Training Policy Handbook
Membership in Professional Organizations
Under Title 5 USC §4109(b), the expenses of training do not include membership fees except to the extent that:
the fee is a necessary cost directly related to the training, or
payment of the fee is a condition precedent to undergoing the training, as is the case with Toastmaster's International. Comp. Gen. B-223447 (October 10, 1986).
Prohibition on Payment of Individual Membership Fees
Payment of annual dues for membership in a professional organization
is a personal expense, not reimbursable to the employee, even
if the Government would benefit from the employee's development as a
result of the membership. Title 5 USC §5946 prohibits
the use of appropriated funds for the payment of individual membership
fees or dues of officers and employees of the Government, except as
authorized:
by specific appropriation;
by express terms in a general appropriation; or
in connection with employee training or meetings under Title 5 USC §4109 or §4110.
In some instances an individual membership is included in the conference
fee and conference fee cannot be reduced by the cost of the individual
membership. If the Governement pays for an employee to attend the conference,
the employee may accept the membership as an incidental byproduct of the
meeting.
Agency Membership
Under Title 5 USC §5946, an agency may become a member
of an organization and pay the required dues if it is administratively
determined to be necessary in carrying out authorized agency activities.
See 52 Comp. Gen. 495 (1973).