Application for membership is open to dermatologists who are:

1. Board-certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology (AOBD); and
2. Substantially involved in teaching cosmetic and laser dermatology to dermatology residents at an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited or Canadian Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited dermatology residency program; and
3. Nominated for membership by the director of cosmetic dermatology at their residency program, or in the absence of such a director, by their department chair.

All AACD members are strongly encouraged to also be members of American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) and the American Medical Association (AMA).