IEEE SA Membership

Find out more about the benefits of IEEE SA membership.

• Why join the IEEE SA and how do I do so?
• What is the difference between IEEE and IEEE SA membership?
• Who is eligible for IEEE SA membership?
• Are there dues to become an IEEE SA member? Do IEEE Life Members have to pay dues to join the IEEE SA?
• As an IEEE or IEEE SA member, do I gain access to IEEE standards? Do I receive a discount on standards related products?
• Do I have to be a member to participate in a working group or to ballot on a developing standard?
• Can individual and corporate members ballot on the same standards projects?
• How can I be sure that I will be included in the ballots I am interested in?
• What are my voting privileges for the annual election for IEEE SA governance?
• Can I renew my IEEE SA membership at the same time as my IEEE and/or society memberships?
• How do I change my contact information?
• Is my membership information used for outside solicitation?

Why join the IEEE SA and how do I do so?
IEEE SA members are the driving force behind the development of standards, providing technical expertise and innovation, global participation, and dedication to ongoing advancement and promotion of new concepts.

Membership enables you to contribute to and influence this important work while connecting you with a network of industry experts from a wide range of technical areas.

Joining the IEEE SA is easy. Simply determine which IEEE SA membership is right for you and join right online through our site.

What is the difference between IEEE and IEEE SA membership?
IEEE membership provides access to cutting-edge information, networking opportunities, and exclusive member benefits. They help build a platform to introduce technology careers to young people around the world.

The IEEE SA an activity area of IEEE focused on the development of internationally recognized standards. IEEE SA Membership enables you to have direct influence on the outcome of standards projects through balloting privileges and ongoing involvement and participation.

Who is eligible for IEEE SA membership?
Individuals, including IEEE members of any grade, IEEE Society affiliates, or non-IEEE members who are actively involved in standards development are eligible for IEEE SA Individual membership.

Corporations, government agencies, trade associations, user groups, universities, and other standards developing organizations that want to actively participate in standards development (ex: participation in a standards working group or standards balloting group) are eligible for IEEE SA Corporate membership.

Corporate Membership eligibility

IEEE SA entity membership is open to corporations, government agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit and industry associations as defined in IEEE SA Standards Board Bylaws, clause 5.2.1.2:

• Corporation: A for-profit or not-for-profit entity that is not under the control, as defined in 5.2.1.2.1, of another entity and that is organized under articles of incorporation or similar legal structures. Limited Liability Companies are considered to be Corporations.
• Partnership or association: An unincorporated association of two or more individuals who are co-owners of a business.
• Sole proprietorship: An unincorporated business owned by a single individual.
• Government agency or subdivision: An entity that is part of an executive, legislative, or judicial branch of a government and that has sufficient discretion in the management of its own affairs to distinguish it as separate from the administrative structure of any other governmental entity.
• Academic institution: An educational entity that, in addition to having a controlling body such as a Board of Regents or a Board of Governors, has sufficient discretion in the management of its own affairs to distinguish it as separate from the administrative structure of any other educational entity.

5.2.1.2.1 Control

For the purpose of IEEE entity standards development, the term "control" (and its linguistic derivatives, e.g., "controlling," "controlled") means:

• With respect to for-profit entities: the legal, beneficial, or equitable ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent of the capital stock (or other ownership interest, if the entity does not own capital stock) of the entity; or the power to elect or appoint more than fifty percent of the governing body (e.g., the Board of Directors) of the entity.
• With respect to not-for-profit entities: the power to elect or appoint more than fifty percent of the governing body (e.g., the Board of Directors) of the entity.

IEEE Code of Ethics

IEEE Intellectual Property Rules

Policies and Procedures for Corporate Standardization

Are there dues to become an IEEE SA member? Do IEEE Life Members have to pay dues to join the IEEE SA?
Yes, the amount is dependent on which type of membership you chose. Visit our membership area to see the most up-to-date pricing and to apply for membership.

IEEE Life Members are required to pay the dues necessary to join the IEEE SA. After paying IEEE SA dues for five years, they do not have to pay any longer.

As an IEEE or IEEE SA member, do I gain access to IEEE standards? Do I receive a discount on standards related products?
IEEE/IEEE SA membership does not give you access to standards or standards drafts, although it does entitle you to a discount on the purchase of standards and standards related products.

The cost of the standard is payment for intellectual property as well as the time and resources contributed to the facilitation of the standard's development. Member discounts are listed with regular pricing in the IEEE Shop.

For access to standards drafts please query the working group directly for permission to view their drafts.

Do I have to be a member to participate in a working group or to ballot on a developing standard?
Participation is open to everyone but as an IEEE SA member you can lead groups and ballot on an unlimited number of developing standards. If you prefer not to join the IEEE SA standards development community, then you pay a per-ballot fee. 

Can individual and corporate members ballot on the same standards projects?
No, we currently offer individual-based ballots or corporate-level ballots only.

How can I be sure that I will be included in the ballots I am interested in?
Once you have submitted the IEEE SA membership application and have received your member number from us you can log into the myBallot™ system to begin participating. Within the myBallot system, select all the invitation pools that you are interested in.

Once a standards project is ready to form a balloting group, you will be sent an invitation to ballot. At that time, you can decide whether you wish to ballot on that project or not. Ballots that are already in progress cannot add additional balloters.

What are my voting privileges for the annual election for IEEE SA governance?
IEEE SA Individual members who also are IEEE voting members may vote for the IEEE SA President, IEEE SA President-Elect and for the eight IEEE SA Board of Governors Members-at-Large.

IEEE SA Individual members who are NOT IEEE voting members may vote for the eight IEEE SA Board of Governors Members-at-Large.

IEEE SA Corporate members may vote for the eight IEEE SA Board of Governors Members-at-Large.

Can I renew my IEEE SA membership at the same time as my IEEE and/or society memberships?
Yes when prompted for renewal, please indicate which memberships you plan on renewing at that time. If you experience trouble renewing for any reason contact IEEE Member Services directly at +1 800 678 4333 (US); +1 732 981 0060 (worldwide), or via email.

How do I change my contact information?
You can manage, update or change your membership information online through IEEE.

Is my membership information used for outside solicitation?
No the IEEE SA does not and will not use membership information for non-IEEE SA solicitation. The IEEE SA will, from time to time, send important information about new programming in IEEE standards development in order to maximize the value of your membership.

Problems with solicitation should be directed to Member Services, +1 800 678 IEEE (4333) or via email.