Why did the USPTA change its name to the Racquet Sports Professionals Association?
Watch the Future of the USPTA presented by Brian Dillman, RSPA CEO: Click here to learn more
How will this change impact you?
Good news—if you're certified to teach tennis with us, you're still certified to do that! We're going to continue supporting your professional development with opportunities to grow through the professional pathway—from Instructor, to Professional, to Elite, to Master. Your member status and credits earned all remain the same. And even better, there are new certification opportunities for you to take advantage of as well as new training programs for career support (currently in development, more to be announced in the future). If you want to add to your teaching capabilities and increase your offerings, you can get certified in any of our racquet sports by taking one of our workshops.
Will we update your digital membership card, certificate, insurance certificate, etc.?
Yes, we’ll update these in the near future. You’ll be notified once this has been completed and will be able to locate your updated membership card, certificate, RSPA logo with your name and more online.
How can you order personalized business cards, banners and other merchandise with RSPA branding?
Order online at RSPA.net. We understand there will be a transitional period for everyone. We would love for you to update these as soon as you can to represent the new brand.
You noticed some parts of the website have changed to RSPA branding. When will it be fully updated?
Our website, now rspa.net, has been updated with an overlay page that dives deeper into our new brand. This is the first step in multiple planned updates the site will undergo. This is a phased approach, and we expect our all-new website to be available in 2025.
What does this mean for members?
RSPA members now have access to certifications in five different racquet sports under one unified association. All USPTA memberships are now considered RSPA memberships, and members certified in any racquet sport can get certified in another by attending one of the RSPA’s nationally available workshops. Teaching professionals who want to get certified by the RSPA for the first time can join the association through any of our available racquet sports—tennis, pickleball, padel, platform and squash. The organization is also rolling out future-focused, personalized training programs that blend on-court expertise with off-court skills like business management and leadership, personal development and more.
What will happen to your dues?
We understand that this is top of mind for our membership, and we are committed to providing and enhancing member value within the current fee structure. There are no increases planned for next year.
Will your certification status—like Instructor, Professional, Elite and Master—remain the same?
Yes! Although we’ve changed our organization’s name, there is no impact on your status in any area. You retain your certification status and credits. The education credit requirement of earning 15 credits every three years remains the same.
If you just started, are in the middle, or are finalizing a certification process, will your status remain the same?
Yes!
If you email an old USPTA staff member or department because that’s what you have on file, will they receive it?
Yes, for now. Though all departments and USPTA staff have a new firstname.lastname@rspa.net email we’d love for you to use, we will still receive your emails directed to USPTA. Eventually, those USPTA emails will be unavailable.
How can you use the sport-specific RSPA logos?
Once you’re certified in a racquet sport, you can use the respective RSPA sport-specific logo to showcase which sports you're certified in. Soon, we'll make these available for you to use on merchandise, in email signatures and more! For now, we encourage you to represent the new brand with your giveaway items (if you were present at WRC24) and by purchasing our limited launch collection from Tennis Warehouse.