Membership FAQs

The mission of the College is to educate, lead, and serve scientists by promoting the exchange of relevant information and perspectives on safety assessment and new developments related to applied toxicology.

Yes. ACT established an Endowment Fund in 2015 to ensure resources will always be available to continue the mission of the College. Endowed and institutional assets have been designated as the ACT Awards Fund to support important educational awards and scholarships. Contribute to the Endowment using the ACT Endowment Donation Form or when renewing your annual dues online.

As an ACT member, you join a diverse community of applied toxicologists in the early career, mid-level, and advanced stages of their professional development. Participate in a vibrant membership representing the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, contract research organizations, regulatory agencies, academia, and consulting firms.

ACT offers unique, tailored opportunities for professional and personal growth for every career level. Your ACT membership will grant you access to educational events and professional development opportunities to drive your career forward while distinguishing you within the field. An active online community of over 1,200 professionals helps you make meaningful connections with toxicologists throughout the world and allows you to add your voice to a powerful network dedicated to advancing science.

ACT members enjoy benefits that propel their careers and expand their networks—regardless of career stage.

• Diverse educational and professional development opportunities focusing on applied toxicology
• Access to online listings of professional positions in toxicology
• Quarterly live webinars and access to a webinar archive
• Subscription to the ACT journal, International Journal of Toxicology
• Discounts on ACT signature events—the Annual Meeting, eLearning Series, and training courses in drug development, pathology, and advanced toxicology
• In-person professional networking
• Access to interACT, a members-only online community and member directory
• Participation in the Ask A Friend Discussion Forum

• Basic and continuing education offerings in applied toxicology
• Access to and networking with experienced leaders in toxicology
• Enhanced professional development
• Volunteer opportunities
• Opportunities to present at the Annual Meeting
• Open competition for travel and research awards

• Educational offerings specially geared toward board certification preparation
• Leadership skill enhancement and professional development
• Leadership opportunities in elected or appointed positions
• Participation as a session or course Chair/speaker

• Advanced educational offerings in applied toxicology—learning and teaching
• Peer‑to‑peer professional networking
• Opportunities to assist the next generation of toxicologists
• Peer-review opportunities in International Journal of Toxicology
• Recognition by peers for lifetime work

One of the member benefits of ACT is access to International Journal of Toxicology (IJT), the official scientific journal of the College, which is published online six times per year. Once your dues are paid, you will be able to access International Journal of Toxicology after logging in to the ACT website.

We also encourage you to submit manuscripts to International Journal of Toxicology.

interACT is the ACT member network and allows active members the ability to make personal connections. Access the membership directory and upload your curriculum vitae there, as well as gaining access to blog articles and news announcements, applicable communities, and calendars.

The ACT membership directory is located within the interACT, for members-only access. Member log-in is required.

ACT membership is open to scientists, professionals, researchers, trainees, and students who are actively involved in toxicology through administration, teaching, research, or safety assessment functioning or are engaged in studies leading to a degree in the field of toxicology or a field related to toxicology. Submit your application today!

ACT is a global community of professional scientists representing the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, contract research organizations, regulatory agencies, academia, and consulting firms.

ACT membership is considered active for the calendar year. Membership terms begin January 1, with a December 31 term end date, regardless of membership acceptance date.

• Full Member: Qualified, trained, and experienced scientists or professionals actively involved in toxicology with five or more years of toxicology experience.
• Distinguished Fellow: Full members who have attained international recognition for research and contributed to significant advancement in toxicology.
• Associate Member: Qualified, trained, and experienced scientists or professionals actively involved in toxicology with at least two years of toxicology experience.
• Postdoctoral Researcher/Transitional Member: Individuals with less than two years of relevant experience and engaged in acquiring professional skills to pursue a toxicology career.
• Student Member: Any student engaged in studies leading to a degree in the field of toxicology or a field related to toxicology.
• Emeritus Member: Any current, active Full member who has been a member for at least 15 years and is retired from professional practice.
• Honorary Member: Any individual whose contributions to the College merit consideration for Honorary membership in the College.
• Corporate Contributor: Any firm, association, corporation, institution, or subdivision thereof invited by the ACT President to support the College.

Membership upgrade requests are reviewed at the same time as new member applications. They are reviewed by the Membership Committee in advance of each Council meeting (January, March, May, August, October).

To submit an application for upgraded membership, please view the ACT website and select the “Apply Today!” link at the top of the page. From here, please select “Change Member Type,” and follow the prompts of the online application until it is completed. Upon completion, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from ACT Headquarters.

