What is an essential requirement for applicants to maintain affiliation with ASHA?

Maintaining affiliation with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requires members to fulfill certain responsibilities, one of which includes the payment of annual fees. This financial commitment is essential for sustaining membership status, as it helps fund the association's various programs, resources, and initiatives that support professionals in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology.

The requirement to pay annual fees is significant because it ensures members have access to valuable services, educational resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts that ASHA provides. This systemic support is crucial for practitioners who aim to stay current in their field and adhere to best practices.

While activities such as conducting research, publishing in journals, or attending conferences are beneficial for professional growth and involvement within the community, they are not mandatory for maintaining membership with ASHA. Hence, these activities do not serve as essential requirements in the same way that the payment of annual fees does.