The American Psychiatric Association (APA), founded in 1844 as the country's first professional medical association, is the world's largest psychiatric organization, with 35,000 member psychiatric physicians from the U.S. and abroad. It is nationally based in Arlington, Virginia. At the local level, it is represented by 75 district branches in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

The New Jersey Psychiatric Association (NJPA) was founded in 1935 (known as the New Jersey Neuropsychiatric Association until 1972). It is the APA District Branch for the State of New Jersey, and has over 800 members. NJPA is therefore the official voice of organized psychiatry in New Jersey, and participates, through its delegates to the APA Assembly, in the determination of APA official actions. NJPA has five regional chapters (Central, Northern, Ocean-Monmouth, Southern and Tri-County) and the Residents' Chapter for members-in-training (physicians in psychiatry residency training programs).

Members of NJPA are members of the APA, have either an M.D. or D.O. degree, and have undertaken specialized training in the field of Psychiatry. Fellowship and Distinguished Fellowship are special categories of membership recognizing outstanding achievement in the profession. Board Certification means that the member has completed psychiatry residency training and also passed an examination of proficiency in General Psychiatry, or in one of the subspecialties (such as Geriatric Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, etc.).