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Membership Frequently Asked Questions

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General Inquiries:

How much are APS membership dues?
For memberships renewing or beginning in 2008, APS membership rates for one calendar year are $115 for Regular members and Fellows; $58 for Junior and Senior members; $28 for Student members; $1725 for Life members; and $863 for Senior Life members. All prices are listed and must be paid in U.S. dollars.
Are my APS membership dues tax-deductible?
Dues and subscriptions paid to APS are NOT considered charitable contributions for federal tax purposes. However, they may be deducted as ordinary and necessary business expenses. Members should consult their tax advisors for further guidance. Note that a charitable gift made at the time of renewal (a gift separate from and in addition to your membership dues) IS tax deductible.
Can I submit an application to join APS online?
YES - you may apply to APS online. Downloadable applications for faxing or mailing are also available.
What is my APS member number?
Your APS member number may be found in a number of places. If you already have setup an APS username and password, you can get your member number online. The number is also printed in the upper left corner of your APS membership invoices, in the first line of any APS renewal e-mail, and on your APS membership card. In addition, your number is located on the second line of your APS News mailing label. All APS member numbers begin with either the first two letters of your last name or the number "6".
How do I change my contact information with APS?
Members may go online to their Member Profile or may e-mail changes to coa@aps.org.
What is an APS unit?
APS units are subgroups within the Society which provide opportunities for members to interact with colleagues with similar interests and to keep abreast of new developments in their specialized fields. For 2008, annual unit dues are $7 for each unit, and there are 38 units altogether. A complete listing, including homepages and unit type descriptions.
Can I add an APS unit online?
YES - APS units may be added online.
As a new member, when will I receive my APS membership card?
Your APS membership card is generally received in the mail 2-3 weeks after your application has been submitted. The card is sent to the primary address listed on your application. Renewing members do not receive a membership card each year.
How long is my APS membership term?
The APS membership term is one year, and all new and reinstated memberships and journal subscriptions begin the month following receipt of application/payment and continue for twelve months. Sample membership terms are July 1, 2007 thru June 30, 2008 and November 1, 2007 thru October 31, 2008.
If my membership has lapsed, how can I reactivate it?
Generally, if your membership term has lapsed within twelve months, you may reinstate by contacting APS membership directly at 301-209-3280. If the lapse has been longer than twelve months, you must reapply to the Society
What is an APS Web Account?
An APS web account is a personalized user name and password of your choice for use on the APS website. This allows you access to member-only online services without needing your APS number or passwords assigned by APS. Create this useful account.
What is an APS e-mail alias?
An APS e-mail alias may be used to forward e-mail to a personal e-mail account. You must have an APS web account to use this benefit. Sign-up for an APS e-mail alias.
How do I know if APS received my renewal payment?
Check the status of your APS renewal payment. You may use your APS web account username and password OR your APS member number and billing ID printed on your renewal notice to access payment information.
Can I retrieve my APS Renewal Invoice online?
YES - retrieve or reprint your APS invoice. You may use your APS web account username and password OR your APS member number and billing ID to access renewal invoices online.
How do I get a receipt for my APS dues?
Please contact APS membership by phone at 301-209-3280 or e-mail membership@aps.org to request a receipt for APS dues payments.
How do I make a tax deductible contribution to the APS?
You may provide a tax deductible contribution to APS by checking off a contribution level on your paper renewal invoice or on-line renewal form. There is also a secure online donation option available or you may call the APS Development Department at 301-209-3224. With their permission, those donors who give $100 or more will receive special recognition by having their name listed in the APS annual report.
How do I get a receipt for a contribution made to APS?
Print Contribution Receipt You will need an APS Web Account to access your payment information. Or contact the APS Development office at 301-209-3224 or logan@aps.org. For tax purposes, and in compliance with the United States IRS regulations, letters of confirmation are sent to donors giving $250 or more.

Publications:

