MEMBERSHIP

 

The minimum requirement of membership in LCA is that an applicant is engaged in or interested in counseling and development work in the state of Louisiana.  There is no restriction based on race, sex, creed, religion, or ethnic background.  All LCA members must affiliate with at least one division.

 

Membership will be of four types: professional, regular, retired, and student.  The categories of membership shall be determined in accordance with the following:

 

A.  Professional Members - Professional members are those persons holding membership affiliation with one LCA division. Professional members must hold a master’s degree or higher in counseling or a closely related field from a college or university that was accredited when the degree was awarded by one of the regional     accrediting agencies.

 

B.  Regular members - Regular members are those persons holding membership with LCA and one LCA division whose interest and activities are consistent with those of the Association but are not qualified for Professional membership.

 

C.  Retired Members - Retired members are those persons who have previously been Professional member, but who are now retired from the counseling profession.

 

D.  Student Members - Student members are those persons who have verified that that they are enrolled at least half time as degree seeking students in a counseling program in a regionally accredited institution.

 

E.  Counselor Intern Members – Counselor Intern members are those persons who are under supervision, are registered as Counselor Interns with the Louisiana Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, and have not received their licensure.

 

Members in good standing will be entitled to attend conventions/meetings, to vote, and to serve on committees.  Voting privileges will be the same for all members except that voting for any ACA decision is a privilege reserved for Professional members only.

 

Membership is established by the Executive Director of LCA upon receipt of the dues and the satisfactory documentation of eligibility according to the application.  Membership must be renewed annually.

 

The Executive Board will recommend the dues of members of the Association. The recommended dues will be approved by the membership of the Association.  Dues will be paid annually, will be forwarded to the Executive Director, and will entitle one to membership twelve months from the payment or date of renewal.  Retired and Student members are eligible for reduced dues.  Also members of LCA are urged to apply for membership in ACA and one or more of ACA divisions

 

The following special categories of Professional and Regular members are eligible for reduced dues in LCA: Retired Members, Student Member.   Past LCA Presidents will pay no dues annually.    Student and Retired members will be granted a 40% discount on the LCA annual membership fees (Motion passed July 18, 1996).   Dues were raised on October 5, 2002.  Professional and Regular dues were raised by $10.00 ($50.00 as of January 1, 2003.)  Student and Retired member dues were raised by $6.00 ($30.00 as of January 1, 2003). Counselor Intern dues shall be the same as student member dues.