Feb 09, 2024

Professional Associations: A Great Way to Connect to Training and Networking Opportunities


A professional association is an organization made up of members who are part of the same industry or career field. Professional organizations vary in their membership requirements. Some associations may require members to hold a particular degree or pay a monthly or yearly fee to be part of the organization. Others allow members who are still in school or developing their career.

Each association varies in the activities and benefits it offers. Some of these include networking opportunities, job boards, conferences, and trainings or certifications.

Below are a few professional associations across a variety of environmental fields:

American Outdoors Association

American Fisheries Society

American Solar Energy Society

American Wind Energy Association 

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Association of Watershed & Stormwater Professionals

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Ecological Society of America 

Geological Society of America

National Association for Interpretation

National Marine Educators Association 

National Parks and Recreation Association

North American Association of Environmental Education 

Outdoor Industry Association

River Management Society

Society for Conservation Biology

Society for Ecological Restoration

Society of American Foresters

Soil and Water Conservation Society

The Wildlife Society