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Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have their pick of business and professional organizations geared to their concerns. These groups also provide education in a variety of fields, networking opportunities and advocacy.

Keep in mind that national associations may have local chapters, and other groups may be concentrated in a specific region. Find the right one for you by checking out this selection of 16 national groups:

Advertising

• Asian American Advertising Federation: Organized in 1999. A small organization whose members include Asian American advertising agency principals and media and advertising executives.

Business

• Asian Women in Business: Founded in 1995. Assists Asian American women in realizing their entrepreneurial potential by offering information, education and networking opportunities.
• National Asian American Society of Accountants: Started as the Asian American Society of CPAs. Its mission is to influence and encourage the development of accounting professionals and students and serve as a voice for Asian and Pacific Islander communities in accounting. Chapters are located in New York and San Francisco.
• US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce: Organized in 1984; opens doors to education and professional opportunities for Asian Americans and Asian American-related groups in business, sciences, arts, sports, education, and public and community services.

General

• National Association of Asian American Professionals: Founded in 1982; eight chapters in the US and Canada. Educates members through professional development and raises corporate awareness of Asian American issues. Includes members from medicine, technology, law , finance, education, entertainment, the military and other fields.

Government

• Asian American Government Executives Network: Organized in 1994 to promote, expand and support Asian Pacific American leadership at the federal, state and local government levels. Includes high-ranking career and appointed executives, foreign service officers, legislative and judiciary members, and military officers.
• Federal Asian Pacific American Council: Begun in 1985. Represents civilian and military Asian Pacific American employees at all levels in the federal and District of Columbia governments and in all areas of the public workforce.

Healthcare

• Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association: Organized in 1991; includes Asian American nurses in the United States and abroad. Collaborates with other interdisciplinary health and professional organizations.
• Asian American Psychological Association: Started in 1972. Membership includes educators, social workers, psychologists and other mental health professionals with separate divisions for women and students.
• Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association: Founded in 1993. Represents more than 15,000 Asian Pacific American medical students in chapters throughout the United States. Services include education, networking and advocacy for healthcare professionals who work with the Asian American community.

Hotel and Hospitality

• Asian American Hotel Owners Association: Represents more than 8,300 members, who collectively own more than 20,000 hotels with 1 million rooms. Mission includes education and advocacy in legislation, the media and throughout the hotel industry.

Labor

• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO: Started in 1992; the only national organization of Asian Pacific American union members. Organizes and works with Asian Pacific American workers, many of whom are immigrants, to build the labor movement and address working conditions in the garment, electronics, hotel and restaurant, food processing and healthcare industries.

Legal and Law Enforcement

• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association: Begun in 1988. Represents more than 40,000 attorneys and 47 local Asian Pacific American bar associations, from solo practitioners to large firms, as well as corporations, legal service organizations, nonprofits, law schools and government agencies. Also includes judges, law professors and law students.
• National Asian Peace Officers' Association: Founded in 1980 and comprised of approximately two dozen chapters. Fosters the development of professional and fraternal relationships within Asian and Pacific Islander law enforcement communities throughout the US.

Librarians

• Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association: Since 1980, a professional organization for Asian Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian Pacific American communities.

Media

• Asian American Journalists Association: Organized in 1981, to encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to enter and advance in journalism. Also advocates for fair and accurate coverage of Asian Pacific issues. Approximately 2,000 members in 19 chapters.