The Professional Speaking Association (PSA) was launched in 1999 in the United Kingdom as a professional body for professional speakers with two fundamental goals: to raise the standards of speakers for the benefit of the businesses and organisations that use speakers; to promote speaking as a professional industry.
Since its launch it has attracted 300+ members, most of whom appear to speak in the business sector. There are no celebrity speakers in its listings which are clearly designed to show speakers on a wide variety of business related topics.
The organisation holds a convention every November at which members get an opportunity to discuss issues related to the speaking industry.
The PSA says it offers several grades of membership.
Associates are not Members but they have access to the resources and networks in the PSA. Candidate status is valid for two years, by which time Membership status must be achieved. Failing that, re-application has to be made after a three-year wait.
To be accepted as a Member, a person has prove that they are a professional speaker by listing at least 10 paid speaking engagements in 12 months. To show professional competence, they also need to demonstrate their abilities against the first four competencies of a professional speaker. These are: Professional Awareness; Topic Development; Presenting and Performing; PR, Sales and Marketing
A Fellow of the PSA is a much higher qualifying standard. This level of membership is only available to members on proof of ability against all eight competencies of a professional speaker and proof of a significant income from speaking. Fellows are also voted in by their peers. The letters FPSA provide recognition of professional excellence in the speaking industry, though this is not an officially accredited qualification.
The PSA is affiliated to the worldwide network of professional speaking bodies, under the stewardship of the Global Speakers Federation.