Membership FAQs

How do I become a member of Texas Medical Association?

Simply complete the membership application, pay dues, and be approved by your local county medical society. One form serves as your application to both TMA and the county medical society Your membership benefits are available as soon as TMA receives your dues payment and application.

Questions?, Please  Contact the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955 or (512) 370-1550, or email  TMA Knowledge Center with your name, practice type (student, intern/resident/fellow, active) and address. If you are out of state and moving to Texas, please specify your office city/county location in Texas in order to receive the appropriate instructions and dues information.

Am I eligible to join Texas Medical Association?

To be eligible for membership in the association, an individual must be one of the following:

  1. A physician, resident or fellow holding the degree of Doctor of Medicine and/or Doctor of Osteopathy;  or 
  2. A full-time student who is pursuing a course of study in a medical school in Texas recognized by the Texas Medical Board leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy.
  3. Deans of one of these medical schools, or a president of a health science center of which one or more of these medical schools are component schools, provided he or she holds a doctoral degree.

In addition, all members must subscribe to the Principles of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association, and must not hold themselves out as practitioners of sectarian medicine. Also, with the exception of a few specific categories of membership, all physician members must be licensed to practice medicine in Texas, in which case a temporary license, certificate or permit "shall not be deemed adequate."

How much are dues?

Active. Physicians in the active practice of medicine. $573 + county medical society dues. 

First-Year-In-Practice. Physicians in their first year of active practice after completion of residency. One-half of active dues rate + county medical society dues. 

Retired
.
 Physicians who have retired from the active practice of medicine. Please contact TMA Membership Operations for questions regarding retired status at (800) 880-1300 ext. 1435. 

Military
.
 Physicians serving in the armed forces of the United States of America within the geographical jurisdiction of a component county medical society. $50 + county medical society dues. 

Resident
.
 Physicians serving internships, residencies, and fellowships in hospitals located within the geographical boundaries of a county society, who are not in private practice. $20 + county medical society dues.  

Student. Full-time students pursuing a course of study in a Texas medical school recognized by the Texas Medical Board leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy. Membership is complimentary. 

How do I know which county medical society I belong to?

You may belong to either the medical society in the county in which you practice or the county in which you live. This is your choice. Members may find out which county medical society they belong to by looking up your name in the " Find a Physician " section of the TMA Web site, or the KnowledgeCenter can look it up for you. Once you have submitted an application and dues payment, you are considered a Pending Member and are eligible to begin coverage with TMLT or TMAIT, use TMA Knowledge Center, access online resources available from TMA's Web site, and attend TMA meetings.

How long will it take to become a member of Texas Medical Association?

The brief membership application takes approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. Your membership benefits are available to you immediately after TMA receives your application and dues payment. Your membership is finalized once it is approved by your local county medical society. The length of time for the approval process depends upon the rules and procedures of the individual county medical society and the frequency of meetings. They have up to 60 days, however, we make every effort to make the approval process as quick and smooth as possible. If you would like more information or want to know the current status of your application, contact your local county medical society directly, or contact the TMA Knowledge Center for help.

Can I be a TMA member, but not a member of my local county medical society?

No, we are a unified association, and you must also belong to your county medical society to be a member of TMA.

We believe there are very tangible and intangible benefits provided by both TMA and its county medical societies. First, your local county medical society’s ability to mobilize grassroots efforts when needed, build relationships with key legislators, and respond to local issues on behalf of the profession are just a few examples.  As a state organization it is often difficult for TMA to move as quickly as we would like due to geographic constraints, the sheer size of our membership, and the time it takes to hear about an issue or concern. Additionally, member benefits like the local membership directory for referrals and community-based, physician-led initiatives to improve wellness are most effective locally.

Working together, with the county medical societies, we are able to accomplish so much more than would be possible independently. Without both the local relationships and presence, and the staff expertise and resources provided at the state level, we might not be “America’s Best Medical Society”. The strength of the association’s membership increases our leverage and collective ability to address the most important professional and public health issues of the day.

Can I apply for membership and pay dues online?

Yes. Click on " Join or Renew " on this Web site. You may apply for membership, renew your membership, pay dues, update your demographic information (existing TMA members), sign up for TMA listservs and subscriptions (existing members), and indicate your member interests (existing members).

How do I get a paper application?

TMA has membership applications for physiciansresidents and medical students. To apply for membership through the mail, print out a paper application and mail it with your payment to Texas Medical Association at 401 W. 15th St., Austin, TX 78701. If you have any questions about the application, contact the TMA Knowledge Center for assistance.

What are the benefits of membership?

TMA and your county medical society are known for their advocacy efforts and sound political strategies that focus on patient care. But TMA membership also offers countless top-notch services to keep your practice strong and viable.  Review the list of benefits and services TMA provides our members.

To maintain my TMA membership, do I need to fill out another application once I have completed medical school/residency?

No, we will elevate your membership to the next membership category automatically. Please be sure TMA has your updated contact information. Call the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955 or knowledge[at]texmed[dot]org.

How can I keep my TMA membership if I move out of state to practice?

TMA has an ''Affiliate'' membership category for current members moving out of state. There is no application. We must receive a copy of your current Texas medical license, your new out of state address, and the request for affiliate membership. Affiliate dues are one-half of Active dues. You no longer must join your local state and county medical society where you are currently residing. You are, however, still required to have a current Texas medical license.

Please send your information to:
Texas Medical Association
Membership Department
401 W. 15th St.
Austin, TX 78701

For more information about affiliate membership, contact the Membership Department at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1439. 

How do I register for a Username and Password to access Members Only content on TMA's Web site:

To register online visit the Registration User Options section of the TMA Web site. Please contact the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-1300 if you have problems registering.  

How do I join TMA's special interest sections?

TMA's special interest sections are a membership benefit. Therefore, a member automatically becomes a section member upon approval for TMA membership. We encourage you to participate in the section of your choice to gain leadership development and networking opportunities. You may find more information on our Web site at:

Additionally, you can find information of interest to other specific groups below:

For additional membership information, please contact the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955.  

Last Updated On

September 27, 2022

Originally Published On

March 23, 2010

Related Content

Membership | TMAIT | TMLT