1. Are you a graduating student? Become a Member of ACHE

2. If you’ve never been an affiliate, ACHE’s member options are…
If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in health services administration or a related administrative field, become a Student Associate.
If you are currently a student but plan on graduating soon, become a full Member.

3. I’m a student and graduate next year, when should I join ACHE as a Student Associate?
Student Associate dues are pro-rated based on the month a person joins. If you join in the summer (July-August), you would pay $37.50 for the rest of the year and would be billed $75 in the fall for the next year. If you join in September 2010, you would pay $75 for September 2010 through December Here is the Student Associate dues structure:
January-June $75 (Full Student Dues)
July-August $37.50
September-December $75 (Payment will cover balance of the year and next year’s dues in full.)
Your Program Director will need to attest to your graduation date.

4. I’m a student and graduate soon, when should I join ACHE as a full Member?
Member dues are pro-rated based on the month a person joins. If you join in May, you would pay $88 for the rest of the year and would be billed $150 in the fall for the next year. Here is the full Member dues structure:
January $ July $63
February $ August $50
March $ September $150 (Payment will cover balance of the year and next year’s dues in full.)
April $ October $150 (Payment will cover balance of the year and next year’s dues in full.)
May $ November $150 (Payment will cover balance of the year and next year’s dues in full.)
June $ December $150 (Payment will cover balance of the year and next year’s dues in full.)
Member dues are $150 per year. However, Members who join in September pay $150 for the balance of the year and all of next year—that’s 4 months free.

5. I’m currently a Student Associate. How do I become a full Member?
Complete the Member application in the Join ACHE area or in the My ACHE area of ache.org. (You will need to login with your current ACHE User Name and Password.)
If you are currently a Student Associate, the application will be pre-populated with the information that we already have on file.
Your program director does not have to notify ACHE that you graduated since they attested to your graduation date when you joined.

6. I’m a bachelor’s student; when can I submit my application to transfer to full Member?
Immediately after graduation since a bachelor’s degree is required for ACHE Member status.
I’m a master’s student; when can I submit my application to transfer to full Member?
Anytime throughout the year because you have a bachelor’s degree.
Information on the application is already pre-populated, so it’s a quick process.

7. Q: I graduate in spring 2011; is there a cost to transfer to full Member?
A: There is no cost to transfer to full Member if you paid your Student Associate dues for the year.
For example: If you paid your 2011 Student Associate dues and graduate May 1, 2011, you can transfer May 2 or soon thereafter at no cost. Your $75 student dues payment will cover you for the rest of the year, even as you transfer to full Member. You will receive a $150 invoice in the fall to renew your full Member dues for 2012.
If someone graduates May 1, they don’t have to transfer the next day on May 2. A person can transfer anytime after graduation. If they graduate in the spring though, it would be in their best interest to transfer soon after they graduate instead of waiting until the fall so they can start enjoying full Member benefits.

8. Q: I graduate in fall 2011; is there a cost to transfer to full Member?
A: Beginning September 1, 2011, it costs $150 to transfer to full Member—this payment is for your 2012 dues.
For example: If you paid your 2011 Student Associate dues and graduate August 31, 2011, when you transfer September 1 or through the end of the year, you are required to pay $150 for your 2012 dues.

9. Learn more about full Member benefits!

10. What are the full Member benefits?
Earn the distinction of board certification by earning your FACHE credential.
Receive complimentary subscriptions to ACHE's top-notch publications, including Healthcare Executive magazine AND your choice of either the Journal of Healthcare Management or Frontiers of Health Services Management (also accessible online).
Meet other ACHE affiliates through the online Affiliate Directory.
Participate in ACHE activities through local chapters. You are automatically a chapter member when you join ACHE.
Exclusive career resources such as ACHE’s online Job Bank and resume-posting service.
Reduced fees for ACHE’s continuing education programs.
Cutting-edge research studies.
A comprehensive Web site that includes affiliate-only services and online education.

11. When do my benefits begin?
If you apply online or fax the application, your benefits begin 5-7 days after your application is submitted.
If you mail a hard copy application, it can take 4-6 weeks after your application is submitted for your benefits to start.
What added benefits do I receive as a full Member?
Ability to vote in Regent Elections.
Begin the accrual of Member tenure toward the three-year tenure Fellow requirement. (Student Associate years do not count toward the requirement.)
Access to Early Careerist Network benefits.
Ability to participate in ACHE’s Leader-to-Leader referral program.
Access to certain educational courses and career services.

