Types of Membership

AEA membership offers a wide variety of member benefits, association activities, and opportunities for professional development and political involvement for education personnel. The more than 103,000 AEA members fall into one of several AEA membership categories. They are:

ACTIVE (Type AC-0-0)
Any person who has an earned bachelor’s or higher degree or who holds a regular professional certificate or a regular vocational or technical certificate and is employed in a classroom teacher, supervisory, or administrative position or who is otherwise recognized by State Board of Education regulations as a teacher in a public or private school, junior or senior college, or university in the State of Alabama shall be eligible for active membership. In addition, professional employees of the State Department of Education who hold earned bachelor's or higher degrees shall be eligible for active membership. (Also licensed, registered nurses employed as school nurses.)

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT (Type ES-0-0)
Persons not identified in any other membership classification who are employed in school systems and who assist the professional personnel to provide improved educational opportunities may become members. [For example, lunchroom workers, bus drivers, mechanics, custodians, teacher aides, school office personnel who were not active members in 1968-69. Educational Support members must join both AEA and NEA and the local, if available.]

ASSOCIATE (Type AS-0-0)
Any person in Alabama not eligible for membership in any other category shall, upon approval of the Board of Directors and the payment of dues, be eligible for associate membership, but shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.

RETIRED (Type RT-8-0)
Any retired person who was employed in education work in Alabama and who was a member of the Alabama State Teachers' Association or the Alabama Education Association in good standing at the time of retirement shall, upon payment of dues, be eligible for retired membership but shall not be eligible to hold office.

STAFF (Type SF-0-0)
Staff membership shall be open to any person employed by the Association or any of its affiliates in a professional staff position.

STUDENT (Type ST-0-0)
Any student enrolled in teacher preparation programs in a college in Alabama may become a student member by joining through a chapter of the Student National Education Association. Student members shall have the rights and privileges of associate members.

SUBSTITUTE (Type SB-0-0)
An educational employee employed on a day-to-day basis who is eligible for AEA Active or Education Support Professional membership shall have the option of joining the Association as a substitute member, unless said employee is eligible for NEA-Retired membership. A person joining as an AEA substitute member must also maintain membership in NEA's substitute membership category. The dues for AEA substitute members shall be the same amount that AEA charges for retired members.

By becoming a member of AEA, you automatically become a member of the local association representing your local work site and the National Education Association. Dues are generally collected by each school system by payroll deduction approved by the member, then forwarded to the AEA Business Office at AEA Headquarters in Montgomery. Membership records are maintained by the AEA Business Office.