Fellow of the Academy
We’re making Fellowship simpler to maintain while preserving the prestige, rigor, and professional recognition behind one of the Academy’s highest honors.
Beginning with the upcoming membership year, the Fellow of the Academy designation will become a membership category—creating a more streamlined, member-focused experience.
The important part
The Process Gets Easier. The Standard Remains.
What stays the same
The eligibility requirements and approval process for becoming a Fellow remain unchanged. Candidates must continue to meet the Academy’s established criteria.
What’s new
The separate five-year Fellowship renewal process has been eliminated. Once earned, Fellowship will be maintained through your annual Academy membership.
Your membership
When you renew, simply verify that you are in the membership category that reflects your Fellowship status. That’s it—no second renewal process to track.
Annual Fellow Category FeeBuilt into your membership renewal to cover administrative costs.
Professional Member
Professional Member
Associate Member
How it works
Meet the Academy’s established criteria through demonstrated, sustained contributions to O&P and the Academy.
Renew your Academy membership each year using the Fellow category that matches your membership and recognition.
Remain an active Academy member and continue carrying the distinguished Fellow recognition you’ve earned.
For current & previous Fellows
Current Fellows will transition to the appropriate Fellow membership category. No additional application or documentation is required.
If your Fellow status lapsed within the last five years while you maintained continuous Academy membership, you’re eligible to restore your Fellow status.
Contact rsparks@oandp.orgIf you recently paid the prior five-year Fellow renewal fee, the Academy will review your account on a case-by-case basis.
Request an Account ReviewActive Academy membership is required to maintain a Fellow membership category. If your membership has lapsed, contact the Membership team about reinstatement.
Contact membership@oandp.orgEverything you need to know about earning, maintaining, and renewing your Fellow designation.
Ask Membership a Question.This enhancement streamlines the Fellowship experience by eliminating the separate five-year renewal process while preserving the rigor and prestige of earning the Fellow of the Academy designation.
No. The eligibility requirements and approval process remain the same. Candidates must continue to meet the Academy’s established criteria and demonstrate sustained contributions to the profession and the Academy.
Once you’ve earned the Fellow of the Academy designation, maintaining your Fellowship is as simple as renewing your Academy membership. There is no longer a separate Fellowship renewal application or five-year review process.
Current Fellows will automatically transition to the appropriate Fellow membership category. No additional application or documentation is required.
Select the category that reflects both your membership type and Fellowship status: Professional Member Fellow, Professional Member Fellow with Distinction, or Associate Member Fellow. A $25 annual fee will be built into your membership renewal fees to cover administrative costs.
Yes. Fellowship will become a membership category, so you’ll continue to renew your Academy membership annually and select the appropriate Fellow category during the renewal process.
No. Fellowship remains one of the Academy’s highest professional honors. The standards for earning the designation have not changed; this update simply streamlines how Fellows maintain their designation after earning it.
To maintain your Fellow membership category, you must remain an active Academy member. If your membership lapses, contact the Academy’s Membership team at membership@oandp.org for information on reinstatement.
If your Fellow status lapsed within the last five years while you maintained continuous Academy membership, you are eligible to restore your Fellow status. Contact rsparks@oandp.org to inquire about rejoining the program.
Recently renewed Fellows may contact rsparks@oandp.org to have their account reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Fellow of the Academy
Questions?
Please email us:
info@oandp.org
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