HPS Membership Categories

The Society offers several types of membership: Full, Associate, Fellow, Student, Emeritus, Life, and Affiliate Members. These membership categories are described in detail below.

  • Click here for information on membership dues.
  • Click here to apply for an individual membership.
  • Click here to apply for an Affiliate membership.
  • A membership renewal form is available here.
  • A list of member benefits is available here.

Full Members

Full Members are persons who (1) are currently engaged in the practice, science, or technology of radiation safety and (2) meet at least one of the following combinations of education and/or experience:

  1. Active certification by the American Board of Health Physics.
  2. Registration by the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists.
  3. Master's or higher degree in a creditable area of education.
  4. Bachelor's degree in a creditable area of education and one full year of relevant experience.
  5. Associate's degree in a creditable area of education and three full years of relevant experience.
  6. Five full years of relevant experience.

Creditable areas of education include a course of study at an accredited college or university in the area of radiological protection; radiological health; environmental sciences; natural, biological, or physical sciences; or engineering.

Relevant experience is work involving the practice, science, or technology of radiological protection. This may include experience as a health physics technician, health physicist, scientist, or engineer.

Associate Members

Associate Members are are individuals who have a demonstrated interest in radiation protection but may not meet the educational and/or professional experience requirements for Full Membership. Associate Members enjoy the same benefits of Full Members, except they are not eligible to vote or hold elective office.

Fellow Members

Fellow Members are Senior Members—individuals who are at least 50 years old by 1 March of the year they are to be considered and who, except under unusual circumstances, have been members of the Society for the preceding five years. This distinguished class of membership is awarded in recognition of significant administrative, educational, and/or scientific contributions to the field of health physics.

Fellow Members enjoy all the privileges of Full Members, with none being lessened. Nominations for Fellow membership may be submitted by any Full or Fellow Member of the Society. Each nomination must be accompanied by three letters of support from current Fellow Members and submitted to the Awards Committee Chairperson by 1 March of each year.

Student Members

Student Members are individuals enrolled in full-time study in a field related to one or more disciplines within health physics. This membership includes the same privileges as an Associate Member. Proof of full-time student status must be provided annually.

Emeritus Members

Emeritus Members are former Full Members who meet the following criteria:

  1. They are at least 60 years of age or have permanently ceased professional activity in radiation protection due to disability.
  2. They are retired from active employment (defined as working less than 25% of full-time).
  3. They have held Full Membership in the Society for at least 10 consecutive years prior to reaching age 60 or becoming permanently disabled.
Emeritus Fellow Members must meet the same requirements and must have held Fellow Membership prior to applying for this status.
Emeritus or Emeritus Fellow status may be obtained upon request to the Executive Director and payment of the dues established for this membership class. These members retain all the privileges of Full Members.

Life Members

Life Members are individuals who have been designated by the Awards Committee and approved by the Board of Directors as deserving of Life Membership in the Society. Life Members are not required to pay dues and retain all the privileges of Full Members.

Affiliate Members

Affiliate Members are organizations with a demonstrated interest in the field of radiation safety and a desire to establish a formal working relationship with the Society. This membership class does not include voting rights.

Early Career Discount

The Early Career discount is applied to the dues for new members (Full or Associate) during the first three years of membership.