Overview
Membership can end voluntarily, through non-payment, or for a breach of conduct. This policy explains the circumstances and the fair process that applies — and confirms that membership and certification are governed separately.
At a glance
How membership ends
- Voluntary resignation by the member
- Non-payment of any applicable membership fee
- Breach of the membership code of conduct
- Misrepresentation of membership or certification status
Process and effect
PCI applies this consistently and documents what it does, so the approach can be checked and improved. Final detail is published as the institute matures, and is governed by the related policies below.
Common questions
Can I leave whenever I want?
Yes — membership can be resigned voluntarily.
Does losing membership remove my certification?
No — the two are governed separately.
Is conduct-based termination fair?
Yes — you are informed and able to respond, under the investigation procedure where relevant.
Why this matters
Membership matters because a profession is more than a set of credentials — it is a community that sets expectations, shares knowledge and supports people across a career. PCI membership is built to do exactly that, while staying clearly distinct from certification: it is professional affiliation and development, not a qualification, and it never pretends to be one.
PCI would rather offer a smaller set of genuinely useful benefits than overstate what is available today. What membership signals is real: a commitment to the discipline, and to practising it — including the governed use of AI — to a professional standard.
- Substance over marketing
- Fair, transparent process
- Honesty about our status
- Responsible, governed use of AI
Founding-stage document · Version 1.0 — effective date to be confirmed · Reviewed under PCI governance. PCI makes no claims of accreditation or recognition beyond what is true today.
How membership can end
The three routes out of membership are deliberately different in character — one is your choice, one is administrative, and one is disciplinary. They should never be confused with each other:
Voluntary resignation
You may resign at any time by telling PCI in writing. It takes effect as the policy describes, carries no stigma, and closes your membership record in good standing.
Lapse for non-payment
If renewal fees go unpaid, membership may lapse — but only after reminders and a genuine opportunity to pay. Lapse is administrative, not a judgement on your conduct.
Termination for cause
Reserved for breaches of the code of conduct, and only ever imposed after the disciplinary process has run: notice of the allegation, a chance to respond, and a decision by people without conflicts.
What stops — and what does not
When membership ends, by any route, the practical effects are the same:
- Member benefits and access to member resources cease
- You may no longer describe yourself as a current PCI member, though you may state accurately that you were one
- Obligations of honesty about your status survive — misrepresenting past membership as current is itself a conduct breach
The most important boundary: membership and certification are governed separately. Ending your membership does not by itself revoke a PCL-AI credential, and a certification issue does not by itself end membership — each is dealt with under its own policy, on its own facts. See the membership policy for the framework this page sits within.
Notice, appeal and coming back
Fairness here has three concrete guarantees. First, no surprise endings: lapse for non-payment is preceded by reminders, and termination for cause is preceded by a documented disciplinary process in which you hear the allegation and answer it. Second, a route to challenge: a termination decision can be appealed under the appeals policy, reviewed by people uninvolved in the original decision. Third, a way back where appropriate: a lapsed member can generally rejoin once fees are settled, and even after termination, readmission can be considered on its merits after time has passed — endings are enforced honestly, but they are not designed to be traps.
Keep going
How membership ends — and comes back
Membership ends by choice (resignation), by lapse (non-renewal after notice), or by decision under the disciplinary policy. Each route has different consequences: resignation and lapse are administrative; termination for cause is recorded and considered in any future application.
Reinstatement after lapse is straightforward within the stated window. After termination for cause, readmission requires a fresh application showing the underlying issue is resolved — decided by people uninvolved in the original matter.