Member Categories
Learn more about our membership requirements for physicians, physician
assistants, residents, medical students, and retired physicians.
Physician Members
The WSMA physician member is a physician who:
(a) holds the degree of Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy, or
Bachelor of Medicine which has been issued by an institution accepted by
the Washington State Board of Medical Examiners,
(b) holds a license to practice medicine in the Washington state or is
eligible for medical licensure in Washington,
(c) resides or practices in Washington state,
(d) maintains membership in the county medical society if that county
medical society is
a unified county,
(e) abides by the
WSMA Principles of Medical Ethics, and
(f) does not practice or claim to practice any school or system of
sectarian medicine or healing.
Physician Assistant Members
The only requirement for WSMA membership is that you be licensed by the
State Board of Medical Examiners. Physician assistant members do not have
the right to vote or hold office; however your physician assistant
delegate or alternate to the
WSMA House of Delegates
may vote while carrying out the function of the position (and as a member,
you may strive to attain delegate or alternate delegate status). All of
the applicable
benefits of WSMA membership
are available to physician assistant members.
Resident Members
The WSMA resident member is a resident, fellow, or other physician engaged
in formal postgraduate medical training in an institution approved by the
Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association. All of the applicable
benefits of WSMA membership
are available to resident members.
Medical Student Members
Medical students enrolled in an accredited Washington state medical school
can apply for membership free of charge and all of the
applicable
benefits of WSMA membership
are available to you. Medical student members are full-time students
making satisfactory progress toward the attainment of the degree of Doctor
of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy. Medical student members do not have
the right to vote or hold office; however the student trustee and student
delegate or alternate to the
WSMA House of Delegates
may vote while carrying out the function of the position (and as a member,
you may strive to attain trustee, delegate, or alternate delegate status).
Senior Members
A WSMA senior member is a physician who has been qualified for physician
membership and has retired from active practice. A senior member shall
have all the rights and privileges of a non-retired physician member. A
senior member who has been a member in good standing of the WSMA or one or
more constituent or component associations of the
American Medical Association for
25 years or more qualifies for emeritus status and is not required to pay
dues. Senior members who do not qualify for emeritus status are required
to pay annual dues.