Frequently Asked QuestionsHere are the answers to the questions we most frequently get asked about this web site and the PSA in general.
General
What is the GSF?Who should I contact for further information?What is the PSA's phone number?
How do I complain about members?
What are "Guardian Directors"?MembershipHow much does it cost to join the PSA?
How do you assess membership applications?What are the differences between the grades of membership?How do I upgrade my member status?
Are trainers accepted as members of the PSA?
Are "Candidates" members of the PSA?What are sponsors?Who should I choose as a sponsor?Web SiteWhy must I register to see some parts of this site?How do I upload a video to the Showreels page?How do I find speakers on specific topics?How do I find a mentor?What is a primary group?
What is the GSF?The IFFPS is the International Federation for Professional Speakers. Members of the PSA are automatically included in the IFFPS membership and are entitled to member rates at meetings of other IFFPS organisations.
Who should I contact for further information?For further information about the PSA contact our Secretariat in the first instance. The contact there is Sue Cliff and she can be reached on 0845
3700 504 or at admin@professionalspeakersassociation.co.uk
What is the PSA's phone number?The PSA switchboard number is 0845 3700 504.
How do I complain about members?If you have any reason to complain about members of the PSA you need to contact our Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee is made up of the President of the PSA, the Guardian Directors and two board members. They review complaints about all members and take action as appropriate. Members can be suspended or dismissed from the PSA for any ethical malpractice.
What are "Guardian Directors"?There are four Guardian Directors of the PSA. They serve a three-year period of office and are in position to ensure that the organisation runs correctly. They advise the
Board on matters of procedure.
How much does it cost to join the PSA?The cost of membership depends upn each grade. Candidate for Membership costs £150. Membership costs £225. Fellowship costs £250. There is an additional £100 joining fee.
How do you assess membership applications?Membership applications are forwarded to a Membership Committee. This Committee consists of one Board member, two Fellows and two Members. They read through the application forms, look at statements from the sponsors of each applicant and discuss their findings. They then either ask the applicant for more information, or accept or deny the application. In the case of Fellows they can only make a recommendation - the final decision is down to the Board.
What are the differences between the grades of membership?"Guests" are people who have registered on the web site so they can view some of the non public pages and book to attend events. They get no special privileges.
"GSF" members are individuals who belong to another speaker association which is part of the International Federation for Professional Speakers.
"Candidates" are people who wish to become members and have confirmed their commitment to that aim within two years of joining.
"Members" are people who earn all their income, or a significant proportion, by speaking in public or Corporate Members. Corporate Members
have to evidence that they have presented ten times
in the last twelve months, to an audience of 15 or more as part of your
salaried position. They have been assessed by other Members or Fellows of the PSA and have had to prove they are capable of at least four of the Eight Competencies of a professional speaker.
"Fellows" are highly experienced speakers who are deemed by their peers to be at the peak of the profession.
How do I upgrade my member status?If you are a Candidate and wish to upgrade to Member then simply download the Member Application Form. If you are a Member (and have been a Member for at least 18 months) and wish to become a Fellow download the Fellow Application Form. Both of these forms can be found on the
Membership Pathways page.
Are trainers accepted as members of the PSA?Yes, trainers can apply to be Candidates or Members of the PSA. However, if you only run training courses you will not be able to progress to Fellow, who mostly are keynote speakers. Most trainers join as Candidates and then progress to Member as they move out of their training role into speaking.
Are "Candidates" members of the PSA?No, Candidates are not members of the PSA and may not claim to have any form of membership. They are "candidates for membership" and intend to become Members within two years of becoming Candidates.
What are "sponsors"?Sponsors are individuals who are Members or Fellows of the PSA and who have been in continuous membership for a minimum of 18 months. They vouch for applicants and help assess their suitability for membership of the PSA. At least one sponsor must have seen an applicant give a talk at an event for which the applicant has been paid.
Who should I choose as a sponsor?Your choice of sponsor is important as they will influence the likely success of your application for Member or Fellow. You will need a sponsor who knows you and your work and who can honestly comment on your professionalism and speaking abilities. You would not benefit from a sponsor who only make perfunctory comments on your performance as a professional speaker; you need someone who is able to critically analyse your work. Wherever possible you should choose a Fellow as a sponsor. The only people you may not choose as sponsors are Candidates, Affiliates, the President of the PSA or members of the Membership Committee.
Why must I register to see some parts of this site?Some parts of the site are only viewable by people who have registered. The reason for this is that we want to know who has a high level of interest in our organisation. Although a great deal of the site is available publicly, much of the more detailed information is only available if you register, or if you are members.
How do I upload a video to the Showreels page?If you are a Member of Fellow you can upload your video to the Showreels page. To do this, you must first be logged into the member area of the site. Then visit the Showreels page and select the "Add New Post" icon at the top of the page. You will then be asked for a title for the video and you should enter the link to the video in the "Attach Video" box. This works best if you have previously uploaded your video to YouTube, or some other video hosting service. Once you have completed all the boxes on this page, your video will be submitted to the PSA Secretariat for approval. This is done to ensure that all videos in the Showreels section are from bona-fide PSA Members and Fellows.
How do I find speakers on specific topics?You can use the "By Topic" option from the Find a Speaker menu. Alternatively, to find a speaker on a more specific topic select the "Find a speaker:Advanced Search" menu item. Then, on the next page select "Member" or "Fellow" from the Member Type selection available at the bottom of the page. Click "continue" and then on the next page scroll down towards the bottom of the page and you will be able to select a speaker using a range of criteria.
How do I find a mentor?To find a mentor select the "Find a speaker" menu
item. Then, on the next page select "Member" or "Fellow" from the
Member Type selection available at the bottom of the page. Click
"continue" and then on the next page scroll down towards the bottom of
the page and you will be able to select a mentor using a range of
criteria.
What is a primary group?A primary group is a classification of your registration with this web site. Usually, your primary group is the ssame classification as your grade of membership of the PSA. So "Members" is a primary group, as is "Fellows". Non members of the PSA are also classified into primary groups, such as "Candidates" and "Guests". The term primary group merely identifies your registration group on this web site.
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