The four-year membership subscription package for new trainees

Introduction

The Faculty's four-year membership subscription package offers new trainees in public health:

  • the benefits of Faculty membership and
  • the opportunity to spread the payment of exam and other training fees evenly over the first four years of their training.

 

What are the financial benefits?

Since the Faculty of Public Health administers the examinations that all trainees in public health must take, and eligibility for a certificate of completion of training requires Faculty membership, all trainees must make a number of payments to the Faculty over the course of their training. These include:

  • An enrolment fee
  • Part A examination fee
  • Part B examination fee
  • A subscription for Membership in the final year of training in order to be eligible for a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)
  • The registration fee on admission to Faculty Membership (if not already a member)

The financial benefits for those on the four-year package are:

  • 100% of the enrolment fee, 75% of exam fees and 100% of membership fees are covered by the subscription, which is tax deductible
  • following the first year, payments are made in quarterly instalments, spreading the cost of examinations and membership more evenly across the first four years of training.

The annual membership subscription fee is 100% tax deductible under Section 344 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

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How do payments work?

The total subscription fee is payable over four years. The first payment will be for a quarter of the total and must be paid on application. The rest is paid in quarterly direct debit instalments over the final three years of the package. The total subscription is tax deductible.

For the four years of the package the subscription is related to the pre Part A rate for membership, and does not increase in accordance with progression in training. Those subscribing to the four-year package are not liable for the enrolment fee, and on registering to take their exams, trainees on this package will be required to pay only 25% of the current Part A and Part B examination fees. For any resits candidates will be required to pay the full exam fee.** These costs are normally not considered to be tax deductible.

Those still in the training scheme after the four years will then pay an annual membership subscription at the same rate as those who did not join the scheme i.e. at a post Part B rate (see fig.2). However, they will still qualify for the reduced examination fees. Anyone finishing their training in less than the four years covered by the package would still pay the pre Part A linked subscription for the full four years.

** Only one attempt at each level of examination will be discounted. This will normally be the first attempt. In cases where this sitting is paid for by an employer then agreement can be obtained to carry the discount forward against further fees payable at that level of examination but refunds will not be made if no further fees are payable.

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How to become a member on the four-year membership subscription package

To apply for this package you need to send a cheque for £350, your Faculty enrolment form together with your Form of Faith. This fee includes your first year’s payment and the enrolment fee. The cheque should be payable to the Faculty of Public Health. These must be received by the Faculty within the first three months of training.

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Regulations

  • The package is only available to new entrants to training.
  • The first payment is for a period of twelve months and is non-refundable. The subsequent payments are collected by quarterly direct debits on 1 January/April/July/October each year. The first quarterly payment will be due on the next collection after the expiry of the first twelve months
  • The annual amount will be amended on 1 January each year to reflect the changes agreed in the Faculty budget for each of the constituent parts of the package.
  • Three months after the final direct debit payment a sum will become due and payable for the proportion of the annual subscription due for the remainder of that subscription year. This can be paid by quarterly direct debit subject to the rules current at that date.

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Comparison of training and membership cost options 2008/ 2009

Membership fees are currently under review and will be posted here when available.