Calculation of subscription

The 2013 subscritpion rates, shown in the table below, are full year rates but are adjusted on a pro-rata basis for joining members and member who are changing membership class.    More details of this are further down this page.  If a member believe that their subscription notice needs amendment then they should contact the Subscriptions Team.

Subscription Renewal Notices

The subscription rate used on renewal notices are for the full year.  The rate set is based on the following factors:

• membership class
• country of residence on 1 January of the subscription year
• length of membership

The membership class is based on the registration details held by RTPI.  If the member is retired and their subscription notice shows otherwise then they may wish to transfer to the Retired Members class.

The contact address that RTPI has registered with the member is the basis for the rate set here.  Up until 31 December 2012, there was a EU and Non-EU rate. The EU rate applied to members resident within the European Union,  Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Gibraltar.  From 1 January 2013, there is now a UK/ROI and Non-UK/ROI rate.  The UK/ROI rate applies to members residing in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

The length of membership will affect some membership classes:

Chartered members

Before 2012, a member’s subscription rate was dependent on how long they had been a Chartered Member.  This total was then reduced by the number of years where a reduced subscription had been paid.  These bands were less than 5 years, more than 5 and less than 15 years and more than 15 years.

From 1 January 2012, members are fixed in these bands.  These bands will converge as follows:

Licentiate members

There are two rates dependent on the number of years since the Licentiate Member's election.  A lower rate is used if this period is less than 3 years as at 1 January of the subscription year.  The higher rate is used if more than 3 years.

Student members

There are two rates dependent on how long a Student Member has been a member.  This includes any period of free student membership.  A lower rate is used if this period is less than 3 years as at 1 January of the subscription year.  The higher rate is used if more than 3 years.

New member subscription

The value of subscription is calculated on a montly pro-rata basis.  If the member is elected during the first half of the month then it is deemed that the member has been a member for the whole of that month for the purpose calculating the subscription.  New Chartered Members are placed on the low tier.  The country of residence can also have an effect on which rate is used (see above).

Example 1

A Licentiate Member is elected on 22 March 2013.  The subscription is calculated as:

£50 x 9/12 = £37.50

Example 2

An Chartered Member resident in France is elected on 1 May 2013.  The subscription is calculated as:

£146 x 8/12 = £97.33

Membership change subscription

When a member moves from one membership class to another then the current year subscription is re-calculated on a monthly pro-rata basis.  If the member transfers during the first half of the month then it is deemed that the member has been in that membership class for the whole of that month for the purpose of re-calculation.  The country of residence can also have an effect on which rate is used (see above).

If the revised subscription is less than what has been paid against the original invoice then a credit balance could arise.  If this is more than £25 or next year's subscription is £nil then a refund cheque will be sent to the member. Otherwise it will be carried over and offset against the next year's subscription.

If the member is transferring to the Retired Members Class then this will be the first working day of the month following the receipt of the application form.  The subscription adjustment will be from this date, not the member's actual date of retiring from work unless it has been previously agreed by the Subscriptions Team.

Example 3

A Licentiate Member resident in Australia is elected to Chartered Membersip on 3 June 2013.  The revised 2013 subscription is calculated as:

Example 4

A Chartered Member transfers to Retired Membership on 2 September 2013, the first working day of the month after the receipt of the application form.  He has also paid £285.00 so far this year.  The revised 2013 subscription is calculated as: 

Reinstatement subscription

This is the same calculation for a new member subscription as detailed above.  However, for Chartered, Licentiate and Student members, the rate is time dependent.  It is based on their original election date, not their reinstatement date.

Reversion of membership Subscription

This is where a member transfers out of Retired Class back into their previous membership class.  This the same calculation as described in the Membership Change Subscrption above.  For Chartered members, the band of membership that they previously occupied is used.

When the member later transfers back into the Retired Members Class they will retain their original status i.e. if they were on a £nil subscription then this will be restored.