Full Member*:
(a) an engineer or scientist in the fields of vacuum science or engineering or the related arts and sciences, who shall have graduated with a baccalaureate degree in those fields;

(b) a teacher of vacuum science or engineering or the related arts and sciences, who shall have graduated from a course of study of at least four academic years' duration, or its equivalent, in a school of recognized standing or who has had at least three years of professional teaching experience and shall have participated in planning and conducting courses;

(c) a person regularly employed in the fields of vacuum science and engineering or related arts and sciences, for at least six years, who, by experience has demonstrated competence in work of a professional character;

(d) an executive who, for at least six years, has had under his or her direction important technical engineering or research work in the fields of vacuum science and engineering or the related arts and sciences.


Student Members: A full-time college student, either undergraduate or graduate with expressed interest in the scientific and technical areas relevant to AVS. Student status must be certified by the student's advisor. Student membership may be renewed annually by having an advisor send an email verifying student status. Please have this email sent to the AVS Membership Coordinator at membership@avs.org. If verification is not received, full membership dues will be collected. Note that there is a five (5) year cap on eligibility for the student membership rate. After the 5 year mark full membership dues will be applied unless you contact the membership coordinator. The rights and privileges of student members shall be the same as for regular members except that student members shall only have the right to vote and hold office for their University Student Chapter.


Post Doc Members: These members have completed their graduate study and earned the PhD or equivalent degree but are employed by an accredited university or national laboratory with the job title of post-doctoral fellow. In order to qualify for this special rate, post-doctoral members must provide a letter from a supervisor verifying employment status. Please have this letter sent to the AVS Membership Coordinator at membership@avs.org. If the letter is not received, full membership dues will be collected. Note that there is a three (3) year cap on eligibility for the post doc membership rate. After the 3 year mark full membership dues will be applied unless you contact the membership coordinator. The rights and privileges of post docs members shall be the same as for regular members except that post members shall not have the right to vote and hold office.


Emeritus Member: Emeritus Membership may be obtained by any AVS full member who has been a member in good standing for a total of 15 years and who can demonstrate that he or she is retired from full-time employment. Please contact the membership coordinator for more information.

Emeritus Members shall be exempted from payment of membership dues and registration fees for all AVS symposia. They shall have all rights and privileges of membership except JVST in print format, which they may obtain by payment of an additional fee established by the Board of Directors.


Honorary Member: Recommended by the Awards Committee to the Board of Directors for distinguished service to the Society.


Fellow: Recommended by the Awards Committee to the Board of Directors to recognize members who have made sustained and outstanding technical contributions in areas of interest to the Society.

*Unemployed Rate: AVS now offers an unemployed rate. For more information on whether you qualify, please contact the Membership Coordinator, membership@avs.org