Aspiring Educators - Membership - FAQ

How do I join NEA as a student?

Eligible undergraduate or graduate students may join the NEA Aspiring Educators Program. Students can enroll online using a credit or debit card or by contacting the student organizer in your state.

Can I join online if I don't have a credit card?

Our online student enrollment form only accepts credit/debit payments. Contact your state student organizer to pay by check.

Who is eligible to join?

Student Membership is available if you are enrolled in a postsecondary program that is preparatory for employment in a position that will make you eligible for Active (teacher) membership in the NEA.

Why should I join?

As a student member of NEA, you'll have the nation's largest education association (3.2 million members) working to provide you with tools and resources for a successful career. Learn what NEA membership can do for you.

How much does it cost to join?

National dues are $15 per year. State and local dues are determined by individual state and local affiliates.

Can I join NEA without joining my state affiliate?

No. When you join NEA, you become a member of our unified family at the local, state, and national levels.

I don't live in the same state as my college/university. Which state should I join?

You must join the state where you are enrolled as a college student (i.e. if you live in Minnesota, but go to school in Wisconsin, you must become a Wisconsin member).

Can I join if I'm a distance learner?

Yes, if you are a student who is enrolled in a postsecondary program that is preparatory for employment in a position that would make you eligible for Active (teacher or support staff) membership.  Please email [email protected] with your:

• name,
• phone number,
• email address, and
• the institution you are enrolled.

In the subject line please use the following -- Aspiring Educator in Distance Learning Program.  You will receive the information needed to complete your membership request.

I don't have a United States mailing address, can I still join?

Yes, please choose your country from the dropdown list. If your address is a US DOD APO/FPO address, enter

Street: PSC ### Box ### (just one of several common forms)
City: APO AE, APO AP, FPO AP, etc
State: NY or CA
Country: US
Phone: enter all the numeric digits; no punctuation. Limit 20 characters.

How do I contact my local leaders?

Check out this list to find the student organizer in your state.

When will I receive materials from the NEA Aspiring Educators Program?

The date you join determines when you'll start to get print materials — including our flagship magazine NEA Today.

For example: If you join September 15th, you'll receive your first issue of NEA Today in November.

This is because the magazine is produced nine times a year and its labels are produced six weeks prior to the issue date. Tomorrow's Teachers, the annual Aspiring Educators Program magazine, is published annually and mailed in February.

Am I covered with liability insurance as soon as I sign up online?

Yes! Coverage is immediate.

Will I have proof of liability insurance to show my university/college?

Yes! Immediately after your credit card is charged, you receive a welcome letter via email. This letter indicates that is your proof of liability insurance. As long as your membership is current, you may access and reprint your Welcome Letter displayed upon completion of your enrollment by using the [Check My Membership Status] button on the enrollment form.

What do you do with my personal information?

Personal information is used by NEA to provide targeted information that addresses individual member interests and to improve services. Refer to our NEA Privacy Policy for more information.

Where can I find information on NEA programs and policies?

Visit "About NEA" to learn about our policies and programs.

I tried to join online and got a message that said, "Error Socket Failed?"

Nearly all enrollments complete successfully the first time through. Enrollments can fail due to communication errors between your computer and the server that hosts the Student Enrollment website or between that server and the service that provides charge processing. Difficulty can be encountered with validation of the payment transaction: a number entered incorrectly, an unsupported credit card type (e.g. AmEx), expired card, insufficient available credit limit, etc. Though very rare, browser settings may interfere with successful enrollment. Malware on your computer can also prevent correct processing.

Steps you can take to ensure your enrollment was successful after receipt of an error:  

• If failure or unexpected results occurred after you entered and submitted payment card information, then start over, navigating to the enrollment form. Click [Check My Membership Status] and enter your name and SSN (or your member id number, if you are renewing a past membership and have the number available). Review the description of any active memberships that are displayed. If the membership you attempted to obtain is listed here then your enrollment was successful: redisplay and print your Welcome Letter page and watch your inbox for your two emails. If you do not receive the emails contact NEA Customer Care and they will be sent.
• If enrollment failed before you were able to submit the screen containing payment card data, or if the [Check My Membership Status] function does not report the membership you tried to obtain, then try enrolling again. While usually not necessary, waiting a few minutes or a few hours before doing so should avoid periods of communications interruption. If you suspect the problem may be with your own PC then try enrolling from a different PC.
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Will my bank place a hold on my account?

Once you pay by credit card many banks will place a hold on your account equal to the cost of enrollment. These holds are temporary and may last several days regardless of credit card approval or denial. They are bank processing requirements — NEA has no control over them. Refunds and credits are also subject to balance holds. Check with the bank that issues your credit card to find out how long holds remain. Remember to check your credit card statements. Notify NEA Customer Care if you notice a discrepancy.

What should I do if I think I've been charged twice?

It's good to note nearly all double charges are identified and rectified during the enrollment process. However, you should notify NEA Customer Care if you think you've been double billed. We will review your account within a couple of business days and remove any incorrect charges. We will contact you at the E-mail address you provided when you signed up.

What is a CSC?

CSC stands for Card Security Code. If you look at the back of your credit/debit card, it is the 3-digit number found at the end of the signature line. Sometimes you will see 4-digits followed by a space and 3-digits. Ignore the first first, that is merely the last 4-digits of your card number. We prompt you to provide the CSC for security. We are serious about preventing fraud. The CSC on your card is required before we can process your transaction.

My son doesn't have a credit card so I'm signing him up. Whose E-mail address do you want?

Put your child's E-mail address on the enrollment form so they receive all correspondence from NEA's Aspiring Educators Program.

Supply your E-mail address on the credit card entry so you receive transaction confirmation.

Where do I submit suggestions and feedback?

Your suggestions and feedback are essential to the success of the Aspiring Educators Program and we welcome your comments at NEA Customer Care.