Full members

Unless otherwise provided for in these Rules and Regulations, a Full Member is considered:

(a)          every member of the Society who is a medical practitioner as defined by the Medical Act,;

(b)         a member holding an academic position; or

(c)          a member holding an administrative position.

Full Members are entitled to all rights and privileges of the Society, including the right to hold office and vote.

• Annual membership dues: $1,950
• Apply for full membership

Life members

Any member of the Society in good standing for the immediately preceding ten (10) year period and who has attained the age of sixty-five (65) years is eligible for Life Membership. Nominations may be made by any Full Member of the Society. Life Membership may only be bestowed by unanimous approval of the members of the Board of Directors present and voting. No more than two (2) may be elected in any one year. Life Membership so approved shall be conferred by the President of the Society at the time of the Annual General Meeting or any Special Meeting.

Life Members are entitled to all rights and privileges of the Society, including the right to hold office and vote, but have no obligation to pay annual membership dues.

Retired members

A former Full Member who is fully retired from the practice of medicine and no longer holds a medical license is considered a Retired Member.

Retired Members are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Society, including the right to hold office and vote.

Members still holding a medical license but retired from active practice are considered a Member on Leave and will pay the membership dues for that member classification.

• Annual membership dues: $250

Special consideration: Members on leave

A Full Member who is away from the active practice of medicine or an academic or administrative position, may be considered a Member on Leave. Reasons for being on leave include but are not limited to: parental leave, academic or occupational leave, or medical leave, or those who are retired but still hold a medical license. Upon return to the active practice of medicine, full membership dues, which may be pro-rated for the remaining time in the fiscal year, must be paid. 

Members on Leave are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Society, including the right to hold office and vote.

Annual membership dues: $500

Clinical Assistants

Clinical assistants provide medical services within a clinical division or department of a Nova Scotia regional or tertiary care hospital approved by the College. They assist in the provision of care under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician holding privileges as attending staff. Clinical assistants extend the supervising physician’s ability to provide medical care to patients.

Clinical Assistants are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Society, including the right to hold office and vote.

Annual membership dues: $975

Student members

Medical students enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University or funded by the Nova Scotia government to study outside the province, are recognized as Medical Student Members of the Society. Medical Student Members are eligible to:

(a) serve on committees of the Society;
(b) vote in Board of Directors elections; and
(c) attend, participate in and vote at the Annual General Meeting and at Special Meetings as defined in the Bylaws.

• Annual membership dues: Paid by Dalhousie Medical Students’ Society (DMSS)
• Apply for student membership

Resident/fellows

Postgraduate physicians in training at Dalhousie University are recognized as Resident/Fellow Members. Resident/Fellow Members are eligible:

(a) to serve on committees of the Society;
(b) vote in Board of Directors elections;
(c) to attend, participate in and vote at the Annual General Meeting and at Special Meetings as defined in the Bylaws; and
(d) for any other rights and privileges at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

• Annual membership dues: Paid by Maritime Resident Doctors
• Apply for resident membership
• Apply for fellow membership

Non-resident members

A member of the Society who takes up residence outside Nova Scotia and is no longer practicing medicine in Nova Scotia may, upon application to the Chief Executive Officer and payment of the required annual membership dues, be approved as a Non-Resident Member of the Society. Non-Resident Members are eligible:

(a) to receive general membership communications; and
(b) for continuation of OMA Life and Disability Insurance upon payment of applicable premiums.

Any Resident/Fellow Member who has trained at Dalhousie University or has been a member of Maritime Resident Doctors, matched with a residency or fellowship training program outside Nova Scotia, and intends to return to Nova Scotia to practice medicine, may, upon payment of the required annual membership dues, be entitled to the same rights and privileges as a Non-Resident Member of the Society. Members can only be eligible for this category of membership if they have held an active student or resident membership with Doctors Nova Scotia prior to leaving the province.

• Annual membership dues: $500

Honorary Members

Honourary Members shall be members of the profession or others who have distinguished themselves by their attainments in Medicine or Science or who have rendered extraordinary service to the Society. Recommendations for election to Honourary Membership shall come solely from the Board of Directors with a unanimous vote.

Honourary Members are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Society, except they may not sit on committees, hold office or vote.

Read more about membership categories (Doctors Nova Scotia Rules and Regulations 2023)