Because membership in the Society connects you to a host of technical and professional resources, as well as a network of people that you’ll find invaluable. Not only will you have access to the top-ranked journals in the field of ceramic materials and technologies, you’ll also benefit from exceptional technical meetings, publications, and an extensive, resource-rich website.

Perhaps most importantly, you’ll be a part of the premier community for ceramic scientists and engineers in the world. You’ll find this to be a welcoming community of people willing to share their technical expertise, recognize achievement, and help you connect to others who share your research interests.

How can I join ACerS?

Membership in ACerS is easy.  You can join online or visit the Individual Membership section of the site to learn more.

How can my company join ACerS?

Companies, national laboratories, academic institutions, etc. are represented by Corporate Membership.  ACerS offers two levels of participation, based on company size.  For membership details, visit the Corporate Membership section of the site.  You may also visit the Corporate Member list to see who is already receiving the benefits of membership.

I am a student. How can I join?
ACers is a key partner in Material Advantage, a combined student program that provides access to the four preeminent societies in materials science and engineering. Students who are enrolled in at least 10 credit hours per term at a recognized college or university are eligible for student membership for only $30 per year. Click here to become a Material Advantage Student Member.

I just graduated last year. Is there any break on membership dues for young professionals who are just starting out?
If you have just graduated, your first year as an Associate Member is free. The following year your Associate Membership dues are just $40. After that, when you’ve become more established in the working world, your dues will be whatever the prevailing individual dues are.

I let my membership lapse for a few months. Will I lose the years of continuous membership that I’ve built up?
A brief lapse in membership will not have an impact on your years of continuous membership. If you renew your membership within 12 months of expiration, you will retain your membership history.

Does your membership year run on a Jan. 1-Dec. 31 calendar year or on the anniversary of when I first joined ACerS?
Your annual membership runs on the anniversary of when you first joined. So if you became a member on June 1, your membership would expire the following May 31. Many members prefer that their membership run on a calendar year for budgeting purposes, so let us know if that is your preference.

How much does a membership cost?
That depends on the type of membership. An individual membership costs only $120 per year. We also offer senior, student and post-graduate memberships at a reduced rate. A corporate membership is either $325 or $1000 depending on the size of the company. The descriptions in the membership pages of this website will help you know which category fits your situation.

I just lost my job. Is there a temporary free or reduced dues rate that I qualify for?
Yes, ACerS offers a short-term free membership to laid-off or unemployed members to help you through this difficult time. This enables members whose dues are up for renewal or whose membership has expired within the last six months to get 6 months free membership in the Society, followed by another six months of free membership upon request. Contact customer service and ask about this option.  Be sure to use the ACerS Career Center in your job search. Post your resume at no charge and review the open positions that are listed there.

Can I renew for more than one year at a time?
Yes, you can renew for as many years as you like and lock in the prevailing dues rate when you prepay. ACerS also offers an automatic credit card option where your membership is renewed at the prevailing dues level and your credit card charged 30 days prior to your expiration. You don’t need to do a thing!

Are divisions, sections and classes included in my membership dues or do I pay extra for those?
Membership in one division is included in your dues. You are welcome to join additional divisions for $10 each. There is a small charge for Sections and Classes, although NICE (National Institute of Ceramic Engineers) is free.

Do I get print and online access to the Bulletin and ceramicSOURCE as part of my membership?
Yes, print copies of the Bulletin are mailed to you nine times a year, and you have unlimited online access as well.

Do I get print and online access to the ceramic journals too?
Members get free, unlimited online access to the Journal of the American Ceramic Society (fully searchable dating back to 1918), the International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, and the International Journal of Applied Glass Science. Print subscriptions to these three journals are available to ACerS members at greatly reduced prices. For example, the non-member print subscriber price to the Journal is $1,692, while the member price is only $199 (2013 prices). That’s a savings of almost $1,500, just for being a member of ACerS.

I want to find out who else in my country is a member of ACerS so I can contact them. How can I do this?
Members can access the online membership directory and search by country, state, or city to find a listing of all members in your area. There are also many other ways to search the online directory, such as by name, company, division/section affiliation, or even by an award they’ve won. As long as the member you are searching for is an active member, and you are too, you will be able to find that person in the directory.

Do I need a certain numbers of years of ACerS membership to be eligible for Society awards?

That depends on the award. Some awards require up to 5 years continuous ACerS membership, others do not require membership at all. You need to read the nomination criteria for each award to see if membership is a requirement.