Membership is open to the senior professional archaeologist appointed by a local authority or National Park Authority in the United Kingdom whose primary responsibility is to advise that authority principally through the planning process, on conservation and management of the archaeological resource within the boundaries of that authority, and who has been nominated by that authority to represent it.

The Association's members include representatives of metropolitan authorities, shire counties, unitary authorities, London boroughs, national parks and historic cities, towns and boroughs across England, Wales and Scotland as well as representatives from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.