Changing Membership Category: Prepare Before You Apply

Progressing to another membership category is an application decision, not simply a change of wording on a profile. Before applying, check the current criteria for the category you want and identify the evidence needed to demonstrate that you meet them. Keep using your confirmed status until the Association communicates a decision.

Identify the route you are applying for

ICPHAA presents membership routes including Student, Pre-Accredited, Accredited and Supervisor Member. The relevant route depends on your circumstances and the current criteria. Do not assume that time spent in one category automatically qualifies you for another.

Ask for clarification if your training or experience does not fit the standard description. Provide a concise outline of the facts and ask which route the Association can consider. That is more useful than selecting a category because its title appears closest to your job role.

Review your evidence as a whole

Check qualifications, verified experience, supervision and any other requested records against the current checklist. Evidence submitted for an earlier application may need updating or supplementing. Keep names, dates and totals consistent across documents.

Look for changes since your last application. These may include a new qualification, a different practice setting, a break in activity or a change of supervisor. Explain relevant changes clearly instead of assuming that the reviewer has access to every previous conversation.

Keep public information accurate

Your website, email signature and directory profile should describe the status you currently hold. An application in progress does not establish the outcome. Avoid updating badges or category descriptions before confirmation.

After a decision, check which records need updating and who manages them. The Association may control part of the directory information, while you control your own website and professional documents. Use the exact approved wording and ask if you are uncertain about how it should be displayed.

Plan the administrative transition

Find out whether the application affects renewal dates, fees or documentation. Ask which arrangements apply rather than assuming the new category begins immediately or that an existing payment covers every step. Keep the decision and any accompanying instructions together.

• Confirm the intended category and current criteria.

• Identify evidence that is missing or out of date.

• Explain relevant changes in circumstances.

• Use your current status while the application is considered.

• Update public information only after confirmation.

Frequently asked questions

Does completing a course change my category automatically?

Do not assume so. Course completion may form part of the evidence, but the membership decision follows the Association's application process.

Can I ask about the right route before applying?

Yes. Send a concise enquiry with the relevant training and experience details through the Association's contact process.

See Join ICPHAA, Standards & Ethics and Contact.