The Benefits of Joining Professional Associations

One topic bandied about in the field is if it’s worth joining professional associations and, if yes, which ones. The sticky part of that discussion is defining our field. The medical communication field includes writers and editors, of course, but also graphic artists and illustrators. In some industries, project managers, managing editors, and professionals in similar fields may also benefit from the networking and learning available from a medical communication association.

The other part of that question is if it is worth joining professional associations and, if so, how many to join. Membership costs money, and the benefits from joining a professional association mostly accrue through participation, which requires time and usually also involves spending more money. Each person asking this question has their own budget for time and money.

This week, we explore the question, Is it worth joining professional associations?

Reasons for Joining Professional Associations

The short answer to the question is yes, it is worth joining professional associations. As a professional, being a member of one or more professional associations is critical to professional growth and mobility. These associations typically offer education, guidance on best practices, networking, and, if you build your network and actively participate, peer-to-peer collaborations. Many also offer certifications, which demonstrate to prospective employers and clients that the active practitioner has mastery in the specific domain.

Working as an isolated professional can stunt your practice and inhibit your ability to grow your practice. Being part of a professional group, on the other hand, affords the practitioner access to information about the latest trends in the field, learning opportunities, and, usually, information about appropriate pay scales and fees.

Practitioners benefit from the networking these associations can afford. I started my career in the New York City metro area, with plenty of networking and educational events available in my hometown of Princeton or after work in Manhattan. I realized the value of membership and networking then, but I really came to appreciate the networking membership in a professional association enables when I moved to New Mexico, where there is a much smaller community of practice. AMWA membership provided the ability to network and collaborate both locally and with a much larger network provided by the chapter and the national organization.

These benefits accrue to professionals across the career trajectory, from early career to active professionals. As a colleague, Matt, pointed out when asked the question about the benefits of these associations, “Network or don’t work.” This applies to everyone interested in career mobility, of course, but there’s also a great learning component to networking, because you hear what people are doing and how they are doing it. If you don’t know what skills your colleagues are developing, you don’t know which skills you need to develop to keep your practice current and competitive.

Which Associations Should I Join?

So then the question remains, which associations to join? First, set your financial and time budgets, as mentioned above. Determine if your employer will reimburse you for the cost of membership in an association and participation in its events, such as an annual conference. You may ask your colleagues about this benefit and, in the process, find that your colleagues belong to an association specific to your work, in which case it might behoove you to make that association your first choice if you can. If you have additional bandwidth or would like to acquire a certification from another group, consider joining a second association.

Some Medical Communication Associations to Consider

This is by no means an exhaustive list of professional associations to consider, but they are a great place to start. Of course, you may want to continue your participation in the associations specific to your educational domain to keep that knowledge and skill base current.

American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) – Listed first because it provides a great home for most if not all medical communication disciplines, from grantsmanship to regulatory writing and almost everything in between. AMWA offers the Essential Skills certificate for early careerists and the MWC certification for active professionals. Its sister association in Europe is the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA).

International Society of Medical Publication Professionals – Global group focused on “the ethical and effective communication of medical research to inform treatment decisions.” Pharma intensive. Offers the CMPP certification.  

Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS) – Although many of the BELS members work in medical communication, this group provides a home for all editors in the life sciences more broadly. Offers the ELS certification.

Society for Technical Communication (STC) – If you work more broadly in technical writing or take a technical writing approach to your medical communication, this group may fit you well. It has a special interest group (SIG) for medical communication. STC has multiple certifications available.

Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) – Global group for professionals in the regulatory space. Offers certifications including the RAC.

Want to keep in touch and receive our news and content?

Subscribe to the Evergreen Newsletter to receive the latest!