12. Am I a member of my local chapter of ACHE?
Chapters are your local connection to ACHE!
Am I a member of my local chapter of ACHE?
Yes! You are automatically a chapter member
when you join ACHE.  Therefore, you get two
memberships for the price of one.
One of the greatest networking opportunities is your local Chapter. You can find more information in the Chapters area of ache.org by choosing the gold “Chapters” button at the top of ACHE’s Web site.

13. Which chapter do I belong to?
Find out which chapter you’re a member of by visiting the My ACHE area of ache.org, and choosing Local Chapters on the left-side menu bar.
When you become a Student Associate or full Member, you can find out what local chapter you belong to online. Log into the My ACHE area of ache.org and choose the 4th bullet point on the left side menu titled “Local Chapters.”

14. Make board certification a future goal…
Fellow of the American College of
Healthcare Executives – FACHE®
Once you become a full Member, work toward attaining Fellow status. When you become board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow (FACHE), you'll have the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed.
Becoming a Fellow demonstrates your competence, dedication and commitment to lifelong learning.

15. When can I begin my advancement?
Submit your FACHE application after you:
become a full Member
obtain a Master’s or other advanced degree
have two years’ healthcare management experience
If you are interested in beginning your advancement to Fellow, you must do so
as a full Member. A Student Associate is not eligible to submit a Fellow
application. Visit ache.org for specific details.

16. What are all of the FACHE requirements?
Summary of requirements to earn the FACHE Credential
Master’s or other postbaccalaureate degree
Current healthcare management position and five years of healthcare management experience
Three years tenure as an ACHE Member, Faculty Associate or International Associate (you must be a Member to apply)
Three references from current Fellows (one of which must be a structured interview)
40 hours of continuing education—at least 12 of which are Category I (ACHE education) hours—earned during the five years preceding becoming a Fellow
Participation in two healthcare related and two community/civic activities
Pass the Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management
Among the criteria for becoming a Fellow is passing the Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management. First, a person must submit their Fellow Application (PDF). A person does NOT need three years of ACHE tenure, five years of healthcare management experience, or complete 40 hours of continuing education to be eligible to apply for Fellow or to take the exam, they must just meet the requirements on the previous page.

17. What is the ECN? The Early Careerist Network is composed
of ACHE Members and Fellows under
the age of 40. The program provides
resources that are designed for
young executives like YOU!
The information in the Early Careerist Network area is designed to help early careerists face the increasingly complex and competitive professional challenges that they encounter every day. Benefits of being in the ECN include the monhtly Early Careerist Newsletter, ACHE discounts, distance learning and educational programs, credentialing information and networking and mentoring opportunities.
When you transfer to full Member, you automatically belong to the network.

18. ECN Services Bimonthly newsletter Career advice Annual discount coupon
Early Careerist specific information (i.e., educational programs, networking resources, books and journals)
There is an area on ache.org dedicated specifically to the ECN. You can find it by using the URL web address shortcut ache.org/ecn or by choosing the “Special Interest Areas” heading on the left menu bar of ACHE’s home page, then choose the 2nd option—Early Careerist Network.

19. What is the Leader-to-Leader Program?
When you help grow ACHE by recruiting a
new Member or encouraging an existing Member
to become a Fellow, you earn points that you
can redeem for rewards. Go to
You can redeem your points anytime, even with just 1 point! Or you can save your points and redeem them later for more rewards.

20. Once you become a full Member, encourage colleagues to join ACHE!
1 referral = 1 point
1 point = 1 Leader-to-Leader reward
Recruit 1 new member--get 1 point! Encourage 1 Member to become a Fellow--get 1 point! Redeem those points for rewards show in the above slide! ACHE Members, Fellows and Faculty Associates can earn rewards as part of the Leader-to-Leader Program. Student Associates can not earn points; and Members, Fellows and Faculty Associates can not earn points when students become Student Associates.
Points may be accrued and saved for gifts with higher values.

21. Questions? For more information… Visit ache.org; ache.org/students
Call ACHE’s Customer Service Center at
(312)