In February 2008 BTS had 2,780 members. 

Membership is available to those working in medicine and related professions and activities but not  to anyone working in or connected with the tobacco industry.

Members are encouraged to become involved in the work of the Society through standing for election to Council, or joining one of our Committees or Specialist Advisory Groups, and/or  participating in our Guideline Groups and other activities. Thorax is our respected and widely disseminated journal with a high impact factor and international reputation. It is  published jointly with the British Medical Journal, and  is available to members who subscribe in a number of membership categories.

The Society organises 2 annual conferences, and a short course programme. The BTS Winter Meeting showcases "Bench to Bedside" research and development activities and attracts almost 2,000 delegates each year. in the first week of December. The BTS Summer Meeting  takes place in the last week of June (exceptionally in the first week in July in 2008). This is our main CME event and attracts betwen 500-600 delegates from a range of respiratory professions. Membership of the Society brings entitlement to discounted Meetings and short course fees.

The Members' section of the website is being developed to provide access to a wide range of information and services which will be of benefit to members (in relation to clinical standards, governance; CPD etc) as well as providing a means by which the Society can communicate with members and provide effective administrative services.

Both BTS News (an informal  half yearly magazine) and the monthly global email (eBTS News), contain articles of general interest as well as news about the Society's activities in pursuit of its Strategic Plan.  Members will be alerted to all new activities by global email and directed to the part of the website which gives more detailed information. 

Membership of the Society is not open to persons who are or have been full, or part-time, employees of, or paid consultants to, the tobacco industry, at any time during the previous 10 years.

How to apply
For an Application Form (PDF) please fill in the form by clicking here and return it to BTS Head Office at 17 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2PL.

All new UK members are encouraged to pay by Direct Debit and will receive a £15.00 discount off the annual and pro-rata membership rates (this will also apply for subsequent years).  Please download, complete and return the mandate form here.

The membership year begins on 1 March each year. The pro-rata amount due for the first year's subscription will be taken from your account at the end of the month you join. Thereafter renewal payments will be processed on the last working day of February each year and will be for the full annual fee. Please click here to view the different categories and Subscription Rates and here for the pro rata payment if you are joining part-way through the year.

If you wish to pay by cheque, please make the cheque payable to "The British Thoracic Society". The Society does not encourage payment by credit card because of the high bank charges involved.

Please contact membership@brit-thoracic.org.uk if you have any queries.