Graduate students are expected to become involved in appropriate professional associations, through membership, participation in meetings, and presentation of papers. Generally, professional associations encourage student involvement, often in governance and through financial support to attend meetings.

American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the umbrella professional association for educational researchers. AERA includes researchers with a wide range of interests which are reflected in the organization’s Divisions and Special Interest Groups. Student membership includes a subscription of the Educational Researcher and another AERA journal of your choice. There are also regional affiliates of AERA – in this region the affiliate is the Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA). Additionally, other regional associations exist, like, for example, the Northeast Educational Research Organization (NEERO). Most specializations also have professional associations in which students should consider becoming involved. An incomplete list of associations students might consider follows: