Membership: Qualifications  

Membership Grades

Affiliate Membership

If you join just Computer Society, you are a member of the Society but are considered an affiliate of the IEEE. You are entitled to all Computer Society benefits and services, but you are not entitled to IEEE member benefits. You must be both an IEEE and Computer Society member to qualify for higher grade (senior and fellow) membership.

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IEEE Membership

Members may join the Computer Society alone or in conjunction with the IEEE. IEEE membership benefits include subscriptions to IEEE Spectrum and The Institute; access to IEEE technical and educational activities; and personal, financial, and insurance programs.

Qualifications for IEEE Membership
(one of the following):

  • Electrical engineer or computer scientist graduated from a recognized educational degree program.
  • A related degree plus three years applicable professional experience.
  • Six year applicable professional experience.
  • Interest in the technical fields of the IEEE (Associate Member level, no voting rights).

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IEEE Senior Membership

Computer Society members who are also regular (not associate or affiliate) members of the IEEE may apply for Senior Membership. The grade of Senior Member is the highest for which application may be made, and requires experience reflecting professional maturity. For admission or to transfer to Senior Member status, a candidate should be an engineer, scientist, educator, or technical executive in specific fields designated by the IEEE.

Candidates for Senior Member should have active professional practice for at least ten years and should be able to show significant performance over at least five of those years. This performance should include one or more of the following:

  • Substantial engineering responsibility or achievement.
  • Publication of engineering or scientific papers, books or inventions.
  • Technical direction or management of important scientific or engineering work with evidence of accomplishment.
  • Recognized contributions to the welfare of the scientific or engineering profession.
  • Development or furtherance of important scientific or engineering courses or a Recognized Education program.
  • Contributions equivalent to those of 1 and 5 above in areas such as technical editing, patent prosecution, or patent law, provided these contributions serve to advance progress substantially in IEEE designated fields.

For more information on Senior membership, contact IEEE Member Services at 1 800 678 IEEE or 1 732 981 0060.

IEEE Senior Member Elevation Forms

IEEE Fellow Membership

Computer Society members who are also regular (not associate or affiliate) members of the IEEE may be elected to IEEE Fellow grade. The grade of Fellow recognizes unusual distinction in the profession and is conferred only by invitation by the Board of Directors. Fellow grade recognizes people of outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in IEEE designated fields and who have made important individual contributions to one or more of these fields. Normally, candidates for Fellow must hold Senior Member grade at the time of nomination and should be a member (of any grade) for a period of five years or more.