychotropic medications.
• Increased Medicare reimbursement for outpatient psychotherapy and psychiatrists providing care to patients with complex or chronic conditions.
• Removal of the Clozapine REMS Program and the regulatory barriers that prevented access to the lifesaving treatment.

We’ve also expanded our practice resources to better support clinicians and improve patient care. Here’s a look at some recent and upcoming developments:

• A revised edition of the Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder is on the way, complete with new patient and clinician guides. A companion Performance in Practice tool will also launch in Fall 2025.
• The updated Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Delirium will be released in Fall 2025, along with enhanced clinical tools.
• Members and the public will have the opportunity to comment on the draft of the revised Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Disorder in Fall 2025.
• We recently hosted a conference focused on implementing the collaborative care model within psychiatry and primary care residency programs.
• A new initiative is underway to build a program to connect mentors/coaches and mentees/coachees, fostering professional growth and peer support.
• We’re refreshing our materials to help clinicians navigate the process of starting a practice—from planning to implementation.
• Coming soon: a new APA-endorsed seal to help identify mental health apps that meet clinical standards.

The Board of Trustees reviews recommendations of the Finance and Budget Committee on an annual basis. Decisions about dues may be based on APA’s revenue, expenses, and/or other prevailing factors for the previous, current, and following year. As of now, an additional dues increase is not anticipated for 2027.

To responsibly manage rising costs and move toward a balanced budget, APA has implemented a 5% dues adjustment. This decision was made based on an evaluation of economic trends and organizational needs.

Since 2016, the Consumer Price Index—a key measure of inflation—has risen by 29.8%, while APA dues have increased by 11.5% during that same period. The Board felt it was important to make this adjustment so APA can continue to produce and support the high-quality services that members rely on, while maintaining financial sustainability for the future.

All rates will increase by approximately 5%. The APA Operations Manual dictates declining percentage discounts off the full General Member rate for the first six years of full General membership dues, so when calculated, it’s not exactly 5%. Additionally, those in life member status (those grandfathered into the Rule of 95 that was sunset after 2021), and retired and semi-retired rates have their dues calculated as a percentage off the full General membership dues rates. 2026 rates can be viewed here.

District Branches independently determine their dues rates, and any modifications will be communicated directly to their respective members. Questions about District Branch dues should be directed toward your District Branch.

Yes. The dues were adjusted for all member classes for dues paying members.

Yes. New dues paying members will be paying the same dues rates as renewing members. New and reinstating members joining between October and December 2025 will pay the fourth quarter of 2025 and 2026 at one time at the 2026 dues rates.

As always, you may contact the APA Membership Department, and your Membership Specialist will work with you to set up a payment plan or determine whether you qualify for dues relief or a dues waiver. Email [email protected] to learn more.

The first renewal notices will be sent by email and postal mail by mid-October 2025 (postal mail for members outside the U.S. and Canada will be in December). Anyone renewing member enrolled in a scheduled payment plan will be charged 2026 dues rates beginning in January 2026, and no action is necessary to remain on a scheduled payment plan. Anyone on a scheduled payment plan who would like to pay dues in full should contact his/her/their Membership Specialist or email [email protected].

This is not an option currently.