From Academy Bylaws:
Article III, Section 1. Membership shall be by invitation of the Board of Governors. Invitations to active membership shall be limited to those persons active in the motion picture arts and sciences, or credited with screen achievements, or who have otherwise achieved distinction in the motion picture arts and sciences and who, in the opinion of the Board, are qualified for membership.
To be considered for Artists' Representatives membership in the Academy, a candidate must:
(a) have a minimum of ten years experience as an agent representing at least one Academy Award nominated client at an official ATA recognized company.
or
(b) have a minimum of ten years experience as a manager representing at least one Academy Award nominated client and must have been directly involved in putting together the film that resulted in their clients’ Academy Award nomination.
or
(c) have a minimum of ten years experience as an entertainment lawyer representing at least one Academy Award nominated client and must have been directly involved in negotiating the client’s deal that resulted in their Academy Award nomination.
or
(d) have, in the judgment of the Artists’ Representatives Subcommittee, achieved unique distinction, earned special merit, or made an outstanding contribution to the arts or sciences of motion pictures as a representative.
Candidates must be proposed by two current members of the Academy, one of which is part of the Artists’ Representatives classification. Proposals must be accompanied by a letter from each sponsor which addresses, as specifically as possible, how the candidate meets one or another of the requirements above. Once being officially proposed, all candidates will be required to submit a personal statement and full client list for the committee’s review.
SPECIAL NOTE:
To keep membership active, members must continue to serve in the motion picture industry for a period of no less than twenty years, said length of service to include the years prior to membership as well as those subsequent to joining the Academy.
In the event a member leaves the industry to take up employment in a non-entertainment industry field of endeavor or takes a hiatus from working status prior to completing the required years of service, the candidate will be designated for membership status change to Emeritus, said change to become effective one year after notification.
Emeritus status members are exempt from paying dues and can still attend Academy screenings, but do not have voting status and cannot serve on an Academy committee.
In the event a member who has been moved to Emeritus status resumes employment in the motion picture industry, the candidate may request to return to Active status.