Membership of ALTE

ALTE is formed as a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG). Full membership of the association is only open to organisations from member countries of the European Union and European Economic Area. However, it is possible for EEIGs to admit Associate Members, the main difference being that Associate Members do not have voting rights within the EEIG.

Membership

There are 2 types of ALTE members:

1. Full members: organisations based within the EEA and whose primary activity is producing tests of their language as a second or foreign language who satisfy the criteria for membership and who have duly and successfully completed the ALTE auditing procedure

2. Associate members: organisations which fulfil the criteria for full audited membership but which have their legal place of establishment outside the EEA.

Other forms of association with ALTE are also available

Affiliate status

This is intended for two groups of people:

Institutional Affiliate

Institutions who have an interest in the testing field but who do not meet the membership criteria, or who may wish to seek membership of ALTE at a later date, but may not currently have the expertise to do so.

Institutional Affiliate status with ALTE offers:

• Listing on the ALTE website
• Access to sections of the ALTE website such as the electronic discussion forum
• Invitation to attend ALTE biannual conferences and other events organised for Members and Affiliates
• Reduced delegate rates at specified ALTE events and training seminars
• The opportunity to receive, via e-mail and post, ALTE communications such as the ALTE e newsletter, leaflets
• Opportunity to exhibit at appropriate ALTE events
• Opportunity to work in collaboration with ALTE members in appropriate ALTE Special Interest Groups
• Opportunities to build international links through the ALTE network.

Institutional Affiliates adhere to a brief Code of Practice for Affiliates. Affiliates are not Full Members of ALTE and may not represent themselves as such, nor use the ALTE logo.

Individual affiliate

Individuals who have an interest in the language testing field and would like to receive some of the benefits that are available to ALTE Members such as attending ALTE conference days. Individual Affiliate status is open to any individual with an interest in language testing and evaluation.

Individual Affiliates receive the ALTE e newsletter, which provides the latest information on ALTE examinations, events and training. Individual Affiliates may also be invited to attend ALTE conference days and other events organised for Members and Affiliates. These events include sessions on language testing issues and provide the opportunity to discuss language testing issues and meet members of ALTE. They may also be offered reduced rates at ALTE international events.