Associates becoming full members eligible for discounts

From the April ACP Observer, copyright © 2004 by the American College of Physicians.

If you are an Associate, you're probably thinking about becoming a full Member of the College—eventually.

But putting off the decision can cost you money. If you let your Associateship terminate before advancing to Membership, you lose out on special reduced rates.

Associates who move directly to full College Membership are guaranteed lower costs for both membership dues and product purchases for up to five years. ACP instituted this transitional program to help ease the financial burdens of members just entering the workforce who need College resources to ensure their professional development.

Here's how it works: Associates in good standing who move directly to full Membership pay the low, Associate national dues rate for the next two years. These Members are also eligible to purchase selected products, like MKSAP, or register for Annual Session and other educational courses, at the discounted Associate rates.

After two years, these new Members pay reduced mid-rate membership dues for an additional three years—and receive the normal member discounts on College programs, products and services. Thus, dues discounts continue for a total of five years.

You can move directly from Associate to Member in two ways. Associates who are certified in internal medicine and have paid their current dues are automatically elected as full Members in July, unless they opt out of automatic election.

Or Associates outside of Canada and Japan whose Associate term ends on June 30, and who have completed training but are not yet certified in internal medicine, can submit a copy of their residency completion certificate. Fax that certificate to Member Records at 215-351-2759 by June 14 to be automatically elected to Membership. (Associates who will still be in training after July 1 may request an extension of their Associateship by calling Jan Williamson at 800-523-1546, ext. 2700.)

Associates who resign, are dropped for nonpayment of dues or allow their Associateship to lapse on June 30th without paying dues for 2003-04 (or without sending a residency completion certificate, for those who are not board certified) will not be automatically elected to Membership. When you return to Membership in the College later, you do so at the full rate structure. Those automatically elected and moving directly to full Membership from Associateship, on the other hand, can expect to save more than $500 over five years.

The College's membership requirements are online. For questions about automatic election and the transitional rate program, contact Denise Allen at 800-523-1546, ext. 2706, or by e-mail.

Associates whose addresses, phone numbers or e-mail addresses have changed should contact Customer Service at 800-523-1546, ext. 2600, or send address changes to Customer Service via email.

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