Physician cheat sheet: All your AMA membership questions answered

The American Medical Association is the nation’s largest medical association and the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. Physician members of the AMA not only contribute to shaping the future of medicine, but also enjoy exclusive perks and benefits tailored to their settings and career milestones.

Use this cheat sheet to find out more about the power of AMA membership.

Membership in the AMA is open to physicians who hold a U.S. degree of doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), or a recognized international equivalent—as well as medical residents and fellows and medical students.

Learn more about AMA membership eligibility.

The AMA offers a wide range of exclusive perks and benefits for members to help them at every point in their career and in any setting.

I’m early in my career

Residents and fellows can take advantage of AMA benefits:

• Manage personal finances—including personal loans, physician mortgages, student loan refinancing, and student loan forgiveness—with Laurel Road
• Membership in the Residents & Fellows Section (RFS) to give voice to issues affecting physicians in graduate medical education
• Competitive annual dues
• Discover more great benefits for residents and fellows

Early career physicians can enjoy these AMA benefits:

• Manage personal finances—including personal loans, physician mortgages, student loan refinancing, and student loan forgiveness—with Laurel Road
• Membership in the Young Physicians Section (YPS) to network and advocate for issues impacting early career physicians
• Reduced annual dues for YPS members
• View more benefits for early career physicians

I work for a health system

AMA benefits for health system-employed physicians:

• Access nearly 8,000 educational activities, 4,000 CME from 40+ trusted sources—all in one place, the AMA Ed Hub™—AMA's online learning platform
• Membership in the Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS) to network and advocate for issues affecting physicians in health system settings
• Competitive annual dues
• Find more benefits tailored for health system physicians

I run my own practice

• Manage your practice more efficiently with AMA-negotiated discounts on medical supplies, technology and more.
• Innovation strategies from the AMA STEPS Forward® Program to help you confront real-world challenges in your practice
• Learn how to brand, market and grow your practice. Get free CME with exclusive, members-only education on AMA Ed Hub
• Membership in the Private Practice Physicians Section (PPPS) to network and advocate for issues affecting physicians in private practice settings
• Competitive annual dues
• See more great benefits for private practice physicians

I’m in the military or work for the VA

AMA benefits for active duty or reserve military and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians:

• Access nearly 8,000 activities, 4,000 CME from 40+ trusted sources, including the VHA, on the AMA Ed Hub—AMA's online learning platform. 
• Participation in interest-based AMA sections, whether you’re an early or late career physician and are part of an organized staff or private practice setting.
• Competitive annual dues
• Find more benefits tailored for military and VA physicians

I’m semi-or fully retired

AMA benefits for semi-retired physicians (working 1-20 hours/week, at least 65 years old) and fully retired physicians:

• Unlimited online access to the JAMA Network®, featuring JAMA, specialty journals and podcasts, as well as free CME through JAMA Network clinical courses
• Membership in the Senior Physicians Sections (SPS) to network and advocate for issues affecting senior physicians working part time, full time or retired
• Competitive annual dues
• Discover more great benefits for semi-and fully retired physicians

Every AMA member pledges to uphold the organization’s principles, rules and bylaws. Learn more about the terms and conditions of AMA membership.

Joining the AMA is simple. Start today!