Membership Details

The Sports Neuropsychology Society (SNS) is a professional member organization. Its mission is to advance the field of sports neuropsychology, to generate and disseminate knowledge regarding brain-behavior relationships as it applies to sports, and to promote the welfare of athletes at all levels.

In order to fulfill its mission, the Sports Neuropsychology Society has established the following objectives:

• To establish sports neuropsychology as a sub-specialty of neuropsychology.
• To promote the competent and ethical practice of sports neuropsychology.
• To develop and disseminate educational information for the membership as well as the general public.
• To promote, support, and disseminate scientific research in sports neuropsychology.
• To provide expertise and advocacy with regard to legal and regulatory matters bearing on sports neuropsychology.
• To provide expertise and advocacy with regard to the health and safety of athletes.

SNS membership comes with many benefits, depending on membership level, and special access to resources.  For more information on these benefits, click here. Professional members of the Society who have advanced clinical experience in the assessment, diagnosis, management, and treatment/rehabilitation of sport-related concussion (SRC) and its sequelae can apply for an Advanced Clinical Practice Proficiency (ACPP) designation by SNS. This ACPP designation protects and informs the public, consumers, and stakeholders that the neuropsychology professional who has attained this added qualification has met minimum education, training, and experience standards and has subjected their sports concussion competency skills to peer review. For more information, see SNS ACPP Designation.

• The dues, assessments, and other fees for each class of membership shall be established annually by the Executive Board.
• Annual dues shall be established on the basis of the calendar year. The dues for a year shall be payable on the first of November of the previous year and due no later than January 1 of the current year. Assessments and fees shall be payable at the time or times that the Executive Board shall determine.
• Annual Dues:
  • Professional members & Fellows – $150
  • Emeritus members – $75
  • Associate members – $100
    • Postdoctoral associate members – $50
  • Professional affiliate members  – $100
    • Junior affiliate members – $50
  • Student members – $35

All new applicants shall complete the online application for membership HERE.

Those applying for Student membership must also complete and submit a Student Membership Verification form. 

Professional members applying for Emeritus status must complete and submit the Emeritus Status Application Form.

You must also email your CV to the Membership Chair, Dr. Paul Cohen at pcohen86@gmail.com

The Membership Committee will review your qualifications for membership. If your application membership is not approved, the Membership Committee Chair or a committee member will communicate with you and provide information on how you may obtain membership approval in the future.

There are five (5) classes of members: Fellow, Professional, Emeritus, Associate, Affiliate and Student. All members of the Society shall be subject to the By-laws of the Society and to any subsequent revisions or amendments.

Fellow. Fellow status shall be reserved to those professional members in good standing for at least five years who have contributed significantly to the science and/or profession of sports neuropsychology. Fellows shall have full voting privileges, may hold elected office, and may be members of committees. Fellow status is conferred upon those members who have made Distinguished Contributions to the field of sports neuropsychology.

Professional. A professional member shall have completed doctoral or post- doctoral academic coursework in the assessment and/or remediation of neuropsychological conditions, and hold a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited university. Professional members will have at least 3 years of post-doctoral, professional experience in sports neuropsychology.

A professional member with a primary clinical focus must meet the criteria below:

1. 1. Meets the definition of a clinical neuropsychologist, as set by either APA Division 40, National Academy of Neuropsychology, Houston Conference Guidelines, or appropriate equivalent national standards (e.g., in the applicant’s country of practice), and
   2. Current clinical practice related to sports neuropsychology, and
   3. Continuing education in the area of sports neuropsychology.

OR

A professional member with a primary research focus must meet the criteria below:

1. 1. Evidence of doctoral or post-doctoral training in neuropsychology or the neurosciences.
   2. Current research with scholarly, peer-reviewed articles relevant to the area of sports neuropsychology.
   3. Continuing education in the area of sports neuropsychology.

Applicants for Professional Membership must submit two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s work in sports neuropsychology, at least one of which must be from a neuropsychologist.

Emeritus. Emeritus status shall be reserved for those professional members who have been an SNS member for at least 10 years, have reached the age of 65, and have retired from active practice. Emeritus members shall have full voting privileges, may hold elected office, and may be members of committees. Emeritus members will receive a 50% off discount from professional membership and will otherwise receive the similar member benefits as professional members.

Associate. Associate members are required to hold a doctoral degree in psychology and do not meet the clinical/research requirements for membership at the Professional level.  Associate members do not have voting privileges and may not hold office, but may serve on committees. Applicants for Associate Membership will submit one letter of recommendation from a neuropsychologist familiar with their background and training.

• • Note that this membership category includes post-doctoral fellows in neuropsychology. Those currently enrolled in postdoctoral fellowships/residencies can apply for Associate member status.
  • Although postdoctoral fellows are Associate members, SNS provides a reduced membership fee for those currently enrolled in postdoctoral training.
  • Upon completion of fellowship, the Membership Chair should be notified.  No new application will be required until the Associate member meets the criteria to apply for Professional member status.

Affiliate membership has two sub-categories:

Professional Affiliate: Open to those individuals interested in sports neuropsychology whose training and experience preclude them from other levels of membership. Specifically, Professional Affiliate members may be physicians, athletic trainers, allied health professionals, or others holding a degree in an area outside of psychology. Professional Affiliate members do not have voting privileges, may not hold office, but can be members of committees.

Junior Affiliate: Open to those individuals interested in sports neuropsychology who have completed an undergraduate degree program but whose training and experience preclude them from other levels of membership. Specifically, Junior Affiliate members may be working as a research assistant/research coordinator or in another related discipline (i.e., in a post-baccalaureate job) and must be applying to graduate school in the foreseeable future (or have already applied). Junior Affiliate members may remain in this level of membership for no more than 2 years. Applicants require a letter from a supervisor/mentor indicating that the applicant has an interest in sports neuropsychology and is intending to apply (or has applied) to a graduate degree program. Junior Affiliate members do not have voting privileges, may not hold office, but can be members of committees.

• • • If you are interested in applying for Junior Affiliate membership, please contact the Membership Chair, Dr. Paul Cohen, at pcohen86@gmail.com. You will need to submit your CV/resume and a letter from a supervisor/mentor indicating that you have an interest in sports neuropsychology and that you intend to apply (or have applied) to a graduate degree program.

Student. Student members shall be limited to individuals attending full-time programs leading to an undergraduate or graduate program degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Students do not have voting privileges and may not hold office; but may be members of committees. Applicants for Student Membership must complete and submit the Student Membership Verification form.

Thank you for your interest in SNS!

SNS Membership Committee