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The American Statistical Association (ASA) is a professional association for statisticians, founded in Boston in 1839 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The ASA describes itself as the second-oldest continuously operating professional association in the United States, with members in industry, government, and academia in more than 90 countries. It publishes or co-publishes 19 journals, offers PStat® and GStat accreditation, maintains the Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice, and runs the annual Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM). Researchers who work with quantitative methods can pair this guide with CASRAI’s explainers on what data science involves and data science vs statistics.
What does the American Statistical Association do?
The ASA supports statistical practice and research through four main functions:
- Scientific publishing: the ASA publishes or co-publishes 19 journals, including the Journal of the American Statistical Association (JASA) and The American Statistician (TAS).
- Professional accreditation: the ASA administers PStat® (Accredited Professional Statistician) and GStat accreditation.
- Ethical guidance: the ASA maintains the Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice, approved by its Board of Directors on February 1, 2022.
- Meetings and community: the ASA hosts the annual Joint Statistical Meetings and is organised through a Council of Sections and a Council of Chapters.
Who runs it and what it covers
The ASA is governed by a Board of Directors, together with the Council of Sections Governing Board and the Council of Chapters Governing Board. Its address is 277 S. Washington St., #370, Alexandria, VA 22314-3646, USA. For the current president and Board, use the governance pages on amstat.org.
Sections and chapters
Members can join subject sections, which cover methodological and applied areas such as biopharmaceutical statistics, statistical computing, statistical graphics, survey research methods, and government statistics, as well as geographic chapters. The full current list is on the ASA website.
Journals and publications
The ASA’s publications page states that it publishes or co-publishes 19 journals. Two flagship titles carry the association’s name.
| Journal | Acronym |
|---|---|
| Journal of the American Statistical Association | JASA |
| The American Statistician | TAS |
The complete journal list is on the ASA publications pages. Authors submitting to any journal should expect formal peer review and should follow that journal’s own instructions on data, code, and conflict-of-interest disclosure.
How to search or use it
- Find the official site: the association’s main site is amstat.org, with sections for membership, publications, careers, meetings, and news.
- Find journals: use the Publications area of amstat.org for the list of journals and links to each journal’s home page.
- Check accreditation: the Accreditation page describes PStat® and GStat. Both rest on an advanced degree. The PStat® application asks for a list of degrees and relevant coursework, a list of relevant work experience (minimum 5 years), evidence of work as a statistician, and examples of ongoing professional development. The ASA describes GStat as an entry level of accreditation, preparatory for full PStat® accreditation.
- Read the ethics guidelines: the Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice are organised into eight principles (A to H) plus an appendix on the responsibilities of organizations and institutions. They cover professional integrity, integrity of data and methods, responsibilities to stakeholders and to research subjects, multidisciplinary teams, the profession, leaders and mentors, and potential misconduct.
- Follow the annual meeting: the Joint Statistical Meetings have their own site at ww2.amstat.org/meetings/jsm. Check it for the dates, location, and abstract deadlines of the 2026 meeting.
- Join or sign in: membership categories, fees, and the sign-in link are on amstat.org; check the site for current options.
Strengths and limits
Strengths
- Journal portfolio: 19 published or co-published journals, led by JASA and TAS.
- Accreditation: PStat® and GStat give statisticians a formal, association-run credential.
- Written ethics standard: the 2022 guidelines give a public reference for statistical practice.
- Breadth: sections and chapters connect many applied areas.
Limits
- US base: the ASA is headquartered and chartered in the United States, although its members are in more than 90 countries.
- Voluntary accreditation: PStat® and GStat are accreditation by the association, not a government licence.
- Membership costs: membership and meeting registration carry fees; check the ASA site for current rates.
Alternatives
Other societies serve statisticians in different regions or specialities:
| Organization | Scope |
|---|---|
| American Statistical Association (ASA) | US-based association with members in more than 90 countries |
| International Statistical Institute (ISI) | International body for statistics |
| Royal Statistical Society (RSS) | United Kingdom statistical society |
| Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) | Society for mathematical statistics and probability |
See CASRAI’s explainer on the International Statistical Institute (ISI). For method choices, read how to choose a statistical test or the definition of a statistical test.
FAQ
What does the American Statistical Association do?
It publishes or co-publishes 19 journals, administers PStat® and GStat accreditation, maintains the Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice, and hosts the Joint Statistical Meetings.
What is the difference between PStat® and GStat?
Both rest on an advanced degree. The ASA describes GStat as an entry level of accreditation, preparatory for full PStat® accreditation. PStat® applications list at least 5 years of relevant work experience.
Where is the American Statistical Association conference 2026?
The annual meeting is the Joint Statistical Meetings. Dates and location are published on the official JSM site (see Sources).
How do I join the American Statistical Association?
Use the membership pages on amstat.org, which list current categories and fees.
Where is the ASA based?
277 S. Washington St., #370, Alexandria, VA 22314-3646, USA.
Sources
All pages below were checked on 2026-11-07.
- American Statistical Association, “About ASA”: https://www.amstat.org/about-asa
- American Statistical Association, “Accreditation”: https://www.amstat.org/your-career/accreditation
- American Statistical Association, “Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice”: https://www.amstat.org/your-career/ethical-guidelines-for-statistical-practice
- American Statistical Association, “Publications”: https://www.amstat.org/publications
- Joint Statistical Meetings: https://ww2.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2026/
