Membership Frequently Asked Questions

General Inquiries

  1. How much are APS membership dues?
  2. Are my APS membership dues tax-deductible?
  3. What percentage of my dues is allocated to lobbying efforts?
  4. Why does APS collect demographic information?
  5. Can I submit an application to join APS online?
  6. What is my APS member number?
  7. How do I change my contact information with APS?
  8. What is an APS unit?
  9. Can I add an APS unit online?
  10. How long is my APS membership term?
  11. If my membership has lapsed, how can I reactivate it?
  12. How do I get a receipt for my APS dues?
  13. How do I make a tax deductible contribution to the APS?
  14. How do I get a receipt for a contribution made to APS?

Publications

  1. Can I add an APS publication online?
  2. What does my member subscription to Physical Review, Physical Review Letters, or Reviews of Modern Physics include?
  3. What does my subscription to PROLA include?
  4. What should I do if I'm not receiving APS News or Physics Today?
  5. I've been able to use PROLA and now something is wrong. What should I do?
  6. I've been using my APS online journals and now something is wrong. What should I do?
  7. How do I sign up or obtain details on the email Alerting Service for APS Journals?

Student Memberships

  1. Who can apply for an APS Student membership?
  2. Why are you asking me if I am a Student?
  3. Who is eligible for a free APS Student membership?
  4. What does it mean if I joined APS thru SPS?
  5. How much is an APS student membership?
  6. What is the APS Forum on Graduate Student Affairs (FGSA)?

Special Member Categories

  1. Does APS offer a discount when I reach retirement age or have retired due to a disability?
  2. What is the APS Senior member category?
  3. What is the APS Life member category?
  4. What is the APS Early Career member category?
  5. How does one become an APS Fellow?
  6. Can APS assist me if I have been recently unemployed?

General Inquiries

  1. How much are APS membership dues?
    For memberships renewing or beginning in 2022, APS membership rates for one calendar year are $174 for Regular members and Fellows; $79 for Early Career; $88 for Senior members; $39 for Graduate Student members; $25 for Undergraduate Students; $2610 for Life members; and $1320 for Senior Life members. All prices are listed and must be paid in U.S. dollars.
     
  2. 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.
     
  3. What percentage of my dues is allocated to lobbying efforts?
    15.46% of APS member dues are allocated to lobbying efforts. APS does not accept partial payments. Members should pay any open invoice in full and then request reimbursement from their employer/lab. The 15.46% cannot be deducted from the dues payment amount. Lobbying expenses do not apply to unit memberships.
     
  4. Why does APS collect demographic information?
    APS collects demographic data to better understand our membership composition and participation in activities. We may also provide you with information about relevant APS programs. We will only report on anonymized data in aggregate, and will never share this information with outside parties. Your data will not be used to make any decisions related to your APS activities.
     
  5. Can I submit an application to join APS online?
    Yes - you may apply to APS online or Downloadable applications for faxing or mailing to APS
    Gray arrow  Join APS
     
  6. What is my APS account number?
    Your APS account 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 and on the first line of any APS renewal email. In addition, your number is located on the second line of your APS News mailing label. All APS account numbers begin with either the first two letters of your last name or the number "6".
     
  7. How do I change my contact information with APS?
    Members may go online to their My APS Account or email changes to APS Membership. Please allow 3-4 weeks for postal mailings to reflect any changes.
     
  8. 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 2022, annual unit dues are $10 for each unit, and there are 49 units altogether.
    Gray arrow  APS Units - A complete listing, including websites and unit descriptions.
     
  9. Can I add an APS unit online?
    Yes - APS units may be added online.
    Gray arrow  Join an APS Unit
     
  10. How long is my APS membership term?
    New membership and subscription requests begin the month when an application/payment is processed and continue for 12 months. Sample membership terms are July 1, 2021 thru June 30, 2022 and November 1, 2022 thru October 31, 2023.
     
  11. If my membership has lapsed, how can I reactivate it?
    Generally, if your membership term has lapsed, you may reinstate online at my.aps.org or by contacting APS membership directly at APS Membership.
    Gray arrow Join APS
     
  12. How do I get a receipt for my APS dues?
    To obtain a copy of your receipt, login into your My APS Account (my.aps.org) and click My Orders.
     
  13. 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.
    Gray arrow Support APS
     
  14. How do I get a receipt for a contribution made to APS?
    You can access your payment information through your My APS Account or by emailing APS Development. For tax purposes, and in compliance with the United States IRS regulations, letters of confirmation are sent to donors giving $250 or more.
    Gray arrow Print Contribution Receipt
    Gray arrow Create an APS Web Account

Publications

  1. Can I add an APS publication online?
    Yes - APS publications may be added online. You must have an APS web account to use this benefit. To add an APS publication, login into your My APS Account and click My Subscriptions.
    Gray arrow Membership Login
     
  2. 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 Applied, Physical Review Materials, Physical Review Fluids, Physical Review Letters, or Reviews of Modern Physics includes access to full text of articles and other online journal features, from the current year plus all material back to the journal's inception.
     
  3. What does my subscription to PROLA include?
    PROLA (Physical Review Online Archive) includes:
      • Physical Review Series I and II, in their entirety (1893-2018)
      • 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
     
  4. What should I do if I'm not receiving APS News or Physics Today?
    If you're not receiving these membership publications, please email APS Membership.
     
  5. I've been able to use PROLA and now something is wrong. What should I do?
    To access PROLA online journal subscriptions, please log in with your MyAPS credentials instead of your APS journal account. For online journal technical problems, please contact APS Membership.
     
  6. I've been using my APS online journals and now something is wrong. What should I do?
    To access your online journal subscriptions, please log in with your MyAPS credentials instead of your APS journal account. For online journal technical problems, please contact APS Membership.
     
  7. How do I sign up or obtain details on the email Alerting Service for APS Journals?
    The Free email Alerting Service for APS Journals, previously limited to individual subscribers, is now open to all researchers.
    Gray arrow  Stay Informed with APS Alerts.

Student Memberships

  1. 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.
     
  2. Why are you asking me if I am a Student?
    Membership selections are based on degree information you provide. If your membership type is not displayed correctly, use the previous screen to update your expected graduation degree and date or your highest earned degree and date.
     
  3. 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 and be a first-time applicant to APS. After one free year, you may retain membership at a special low rate (currently $39) and continue to receive all the student privileges while you remain a student.
     
  4. 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 $24.00; members with non-U.S. addresses pay $30.00.
     
  5. How much is an APS Graduate student membership? Undergraduate?
    An APS Graduate student membership is one-quarter of Regular member dues. For 2022, this amount is $39. For undergraduates, it is $25.
     
  6. 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

  1. 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.
     
  2. What is the APS Senior member category?
    APS Senior members pay $88, 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 $88 or $1320 for Senior Lifetime Membership. Senior members for whom the $88 dues causes a hardship may adjust the rate to $0.
     
  3. 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 2022, $2610. 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 $150) are available to life members as well.
     
  4. What is the APS Early Career member category?
    APS Early Career membership is available for recent graduates at a reduced rate of $79. 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. An Early Career 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. An Early Career member may remain in this category for a maximum of five years. After the five year period, Early Career members are automatically billed as an APS Regular member.
     
  5. 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.
    Gray arrow   APS Fellowship Nominations
     
  6. 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. To qualify, the member must be a current APS member actively seeking employment.