Membership FAQs
If you are new to BTS follow this link and follow the instructions. If you have previously registered to use the website and/or, have been a member in the past, login with your usual email address and password and select Join BTS from the list of options in 'My BTS'. Once you have completed the online form and arranged payment method, you will receive a welcome email.
Details can be found on the joining page of the website. Please note that you will pay a pro rata rate if joining after July. Membership is annual and renewable each year on 1 July. If you join in either May or June, your subscription will cover the period until 30 June of the following year for which you will pay a one-year subscription fee.
We accept payment by credit card, debit card, and direct debit. Payment by direct debit offers a discount on the standard rate for membership subscriptions.
No, payments are taken in one lump sum. If you pay by direct debit the payment will be collected at the end of June each year.
You can download a receipt for your current and past subscriptions from the BTS website. Log in and select My Membership from the list of options in My BTS.
Membership subscriptions are tax deductible. Income tax relief was approved in 2004 by the Board of the Inland Revenue, as it was called at the time, under Section 344 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, with effect from 6 April 2004.
Renewal notices are sent by email with at least four weeks' notice prior to the renewal date, which is 1st July each year. The notice gives your membership category and the amount of the annual subscription. If you pay by direct debit the date the payment is to be collected is also shown. If you pay by credit/debit card, advice will be given on how to pay your subscription online.
Please complete and return the direct debit mandate form by email to membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk. We will update the account details to be used and send confirmation by email. If you are using a switching service, this will be done for you.
If you wish to cancel your membership, please send an email to membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk or a letter to BTS. If you pay by direct debit, please also contact your bank to cancel your direct debit with them.
Membership is on an annual basis and no refunds will be given to members who resign during the year. If you want us to reconsider, please membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk letting us know why you believe there are extenuating circumstances.
Please send an email to membership@brit-thoracic.org to let us know as soon possible, and we can investigate and offer a refund if appropriate. Furthermore, the Direct Debit guarantee covers all direct debit users and allows them to claim a refund for these .
Members have 30 days from the renewal date to pay their subscription. If monies are not received within this time frame, your membership will lapse and access to member benefits will be removed. If you have added ERS membership to your BTS membership, this will also be cancelled.
You can re-join from the My BTS page of the BTS website. Log in with your usual email address and password and select ‘Join BTS’ from the list of options in ‘My BTS’.
Discounted ERS membership is available to BTS members living in the United Kingdom. Log in to the BTS website and select ‘Join ERS’ from the list of options in ‘My BTS’. The ERS fee is the same throughout the BTS subscription year, irrespective of when you join, and covers the period from when you join until 30 June. If you join in either May or June, your subscription will cover the period until 30 June of the following year for which you will pay a one-year subscription fee only. ERS membership will be included in your BTS renewal each year on the 1st of July unless you contact us to cancel your ERS or BTS membership.
You should receive access to the ERS benefits within one month of submitting your application via the BTS website. If you have any questions about any aspect of your ERS membership (including your login to the ERS website, Congress delegate fees etc) please contact ERS directly via enquiry@ersnet.org
To take advantage of this offer, please visit the ITS website. When you join ITS, you will be asked to supply your BTS membership number to enable ITS to confirm your membership with us.
To find your membership number login to the BTS website with your username (email address) and password. Select ‘My Membership’ from the list of options on the ‘My BTS’ page.
Please membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk with your request. You can upgrade your membership by paying a pro-rata fee for the difference between your current and the new subscription rate. You will be asked to renew at the new member rate.
If you are in a BTS membership category which subscribes to Thorax, you automatically have online access to Thorax. Login to the BTS website and from the list of options available in My BTS select the blue Thorax icon on the left.
- From the 'Table of Contents' scroll down to find the topic, and article you wish to read.
- Double click on the link (the title of the paper) to open. You will now be able to see the Abstract.
- Scroll down the page to read the full text.
- To download, click on the PDF symbol shown on the top righthand corner of the page.
If you would like to upgrade your membership to include Thorax, please email membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk
membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk with this request. You can opt back in at any time by sending a request to receive the paper copy again. Please note online access only does not offer any reduction to the BTS membership subscription. BTS must pay the same amount per journal subscription to BMJ irrespective of whether the member receives a paper copy or has opted for online only access.
You can also change your subscription preference (online or both online and by post) through ‘My Details’ which may be found on the ‘My BTS’ page after you have logged in.
We do not offer any reduction to the subscription for part-time working.
If you have retired completely from medical practice, you can transfer your membership to Category D, providing you have served a minimum of one year in another category immediately preceding your request. This is free of charge and does not include Thorax. You will be eligible for the BTS Member Concessionary rate for Meetings, or the Member rate for Short Courses.
If you are a Category A member and fully retired, but wish to continue to receive Thorax, you can transfer your membership to Category E. The subscription and benefits are the same as for Category A except that you will be eligible for the BTS Member Concessionary rate for the Winter and Summer Meetings.
If you are a Category B member who has retired but wishes to continue to receive the journal your membership category and subscription will stay the same.
If you are a retired medical consultant doing paid sessional work, or you have retired and returned to medical practice you are not eligible for Category D and will remain on Category A.
To request to transfer to another category, please membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk. Please note that this would come into effect from the start of the membership year, 1 July.
To check your membership category or to amend your contact details online, login to the BTS website and update from the My Details page.
If you will be off work for three months or longer, membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk with a letter from your place of work confirming your leave dates. We offer a 50% discount on one year’s subscription. Further applications can be made for subsequent births/pregnancies/adoptions.
If you are unable to work due to illness for a minimum of 3 or more months, membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk to apply for a discount. We offer a 50% discount on one year's subscription. If the leave lasts longer than one subscription year, applications will be assessed on a case by case basis. You will need a letter from your place of work confirming your time off work.
If you have forgotten your password, you can reset from the login page of the website and receive an email to give you access. If you cannot remember which email address we hold for you, please membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk with your date of birth.
Login to the ‘My BTS’ page of the BTS website using your email address and password. Select ‘My Details’ to update your contact details. You can also update your professional details such as job title or training status.
Login to the ‘My BTS’ page of the BTS website using your email address and password. Select ‘Login Details’ and made any amendments required.
Go to BTS Committees and Advisory Groups. Click here to view the ‘Frequently Asked Questions – BTS Committees and SAGs’.
If a BTS event is accredited for CPD/CME (continued professional development/continued medical education), you will receive an attendance certificate after attending the course to confirm the amount of points received. This is emailed to you directly. For BTS Meetings, this is an amount of points per day. The CPD points are approved for the events by the Federation of the Royal College of Physicians. Not all of our short courses are approved for CPD.