Can I add an APS publication online?
YES - APS publications may be added online.
What does my member subscription to Physical Review, Physical Review Letters, or Reviews of Modern Physics include?
Member subscriptions to Physical Review A, B, C, D, E, Physical Review Letters, or Reviews of Modern Physics includes access to full text of articles and other online journal features, from 2003 to present (current year plus the past three years). Full text articles published prior to 2003 requires a paid subscription to PROLA. Member subscriptions to Physical Review A, B, C, D, and E will be offered in online only format as of January 1, 2006.
What does my subscription to PROLA include?
PROLA (Physical Review Online Archive) includes:
  Physical Review Series I and II, in their entirety (1893-1969)
  Physical Review Letters back to its inception in 1958
  Physical Review A-D back to their inception in 1970
  Physical Review E back to its inception in 1993
  Reviews of Modern Physics back to 1929
2005-Present material is not part of PROLA and requires a paid subscription to a specific journal.
What is the PROLA search engine?
The PROLA search engine indexes all APS journal material published from 1893 to 2004. To use the search engine, go to http://prola.aps.org/search.
Access to abstracts is freely available to all users. Access to full text of articles and other online journal features requires a paid subscription to PROLA. 2005-Present material is not part of PROLA and requires a paid subscription to a specific journal. At the end of each calendar year, PROLA integrates an additional year of material. PROLA information is available at http://prola.aps.org.
What is a Member Article Pack?
Member Article Packs allow members flexible online access to key research articles spanning all of Physical Review on Scitation (three years and current year). Members may select and download articles from across the collection of Physical Review Letters, Physical Review A thru E, and PROLA. In addition to the journals listed above, the new APS/AIP Joint Article Pack also allows access to Applied Physics Letters, Chaos, Journal of Applied Physics, Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal of Mathematical Physics, Low Temperature Physics, Physics of Fluids, Physics of Plasmas, Review of Scientific Instrumentation and AIP Conference Proceedings. You may browse the table of contents of each publication. The pack remains active in coordination with the member’s APS membership term. The cost is $50 for 20 articles; more information is available at http://scitation.aip.org/APSPacks.
What should I do if I'm not receiving APS News or Physics Today?
If you’re not receiving these membership publications, please contact APS membership by phone at 301-209-3280 or e-mail membership@aps.org.
I've paid for my online journal and can't access it - what should I do?
If you are having problems with your initial journal access, please contact APS membership by phone at 301-209-3280 or e-mail membership@aps.org.
I've been able to use PROLA and now something is wrong. What should I do?
For technical problems involving PROLA, e-mail prola@aps.org.
I've been using my APS online journals and now something is wrong. What should I do?
For APS/AIP online journal technical problems, contact help@scitation.org.
How do I sign up or obtain details on the E-mail Alerting Service for APS Journals?
The Free E-mail Alerting Service for APS Journals, previously limited to individual subscribers, is now open to all researchers. Please visit the E-mail Alerts Center at http://ojps.aip.org/jhtml/APS/alert.jsp.

Student Memberships:

Who can apply for an APS Student membership?
APS student memberships are open to anyone actively pursuing a degree. This can be a high school student, undergraduate, graduate student, or doctoral candidate. Most APS student members are studying physics or a related science or engineering discipline, but APS welcomes any student with an interest in physics and the physics community to join.
Who is eligible for a free APS Student membership?
In order to quality for a free APS Student membership, you must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the United States, Canada, or Mexico and be a first-time applicant to APS. After one free year, you may retain membership at a special low rate (currently $28) and continue to receive all the student privileges while you remain a student.
What does it mean if I joined APS thru SPS?
When joining the SPS, undergraduate students have the option of joining any AIP Member Society for up to three years at no cost. To become an APS member through SPS, you must choose APS as your free member society when you join SPS and each time you renew your SPS membership. SPS members in the U.S. pay dues of $20.00; members with non-U.S. addresses pay $30.00.
How much is an APS student membership?
An APS student membership is one-quarter of Regular member dues. For 2008, this amount is $28.
What is the APS Forum on Graduate Student Affairs (FGSA)?
The FGSA is an APS unit that was created in 2001 for APS members with an interest in graduate student education. FGSA encourages a free exchange of ideas among graduate students and the greater scientific community by providing opportunities for meetings, electronic discussion, and access to a permanent archive of member ideas and programs. It is strongly recommended that APS student members enroll in this forum.

Special Member Categories:

Does APS offer a discount when I reach retirement age or have retired due to a disability?
APS offers a Senior member category for retired members who have at least ten consecutive years of APS membership.
What is the APS Senior member category?
APS Senior members pay $58, one-half the Regular member dues. To qualify, the member must have at least ten consecutive years of APS membership. In addition, the member must meet at least one of the following three criteria: 1) reached the age of 70; 2) is retired from gainful employment; or 3) is retired due to permanent disability. Senior members retain all membership privileges and continue to receive Physics Today, APS News, and other Society mailings. If you qualify, write “Senior Member” on your invoice and adjust the dues amount to $58 or $863 for Senior Lifetime Membership. Senior members for whom the $58 dues causes a hardship may adjust the rate to $0.
What is the APS Life member category?
APS Life membership is available to any new or current member at 15 times the current Regular dues rate - for 2008, $1725. Life members also have the option of one free life membership in an APS Division or Topical Group. Additional life memberships in such units at a rate of 15 times the unit rate dues in effect at the time of payment (currently $105) are available to life members as well.
What is the APS Junior member category?
APS Junior membership is available for recent graduates at a reduced rate of $58. This category is designed to help physicists in the period immediately following receipt of their final degree or the termination of their full-time student status. A Junior member applicant must be either a first time APS applicant or current APS Student member who has received his/her final degree in the previous twelve months. A Junior member may remain in this category for a maximum of three years. After the three year period, Junior members are automatically billed as an APS Regular member.
How does one become an APS Fellow?
The APS Fellowship Program was created to recognize members who may have made advances in knowledge through original research and publication or made significant and innovative contributions in the application of physics to science and technology. They may also have made significant contributions to the teaching of physics or service and participation in the activities of the Society. Each year, no more than one-half of one percent of the then current membership of the Society are recognized by their peers for election to the status of Fellow in The American Physical Society. More information on nominating individuals for APS Fellowship.
Can APS assist me if I have been recently unemployed?
Unemployed members may qualify for a waiver of dues for up to two years by sending notification to the APS Membership Department at membership@aps.org or calling a membership representative at 301-209-3280. To qualify, the member must be a current APS member actively seeking employment.