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Types of Membership

The type of membership depends on employer, job classification and date of entry/re-entry into the ACERA.

ACERA has two Membership types which are based upon job classifications:

Safety Members are employees working in active law enforcement, fire fighting, or in positions which have been designated as Safety positions by the Board of Retirement (i.e. Juvenile Hall Group Counselor, Probation Officer, etc.).

General Members are all other members.

Tier Levels

ACERA has different Tiers (benefit levels) based upon a member’s date of entry/re-entry. If you are not sure which retirement tier you are currently in, you can find out by looking at the deductions on your paycheck. If the deduction for retirement says "Retire 1", you are a Tier I member and if the deduction says "Retire 2", you are a Tier II member.

Tier I*

Tier II*

General Members

Safety Members

Joined ACERA on or before June 30, 1983 and has been member continuously

Joined or rejoined ACERA on or after July 1, 1983.

Final Average Salary calculation based on

Highest 12 months of pay

Highest 36 months of pay

Each quarter of age counts up to age:

55 for Safety Members and 62 for General Members

55 for Safety Members and 65 for General Members

Dual Membership Service (Split Tier Membership)

If you have service as both a General and Safety member and/or service as a Tier I and Tier II member, you will receive benefits calculated under the provisions for General, Safety, Tier I and Tier II using your years of retirement service credit in each category

Members with Tier I and Tier II split tier membership may be able to convert Tier II service time to Tier I. See Aquilino/Marin Tier I Restoration (click HERE) for information.

Tier Changes under Marin Decision.

Under Aquilino vs. Marin County Employees’ Retirement Association (MCERA) (1998) 60 Cal. App 4 1509, eligible Tier II members who redeposit withdrawn Tier I contributions and apply for Aquilino Tier I restoration may have their former Tier I benefits restored. See the Purchase/Redeposit page for more information (click HERE).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):