RSPA Membership:
Frequently Asked Questions
Navigating membership options, benefits, and requirements can sometimes raise questions. We’ve compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about joining and belonging to the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA). If you don’t find your answer here, please don’t hesitate to contact our Membership Services team.
RSPA stands for the Racquet Sports Professionals Association. As of September 17, 2024, it is the new name for the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). The name change reflects our expanded mission to serve teaching professionals across all major racquet sports (tennis, pickleball, padel, squash, platform tennis) while building on our nearly 100-year legacy in tennis.
The racquet sports landscape is evolving. Many professionals now teach multiple sports, and clubs increasingly offer diverse racquet activities. The RSPA name embraces this multi-sport reality, positioning our association and members for future growth and relevance across the entire industry.
No, RSPA is a global organization with over 14,000 members worldwide. We have specific membership categories and fee structures for both domestic (US & Canada) and international professionals.
Please visit documents.uspta.com and provide your last name and membership number. This will grant you access to your membership certificate, insurance verification letter, and other documents for your personal and professional use.
Your membership benefits, including the Tennis Warehouse discount, access to the Tennis Resources platform, and many more, will be available to you once you become a certified member in at least one racquet sport.
You must be an active member in good standing to show up on the Find-A-Pro search.
Continuing education credits are not required of International Members.
Certification is required for the Professional and Instructor membership categories, which offer the full suite of benefits including liability insurance. High School Coach, Corporate, and Student memberships do not require RSPA certification but may have different benefit levels.
Absolutely! RSPA offers certification and membership pathways specifically for professionals focusing on pickleball, padel, squash, and platform tennis, in addition to tennis.
Yes, members can often upgrade their membership category (e.g., from Instructor to Professional) by meeting the necessary certification requirements and experience levels. Contact Membership Services for details on specific transitions.
Yes, the RSPA offers a retired membership for those over the age of 65 who are no longer teaching but would like to maintain their membership and have access to all member benefits, excluding the on-court liability insurance. The dues are $160, and if you would like to switch to this, simply email membership@rspa.net or call 407-634-3050, option 2, with your name and member ID number, and we will adjust your account.
30 years of service AND 75 years of age.
To be considered a member in good standing, all active RSPA members must:
All Professional members 65+ years of age are not required to earn continuing education credits.
Yes, because all other racquet sport certification's membership fee is $335, if you are a certified Tennis Instructor, your membership dues will go up to $335.
All Elite professionals must have 10 years of teaching at the Elite level in order to apply for Master Professional status.
Reinstatement includes payment of the non-refundable $125 reinstatement fee, up-to-date compliance with continuing education (12 credits), and remit payment of prorated annual membership dues. Members who allow their membership to enter DROPPED status more than twice will be required to pay the following year’s dues in full before being reinstated.
Your dues will not be prorated if you are a suspended member. You will need to pay your full dues, as suspended members still have access to education and updates through the RSPA.
Processing time can vary. After submitting your online application and payment, the timeline depends largely on completing the certification requirements (if applicable). Once all steps are complete, final approval is typically processed promptly.
The application form can be accessed via the How to Join page.
To continue offering the convenience and security of card payments, a standard 3% processing fee is applied to all debit and credit card transactions. If you’d like to avoid fees altogether, ACH payments are available at no cost.
No, the membership application fee is non-refundable as it covers processing and initial materials. This also includes your background check that is completed during the Safe Play training does not come back cleared, and you are not deemed eligible by the appeals committee.
Annual membership dues must be paid by December 31st for the upcoming calendar year to maintain active status and benefits.
We do have payment plan options for membership renewal after your first year of membership. Please contact the Membership Department for more information.
Prorating ensures new members only pay for the portion of the membership year remaining from the month they join.
We are proud to offer a 25% Hero's discount for active and former military, active first responders, and active licensed teachers on their annual dues renewal. To utilize this discount for future renewals, kindly send a valid ID, badge, or certificate to membership@rspa.net and we will notate your account. Thank you for all that you do!
For Certified Professional and Certified Instructor members, the on-court liability insurance typically becomes active upon successful completion of certification and approval of membership.
To access the Tennis Resources education library, which provides content on all RSPA racquet sports that we offer certifications in, please visit www.tennisresources.com. To gain access to the digital version of ADDvantage magazine, please visit https://issuu.com/uspta?ps=24.
Some benefits, particularly insurance coverage or specific partner discounts, may differ based on geographic location. International members should review the specific benefits outlined for their region or contact RSPA for clarification.
If your question wasn’t answered above, our dedicated the
Membership Services team is ready to assist you.
Email: membership@rspa.net
Phone: 407 634 3050
RSPA: Your partner in professional growth.