The Photographic Society of America (PSA) runs a distinction scheme that recognises achievement in exhibition photography. Distinctions are earned by accumulating acceptances in PSA-recognised exhibitions over time. This page explains how the system works, what the three main distinctions are, and how to go about working towards them.
A PSA distinction is a credential appended to a photographer's name — similar to an academic qualification — that indicates a recognised level of achievement in photographic exhibitions. The three main distinctions are APSA (Associate), EPSA (Excellence), and FPSA (Fellow). They appear after a photographer's name in the same way academic or professional credentials do: John Smith APSA, or Jane Doe EPSA.
Distinctions are awarded by PSA based on a combination of exhibition acceptances, PSA membership, and in some cases additional requirements. They are cumulative — you must hold APSA before applying for EPSA, and EPSA before applying for FPSA.
The entry-level PSA distinction. Awarded for accumulating acceptances across PSA-recognised exhibitions in at least two different divisions. Requires current PSA membership and a minimum number of acceptances spread across different exhibitions and countries.
The intermediate distinction, requiring a larger number of acceptances across a wider range of PSA-recognised exhibitions. Applicants must already hold the APSA distinction. EPSA recognises consistent, high-quality exhibition work across multiple categories and countries.
The highest PSA distinction, awarded for outstanding contribution to photography and significant exhibition success. The Fellowship requires a substantial body of work, broader involvement in the photographic community, and a longer track record than APSA or EPSA.
An acceptance is a formal confirmation that an image has been selected for inclusion in a PSA-recognised exhibition or salon. Not every photography competition counts — the exhibition must be listed as PSA-recognised, which means it has met PSA's standards for judging and administration.
When you enter a PSA-recognised exhibition and one of your images is accepted, that acceptance is recorded against your name. Over time, as you accumulate acceptances across multiple exhibitions and divisions, you build toward a distinction.
Key points about how acceptances count:
PSA organises photography into divisions, and acceptances are tracked by division. The main divisions are:
For APSA, acceptances must come from at least two different divisions. This encourages photographers to work across genres rather than specialising in a single category.
PSA maintains a searchable list of recognised exhibitions on its website at psa-photo.org. Exhibitions are listed by date, division, and country. Most exhibitions accept entries online through platforms such as PhotoEntry or EntryDesk.
Entering exhibitions typically involves a submission fee per image, usually a few dollars per entry. International exhibitions are common — many US photographers enter exhibitions in Europe, Asia, and South America as part of building their acceptance count toward APSA.
Once you have accumulated the required number of acceptances, you apply to PSA directly. The application involves submitting a record of your acceptances, which PSA verifies against its database of recognised exhibitions. PSA members who use the PSA Exhibition Record system can track their acceptances automatically as they accumulate.
Full requirements — including the exact number of acceptances needed for each level and the rules about geographic spread and division coverage — are published on the PSA website and are updated periodically. It is worth checking the current requirements before you start working toward a distinction, as the rules can change.
That depends on what you want from photography. The process of working toward a distinction forces you to enter a large number of exhibitions, which means submitting your work to external assessment repeatedly. The feedback and the discipline of preparing images to a high standard for international juries is valuable in itself.
For some photographers, the distinction itself matters — it is a recognised credential within the photographic community and is often listed alongside a photographer's name in publications, exhibition catalogues, and club directories. For others, the process is the point rather than the credential.
Most photographers who pursue PSA distinctions are active camera club members who already enter exhibitions regularly. The distinction scheme gives structure and a goal to what might otherwise be a scattershot approach to exhibition entry.
PSA distinctions are the most widely recognised within US camera clubs, but they are not the only option. Many US photographers also pursue:
See our awards and distinctions page for a full overview of all three schemes.