3. Membership

3.1 Membership categories and processes

Membership in the Association is open to any individual who subscribes to the principles and aims of the Association, without regard to race, religion, sex, political affiliation or place of origin. Membership cannot be transferred from one person to another.

Categories of membership include:
      •  Ordinary - individuals engaged in research, teaching or practice of epidemiology;
      •  Joint - individuals who would be eligible for ordinary membership and who are already members of an allied organization;
      •  Senior - individuals who have retired from full-time employment;
      •  Early-Career Epidemiologists (ECEs) - individuals currently enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate course of study in a subject relevant to the field of epidemiology. They shall  be limited to one 6-year term.
      •  Honorary - Individuals selected in recognition of their contribution to the science, or the cause, of epidemiology, or to the Association.

Membership fees for all categories (other than Honorary, which is free) are set by Council. Except for Early-Career Epidemiologists who have three-year terms, the available terms of membership are one year, three years or life. The application and renewal process for memberships, including payment, is conducted online via the IEA website.  All Association business, including the payment of dues is conducted in USD.

In recognition of various economic conditions around the world, the Association provides discounted membership to those individuals working in low-to-middle income countries as recognized by the World Bank. These countries are examined on an annual basis and are subject to change. Staff will work with Regional Councilors to devise options for dues payments in those countries where the ability to pay membership dues in USD is lacking, or where it is not possible to transfer money out of the country.   

Benefits of membership, such as website access and discounted registration fees for the Association’s meetings, cease immediately when dues payments are in arrears. Access and subscriptions to the Journal cease after three months of non-payment of membership fees. Councilors and members of the Executive Committee are always expected to maintain good financial standing in the Association and will not be eligible to serve in their offices if they fall in arrears for more than three months, unless special arrangements have been made via the President or Executive Committee. Once lapsed, membership for any individual can be reinstated by paying outstanding dues owed. Regional Councilors are provided monthly reports on both paid and lapsed members each month and are expected to follow up with individuals who are about to renew, or who are late in their renewals, to encourage payment and participation in the Association.

3.2. Associations approved for Joint Membership

The Association works with many national/regional epidemiology organizations to provide Joint Memberships. Both the President and Regional Councilors work to engage allied associations in the work of the Association. A list of allied associations that the Association recognizes for Joint Memberships can be found here . The Association policy on Joint Memberships is available online.

3.3 Election to Honorary Membership

Council considers proposals for Honorary Membership triennially during the incoming Council meetings that precede Congress. Honorary Members are those persons who are elected as a mark of esteem for their contribution to science, the cause of epidemiology or the Association. Past presidents of the Association and Richard Doll Prize recipients are also eligible to be proposed for Honorary membership. A list of Honorary Members can be found here .

A person may be proposed for Honorary Membership by a member of Council up until two months before the opening date of the next Congress by completing this form and emailing it to the current Association Secretary. Proposals must be kept confidential.

Because of the nature of Honorary membership, Council is more likely to be persuaded by those proposals which offer specific evidence of the candidate’s eminence and exceptional services. It is essential that full CVs and a list of publications are included with any proposals.