Become a Member

Membership Benefits

Being a member of PRCA offers many professional and personal benefits. Just a few include:

• Professional development through monthly chapter meetings, state workshops, annual state and regional conferences

• Monthly newsletter and association website highlighting local and state activities, members making news and industry trends

• Access to password-protected state PRCA online membership directory

• Professional work recognized through peer-reviewed chapter awards, PRCA Medallion Awards and SPRF Lantern Awards

• Individual leadership also recognized through the annual Professional Achievement Awards and Senior Practitioner designation

• Leadership at either the chapter or state level through various appointed committee positions or elected board positions

• Accreditation through a national program to recognize the best public relations practitioners in our profession, recognized by the APR designation

Membership Types

There are four PRCA membership categories. Members are automatically approved for membership while local chapter boards review membership applications to assess the criteria below:

Active membership is open to anyone who is a full-time public relations practitioner, or someone who is exercising full responsibility for his or her employer's public relations activities and spending at least 50% of work time performing communication duties. Active membership is also open to members of the academic community who provide instruction and/or engage in research in the field of public relations. East Alabama chapter fees are $375 (includes $15 application fee) for new Active members. Renewing Active members pay $360 each year. 

Sustaining membership is reserved for those who are currently and actively retired but were previously a full-time public relations practitioner. Dues are $25 for all Sustaining members (no application fee).

Student membership is open to any full-time college student interested in a career in public relations, communications or related major. Students must belong to their college or university chapter if one exists at that student’s academic institution, and they must become members through registering for membership on the PRCA site and notifying the college or university chapter of their membership. Students without a student chapter may join the local professional organization directly. Dues are $25 for Student members (no application fee) who join PRCA directly. Individual student chapters may also assess local activity fees. 

Flexible membership is for those who wish to be a member but have no local chapter nearby. It is also available for those who can identify with a local chapter but who cannot regularly attend monthly meetings due to geography or work constraints. Find more details here.