The Maryland PPA  offers three different degrees that are Professional Active members may earn. The Degrees are:

• Associate Fellow of Photography

• Fellow of Photography

• The Combined Degree

The Associate Fellow  is a service related degree and requires the holder to accumulate 25 service merits. The service merits are earned by providing a service to the association, attending 8 meetings in one calendar year and for attending the Maryland PPA convention. Some examples of positions and merits are as follows:

• MDPPA President 7 merits

• Communications Chair  4 merits

• Webmaster   2 merits

• Attending Maryland PPA convention 1 merit

 Please refer to the Merit form for a complete list positions and the merits that you earn by filling these positions. 

The Fellow Degree is a combination of Service and Print Merits. The degree requires an accumulation of 25 merits, a minimum of 15 must be print merits, the other 10 may be either print or service merits. Print merits are earned as follows:

• Receive a "Best of Show" in a category during our Bi-monthly competitions

• Earn Photographer of the Year, First Runner up or Second Runner up in any of our competition categories

• Receive an 80 or higher during the convention competition (4 Maximum)

• Receive one of the Image Awards during the convention competition ( Best Wedding Image, best Black and White Image)

Please refer to the merit form for a complete list of the print awards and merits that are associated with the awards

The Combined Degree is a combination degree. Once you earn both the Associate Fellow and Fellow degrees you are awarded the combined degree.

Please note: Service merits earned through the Maryland PPA are not national PPA service merits, they are Maryland PPA service merits and apply only to Maryland PPA degrees. To earn National PPA service merits you must attend a PPA Approved School, A Super Monday class, Attend the National PPA Convention or serve as the Maryland PPA President or Convention Chair.