Any current, active Full member who has been a member for at least 15 years and is retired from professional practice may apply for Emeritus status by requesting this change through ACT Headquarters for approval by the Membership Committee. Emeritus members shall pay no membership fees, may not vote or hold elective office, and do not receive the print journal. An Emeritus member may be restored to previous membership status via application to the Membership Committee and Council approval.

If you have been an active ACT member for at least 15 years and are interested in Emeritus status, please email ACT Headquarters. You will also need to verify your retirement date and indicate whether you plan on doing any consulting work after retirement.

Employees of federal, state, or government departments/agencies who are official government personnel must apply using their government-affiliated email address. For verification purposes, ACT may request further documentation of government employment before membership approval. Employees of public academic institutions, nonprofit institutions, or government contractors do not qualify for the government membership.

New Full, Associate, and Student members will automatically receive access to the published journal. However, delivery dates will depend on the timing of membership approval and the IJT publishing schedule. Please visit the IJT home page for further information.

Please contact ACT Headquarters via email or by phone at 703.547.0875.

To learn more and submit an application, visit the ACT website, where you will find the various membership types, descriptions, and qualifications, as well as instructions on how to apply for membership and a link to the application.

Upon completion of your membership application, your submission will be sent to the ACT Membership Committee for approval. The Membership Committee will vote on the eligibility of the applicants. The Membership Committee Chair will compile the votes and forward the results to ACT Council. Letters of acceptance or denial will then be sent to the applicants.

Applications for membership are reviewed by the Membership Committee in advance of each Council meeting (January, March, May, August, October). Upon approval, you will receive notification from ACT Headquarters to pay your dues and activate your ACT membership.

The ACT Membership Committee requests that applicants secure their own sponsors for membership. However, if you feel you have exhausted all resources, please contact ACT Headquarters for guidance.

• Full Member: $165; Government Full Member Dues: $125
• Associate Member: $165; Government Associate Member Dues: $125
• Postdoctoral Researcher/Transitional Member: $40, electronic access to the journal only
• Student Member: Free membership, electronic access to the journal only
• Emeritus Member: Free membership, electronic access to the journal only
• Corporate Contributor: $1,500
• Corporate Partner: $3,500

Membership payments can be paid via check, credit card (American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa), or bank wire transfer. Please make checks payable to American College of Toxicology in US dollars.

Please contact ACT Headquarters via email or by phone at 703.547.0875 to receive an invoice with wire transfer information.

You will receive membership renewal invoices once the invoices have been generated for the year. Membership is renewed annually and follows the calendar year. Members should expect to start receiving renewal notices in December for the following year.

Yes. Payments can be faxed to 703.438.3113. Please contact ACT Headquarters via email or by phone at 703.547.0875 to receive an invoice for payment.

You will receive an automatic email confirmation receipt with payment upon renewal payment submission. If a PDF invoice receipt is needed, please contact ACT Headquarters.

You can cancel your membership at any time; however, ACT member dues are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Please contact ACT Headquarters to request a membership cancellation.

You have two options to reactivate your ACT membership. Either you can pay your back dues for each unpaid year, or you can reapply for membership by submitting a new online application and selecting “Create New.” If you would like to pay your back dues, please contact ACT Headquarters for assistance.

ACT membership is not transferable.

ACT encourages a diverse membership from the global community. It is recognized that toxicologists are active in areas of the world where even reduced dues payments may present a challenge. The College will consider, on a limited and case-by-case basis, requests for financial assistance with membership fees. One example might be applicants from developing countries (such as on the list of least developed countries) seeking financial assistance. Learn more and submit your application.

To activate or renew your membership, please visit the Online Membership Renewal web page on the ACT website. Log in using your email address as the User ID. If you don’t know your password, you can retrieve it by using the Reset Password link.

Membership activation also requires that you submit your membership dues. You may submit the dues amount by check to: ACT, 11190 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300, Reston, VA 20191. Please email ACT Headquarters if you require a printable invoice.

Please visit the ACT website and select Update Member Profile under the Membership navigation.

To reset the password associated with your ACT account, please visit the Reset Password web page of the ACT website. If you need to update the email address associated with your account, please contact ACT Headquarters.

Your username is the email address associated with your ACT account. If you cannot remember this address, please contact ACT Headquarters for assistance. To reset the password associated with your ACT account, please visit the Reset Password web page of the ACT website.

To update your profile, please visit the Update Member Profile under the Membership navigation. To make changes, please select the “Edit” link located next to your “Individual Information.”

Please contact ACT Headquarters via email or by phone at 703.547.0875.

Please contact ACT Headquarters via email or by phone at 703.547.0875.