CAPS Associate Membership

Every Associate Membership with CAPS comes with the opportunity to:

• Accelerate your speaking career by growing alongside other professionals who understand the nuances of speaking-based businesses and lifestyles!
• Find faster, better fitting solutions from fellow experts who have mastered key components in marketing, business and logistics.
• Expand your professional network by building relationships with fellow members and attending local, online and national events.
• Increase the value of your business by completing learning modules in the CAPS Academy, attending masterminds and community events.
• Gain invaluable support from our community when facing challenges, setbacks or a need to pivot. Our members feel like family and friends!

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There are three ways to qualify for the Associate Membership.

#1   Register for the Business Starter Track program

The Business Starter Track is a 10-month, expert-led, interactive educational program that fast-tracks you to a CAPS membership. This program is offered only once a year. Our registrations are open now until mid-March.

The current investment for a non-member on the Business Starter Track includes your Associate membership and full membership benefits until March 31 of the following year. https://www.canadianspeakers.org/learning-centre/business-starter-track/

Once you are onboarded for the Business Starter Track, you will be invited to join CAPS as an Associate member, which requires our standard $200 initiation fee. Once approved, you will have access to all CAPS member benefits, including our private Facebook group and WhatsApp group, where we learn from one another through questions and answers.

#2  Completed Business Starter Track

If you have already completed the Business Starter Track, you can apply for Associate Membership immediately and pay the full membership fee plus the $200 initiation fee.

#3  You Have Previous Paid Speaking Experience

If you are an aspiring paid speaker and have delivered at least 10 documented paid presentations in the past 12 months, earning a reasonable income during that period, you can apply for the Associate Membership.

The Associate Membership is a great way to start, build, or grow your speaking business, with three ways to qualify. The CAPS community offers excellent benefits you can use immediately upon acceptance as a member.

#1   Register for the Business Starter Track program
The Business Starter Track is a 10-month, expert-led, interactive educational program that fast-tracks you to a CAPS membership. This program is offered only once a year.

#2   Completed Business Starter Track
You must have previously taken the Business Starter Track.

#3   You Have Previous Paid Speaking Experience
If you are an aspiring paid speaker who has delivered at least 10 documented paid presentations in the past 12 months and earned a reasonable income during that period.

What CAPS Is
CAPS is a community of experts who speak professionally. Our culture is based on the “CAPS Advantage,” which encompasses the philosophy of “learn, share, grow, and belong”.

We strive to help speaking professionals excel in the areas of business growth and speaking professionalism. We do this through ongoing educational, training and networking opportunities.

When you become a member of CAPS, learning opportunities are abundant. We invite you to take part as much as you can, and give back when you’re inspired to. It is our spirit of generosity, openness and encouragement that helps our members gain value from their membership, and become some of the best in their respective industries. Build close relationships, help others and always be willing to look to fellow members for that ‘missing piece’ needed on your journey, and you too will experience the CAPS Advantage.

What CAPS Is Not
CAPS is not a speaker bureau or speaker agent. Although we do provide listings of some speaking opportunities, we do not promote individual members, provide marketing services or find engagements for our members.

By applying for a CAPS Membership, you agree/certify that:

1. You will abide by the CAPS Code of Professional Ethics as a CAPS member.
2. You qualify for the membership category you are applying for, as verified through supporting documents (described below)

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION:

Business Starter Track Enrolment (Past or Present): For those currently enrolled or who have previously completed the Business Starter Track, please fill out the online application form. If you were provided a special discount code from CAPS, click: "Have a coupon?".

Speaking Experience: For those who qualify under requirement #3, provide a list of organizations where you presented, including any income earned (including paid travel and accommodation expenses) at those functions in the last 12 months. You may also include events where you used the spoken word but were not paid for your services. This will indicate your effort and intention to build a speaking business. Complete the online application form and provide your speaking documentation in the upload section of the form, or alternatively via email to: info@canadianspeakers.org.

Note that all supporting documentation must be received by the CAPS office before your application can be formally approved.

If you apply between January and March, your membership fee will cover 15 months, ending March 31 of the following year. The annual renewal fee for year two onward is payable by March 31. Applications submitted after May 31 will be prorated.

The membership approval process will take no more than two to three weeks.

To process the paperwork, we must receive payment; however, if you do not meet the requirements for your Membership Category, we will refund the membership fee within 30 days of receipt, excluding the $200.00 initiation fee, which is used for administration and approval.

You will be notified by email once your membership application has been approved. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for us to process your application. ONLY after your membership application has been approved will your CAPS membership commence. Your email confirmation will indicate the start date of your membership, which aligns with the month your documentation was processed and accepted.

Associate Member Fees

You qualify if you:

• Have 10 paid presentations - $645 + $200 initiation fee ($845 + tax)
• Participated in a past Business Starter Track course - $645 + $200 initiation fee ($845 + tax)
• Joined the current Business Starter Track course - $200 initiation fee + tax (requires coupon code)

Cancellation Policy:
If you cancel your application within 30 days, you will be refunded your membership fee, excluding the $200.00 initiation fee, which is used for administration and approval.

Revised and Approved March 12, 2025

To establish and maintain public confidence in the professionalism, honesty, ability and integrity of the professional speaker is fundamental to the success of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (herein called “CAPS”), its members, and the profession of speaking.

To this end, members of the Association have adopted and, as a condition of membership, adhere to this CAPS Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct. By doing so, the members give notice they recognize the vital need to preserve, encourage and support ethical and equitable conduct among all who are engaged in the profession of speaking, as well as those who are connected to the industry, including meeting planners, corporate buyers, speaking bureau, suppliers to and partners of members.

Violations of this Code shall be determined in accordance to the bylaws, policies and procedures of CAPS. Disciplinary actions shall be instituted by CAPS in accordance with Bylaws and Rules and Regulations established by the Association. Any such disciplinary action shall be final and binding upon the CAPS member and without recourse to the Association, its officers, members or staff.

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