Membership Categories

Fellow Members: Those persons having successfully completed a PA program accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or a predecessor agency, or NCCPA-certified; who are working as PAs and who work and/or reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and who are current members of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA). Fellow members shall be entitled to privileges of the floor and may vote on all matters.

Fellow members who are employed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nature of whose employment requires registration with the State Board of Medicine, must obtain Board of Medicine registration prior to applying for Fellow status in the Virginia Academy of PAs (VAPA), and must provide their current Board registration number to the Academy Secretary. PAs shall be properly in compliance with state law regarding registration to be eligible for membership in this Academy.

Associate Members: Those persons who otherwise meet all of the requirements and conditions that apply to Fellows, but who are not current members of the AAPA. Associate members shall be entitled to privileges of the floor.

Since an associate member is not a member of the AAPA, that person may vote on all issues except those pertaining to the AAPA or to the election of delegates and alternates to the annual meeting of the House of Delegates of the AAPA. If an associate member is not recognized as currently and validly certified by the NCCPA, then that person may vote on all issues except those pertaining to the NCCPA. If a associate member is neither a member of the AAPA nor currently and validly certified by the NCCPA, then both prohibitions apply.

Fellows who allow their AAPA membership to lapse shall automatically assume associate membership status.

Affiliate Members: Those persons who do not meet the requirements of any other category of membership, but who nevertheless have a keen interest in the profession and wish to associate with this Academy. Affiliate members shall be entitled to privileges of the floor and to all other rights of membership in the VAPA, but shall not be entitled to vote on any issue or in any election.

Student Members: Those persons who are enrolled in a program accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or a predecessor agency, or NCCPA-certified by the American Medical Association or a committee of the American Medical Association established to approve or accredit allied health education. Student members shall be entitled to privileges of the floor, but shall not be entitled to vote on any issue or in any election except for the vote to select their Student Representative. The Student Representative shall be elected by his or her peers and enjoys all rights and privileges including formal vote except in matters relating to the AAPA.

Military/Veterans Administration/Veteran Members: Those persons who are working as PAs employed by a branch of the United States Military or Veterans Administration and who work and/or reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Those who are not members of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) may vote on all issues except those pertaining to the AAPA or the election of delegates or alternates to the annual meeting of the House of Delegates of the AAPA.