How Much Does an ANA Membership Cost?
Last Updated on February 19, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker
Joining the American Nurses Association (ANA) provides nurses with valuable professional development, advocacy, and community. But how much does it cost to become an ANA member? This article examines ANA membership pricing, dues, discounts, and benefits to help you make an informed decision.
The ANA serves over 175,000 nurses across the United States. As the premier organization for the nursing profession, ANA membership offers access to education, certification discounts, publications, networking events, and a powerful voice in healthcare policy.
Highlights
- Full ANA membership costs around $500 per year for individual nurses when including state and chapter dues
- Group membership offers $70+ discounts compared to individual rates
- Fees provide discounts, education, career support, and community
- Renew promptly within the 1-2 month grace period to avoid lapse
- Students and retirees qualify for discounted membership pricing
How Much Does an ANA Membership Cost?
ANA membership is priced on an annual, renewable basis. Here is a detailed breakdown of the current ANA membership costs for individual nurses:
- ANA Full Membership Dues: $318 per year
- Reduced Membership Dues: $159 per year for new graduates, RNs over 62 years old, or special circumstances.
- ANA Student Membership: $75 per year
- ANA Retired Membership: $174 per year
These are the standard costs for individual ANA memberships in 2024. Members also need to pay state and local chapter dues, which average $15-$20 per month (around $180-$240 per year). So the total cost of full ANA membership ranges from $498-$558 annually.
Group memberships allow discounted ANA membership pricing when 3 or more nurses join from the same organization. The company pays a flat administrative fee plus discounted individual dues.
For reference, here are the current ANA membership costs for group participants:
- ANA Group Membership Dues: $248 per person per year
- Average State and Chapter Dues: $180-$240 per person per year
- Total Group Member Cost: $428-$488 per year
As you can see, group ANA membership offers savings of $70-$120 per year compared to individual membership dues.
Overview of ANA Membership Types and Eligibility
The ANA offers several membership options based on your career stage and credentials:
- ANA Individual Membership: For registered nurses and nursing students. Provides full benefits.
- Organizational Affiliate Membership: For healthcare and nursing organizations. Limited benefits.
- Group Membership: For 3 or more individual ANA members from the same employer. Discounted pricing.
- Retired Membership: For retired RNs with limited participation. Lower cost.
- Student Membership: For active nursing students. Highly discounted dues.
To be eligible for ANA membership, you must hold a current nursing license, meet educational requirements, or be enrolled in an accredited nursing program. Each type of membership has specific eligibility criteria.
What Do ANA Membership Fees Cover?
Your annual ANA membership fee provides access to a wide array of nursing benefits, professional resources, and discounts. Here are some of the top benefits covered by ANA membership dues:
- Subscription to the American Nurse Journal with nursing news and education
- Access to ANA’s members-only website with practice tools, resources, and webinars
- Up to $200 off ANCC certification and credential renewal
- 20% off Pearson VUE NCLEX exam prep products
- Scholarships, grants, awards, and leadership programs
- Special member rates for ANA conferences and events
- Advocacy for nurses in government, media, and healthcare settings
- Opportunities to share your voice through ANA elections, surveys, and leadership
- Networking, mentoring, and sense of community with fellow nurses
As you can see, ANA membership pays for itself through discounts on educational resources alone. The combination of tangible savings and invaluable career support makes membership fees worthwhile for most nurses.
You might also like our articles on the cost of chiropractor school, ultrasound technician school, or nurse scrubs.
ANA Membership Payment, Renewal, and Lapse Policies
ANA membership is billed on an annual or monthly basis when you initially join. You can pay membership fees:
- Annually by credit card or check
- Monthly by recurring credit card payments
To continue receiving benefits, you must renew your ANA membership each year. Around 1-2 months before your renewal date, ANA will send instructions to renew online or by phone.
If you fail to renew on time, membership lapses but ANA offers a grace period through the end of your membership month to renew without penalties. So you typically have 1-2 months to renew after expiration without losing any benefits.
After the grace period, you can still submit a late renewal within 30 days, but any pre-existing certifications or credentials will temporarily lapse. So be sure to renew on time within the grace period to avoid interruptions.
Discounts for Certain ANA Memberships
The ANA offers several discounted membership options:
ANA Student Membership
At just $75 per year, ANA Student Membership provides full benefits at a fraction of the cost. Eligible students must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program.
Reduced Membership Dues
New graduates within 2 years or registered nurses over 62 years old qualify for reduced ANA membership dues of $159 annually. Verification is required.
Group Membership Savings
As mentioned earlier, nurses that join ANA as part of a qualified group save $70-$120 per year on membership fees. If your employer or organization has 3+ nurses that want to join ANA, look into creating a group.
How to Join or Renew Your ANA Membership
Ready to become an ANA member? Here is a step-by-step guide:
Joining ANA as a New Member
- Visit ANA.org and click on “Join/Renew”
- Select your membership type: individual, student, group, etc.
- If applicable, enter your employer or group information
- Provide your personal and licensing details
- Select any additional donations or contributions
- Enter payment information and submit
After joining, you will receive a new member packet with next steps. You can immediately access some benefits online through your member profile.
Renewing an Existing ANA Membership
- Wait for your ANA renewal notice by email 1-2 months before expiration
- Visit ANA.org and click on “Join/Renew”
- Click on “Renew” and log into your member account
- Review your contact information for any updates
- Enter payment information and submit renewal
You should receive immediate confirmation and continued access to member benefits after renewing.
Final Words
Investing in ANA membership can pay dividends throughout your nursing career via knowledge, advocacy, and sense of community. Take advantage of discounted rates and organizational membership when possible. For most nurses, the benefits outweigh the costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth joining ANA?
Yes, for most nurses, joining ANA is worth the membership fees for access to discounts, education, career growth opportunities, and a community of over 175,000 nurses. Key benefits like certification discounts and professional development alone offset the $500 annual costs for many members. Plus, ANA provides invaluable advocacy for the nursing profession.
What is the best nursing association to join?
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is widely considered the best and most prominent nursing association, especially for unlocking education, career growth, leadership development, and advocacy benefits. Other notable associations are the specialty nursing organizations for your specific clinical focus.
How many members does the ANA have?
Currently, the American Nurses Association has over 175,000 nurse members across the United States. This makes ANA the largest and most influential professional association advocating for nurses in the healthcare industry and policy landscape today.
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