The questions members ask most.
Individual versus associate membership, who votes, who is eligible outside the United States, and how the annual meeting works. Answered the way the association answers them.
- 6 answers
- Individual vs associate
- Voting & eligibility
Frequently asked questions.
Most of what members ask comes down to which membership they belong in and what it entitles them to. Anything not answered here goes to ICPA through the contact form, or to the membership itself through Ask the ICPA Community.
What is the protocol for responding to e-mail questions posed by ICPA members?
Within the question email, just click on the link to “Submit an answer to this question” rather than replying directly to the email.
What is the difference between a “Regular Individual” and “Associate” (Business) membership?
ICPA was created to serve the needs of the Individual Compliance Professional. Generally, a “Regular Individual” membership is for someone working for an importer or exporter. Conversely, the “Associate” (Business) membership is for companies providing services to importers and exporters such as brokers, attorneys, consultants, carriers, freight forwarders, etc. Anyone working for a service provider is not eligible for a “Regular Individual” membership.
If companies can join as Business members, isn’t there a chance that ICPA will become run by corporations and not individuals?
The ICPA founders went to great lengths to prevent this from taking place. Under our bylaws, ICPA Board positions require that Individual members comprise the majority of the Board. Also, only ICPA individual members may serve as ICPA officers.
May non-U.S. based individual compliance professionals and non-U.S. based companies join ICPA?
Yes. ICPA reserves the right to approve all membership applications under the bylaws; we encourage compliance professionals and businesses worldwide to join ICPA.
Why can’t Associate Members vote on ICPA matters?
As indicated above, ICPA was created to serve the needs of individual compliance professionals. ICPA welcomes and encourages service providers to join ICPA as Associate Members, but in view of ICPA’s primary constituency, Associate Members may not vote on ICPA matters.
Does ICPA have annual meetings?
Absolutely. Annual meetings are held during our annual Spring conferences. Agendas for upcoming Annual Conferences are available on the website.
A compliance question?
Post it to Ask the ICPA Community. Questions go to the full membership, and answers come back from people who have filed it before.
Anything else?
Your own account, renewal, site access or a question for the office all go through the Contact Us form, or straight to support@icpainc.org.
Which membership is yours?
If you work for an importer or exporter you are an individual member, and a new individual member joins free for the first year. If you provide services to importers and exporters, your company joins as an associate member.