Now Accepting Nominations for the APA Board of Trustees
APA members are invited to nominate themselves or a colleague to run for office in APA’s 2026 election. APA immediate past President Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D., Dr.Med.Sc., chair of the Nominating Committee, is seeking members with the passion to serve APA and psychiatry.
APA members who serve on the Board of Trustees do important work that ultimately steers the Association and has a real-life impact on patients. The offices open for election this year are President-Elect, Treasurer, Trustee-at-Large, Area 2 & 5 Trustees, and Resident-Fellow Member Trustee-Elect (RFMTE).
The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2025.
About the APA Board of Trustees
The American Psychiatric Association is governed by the Board of Trustees, which is composed of officers elected nationally and members elected both nationally and regionally. The power to make policy is vested in the Board; the Board's primary function is to manage the affairs of the Association and formulate and implement the policies of the Association. The Board exercises all the powers of the Association that are not otherwise assigned.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Do I have to be nominated to apply?No. Eligible APA members can self-nominate for open Board of Trustees positions.
2. What APA members are eligible apply?
APA members who are eligible to apply are Resident-Fellow members, General members, Fellows, Distinguished Fellows, Life members, Life Fellows, Distinguished Life Fellows, and Retired members with active APA memberships. Please visit the link below under “Additional Resources” for more information on eligibility requirements.
3. What documents are required to accompany the nomination application?
Applicants are required to submit a personal statement/statement of intent, a three-page abbreviated Curriculum Vitae (CV), and a 300–400 word biography. RFMTE applicants are also required to submit an RFMTE Nomination Release Form. Letters of recommendation are optional, and a maximum of three may be submitted.
4. Is it recommended to submit letters of recommendation even though they are optional?
It may be worth considering submitting letters of recommendation in your application if you believe they will provide distinct insight or highlight different aspects of your skills and experience that are not already covered by the required submissions.
5. Will applications submitted after the deadline be accepted?
No, we will not accept any applications submitted after 11:59 pm ET on September 1st.
6. Having technical issues?
In case of any technical issues, please reach out to rqassist@rhythmq.com for assistance.
Additional Resources:
APA Election SiteAPA Election Guidelines
Board Position Descriptions
Eligibility Requirements
Sample Officer Schedule
Application Process
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1. Login
Login with your APA credentials to apply.
2. Create
Create your online application. Please review the eligibility requirements before applying.
3. Save
During the Call for Nominations cycle, your nomination can be saved as DRAFT until all the required information is completed and attachments uploaded. As each section is complete, you will see a 
appear in the category tab when the nomination is saved. At any time, you can download and print your nomination by clicking on the 
icon in the Nomination Summary section.
4. Submit
On completion, save your Nomination as FINAL. Download and print a copy of your application for your records by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section in the right column. Note: If an update is required prior to the Call for Nomination deadline, you can make the update and resave as FINAL.
If you require assistance or additional information, please contact the APA Governance at appointments@psych.org.
Micro-Volunteer Opportunities at APA
APA is excited to launch a new pilot program to expand volunteer opportunities for our members. This initiative introduces micro-volunteering, which consists of short-term, flexible opportunities that allow members to contribute in meaningful ways without long-term commitments. These time-bound tasks enable volunteers to support the organization’s work in a way that fits their availability while making a tangible impact.The deadline for these micro-volunteer opportunities are ongoing and may vary. Please check the website for the specific opportunity you applied to in order to confirm the deadline. All applications must be submitted using this online portal by the opportunity deadline date. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Key Dates
Micro-Voluteer OpportunitiesApplication Opens: April 10, 2025
Application Closes: Ongoing
Projected End Date: July 31, 2025
Board Nominations
Application Opens: 7/1/25
Application Closes: 9/1/25
Candidate Slate Reported to the Board: 11/1/25
Call for Volunteers
Application Opens: 9/1/24
Application Closes: 11/7/25
Appointments Reported to the Board: 03/14/26
Appointments Announced: Week of 3/16/26