What is the House of Delegates?

The AAPA Bylaws, Article VI, Section 1 provide for the House of Delegates as follows:

Duties and Responsibilities.

The Academy shall have a House of Delegates, which shall represent the interests of the membership.

The House of Delegates shall exercise the sole authority on behalf of the Academy to enact policies establishing the collective values, philosophies, and principles of the PA profession.

The House of Delegates may make recommendations to the Board for granting charters to Chapters and for granting official recognition to specialty organizations.

The House of Delegates may make recommendations to the Board for the establishment of Academy commissions and work groups and shall establish such committees of the House of Delegates as necessary to fulfill its duties.

The House of Delegates shall be entitled to vote on amendments to these Bylaws on behalf of the members in accordance with Article XIII of these Bylaws.

The House of Delegates shall be solely responsible for establishing such rules of procedure, which are not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation, or existing law, as may be necessary for carrying out the activities of the House (i.e. House of Delegates Standing Rules).

Open Positions, Terms, and Descriptions

There are three (3) House Officer positions with terms starting July 1, 2023:

• AAPA Vice President/Speaker of the House: one-year term
• Director/First Vice Speaker: one-year term
• Director/Second Vice Speaker: one-year term

House of Delegates Officers also serve on AAPA’s Board of Directors in addition to their duties in the House of Delegates. See the Board of Directors General Election information for additional duties/responsibilities.

Position Descriptions

Please refer to the House Officer Position Descriptions document, linked here, to learn more about the duties and expectations of board and HOD service.

Eligibility and Qualifications

In accordance with the AAPA Bylaws, Article XIII, Section 3, candidates for House Officer positions must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. A candidate must be a fellow of AAPA.
2. A candidate must be a member of an AAPA Chapter.
3. A candidate must have been an AAPA fellow and/or student member for the last three years.
4. A candidate must have accumulated at least three distinct years of experience in the past five years in at least two of the following major areas of professional involvement. This experience requirement will be waived for currently sitting AAPA Board members who choose to run for a subsequent term of office.
   1. An AAPA or constituent organization officer, board member, committee, council, commission, work group, or task force chair.
   2. A delegate to the AAPA House of Delegates or a representative to the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants Assembly of Representatives.
   3. A board member, trustee, or committee chair of the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, PA Foundation, Society for the Preservation of Physician Assistant History, American Academy of Physician Assistants Political Action Committee, Physician Assistant Education Association, or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
   4. AAPA Board appointee.
5. A candidate for House Officer must have been a seated delegate for a minimum of two years in the past five years.

House Officer candidates must also be credentialed delegates to the 2023 HOD meeting.

House Officer candidates will be evaluated by the Nominating Work Group for possible endorsement. An endorsement from the NWG is an indication that a candidate possesses the skills and competencies that will be needed on the AAPA Board of Directors in the coming leadership year. Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements but who are not selected by the NWG may opt to run as a “self-declared” candidate.

2023 House of Delegates Election Timeline

BOD/HOD Meetings Schedule

For planning purposes, candidates should be available for the following meetings:

The above dates are tentative and subject to change. As members of the Board, House Officers are also expected to participate in board and committee conference calls (dates TBD) throughout the leadership year.

Who is Eligible to Vote?

Eligible HOD delegates who have current fellow or student membership and are recognized as voting credentialed delegates as of May 5 will receive a ballot during the HOD meeting to vote for House Officers and the NWG.