ESC Membership Frequently Asked Questions

Find below some of the most frequent questions about the membership of the ESC.

Membership - what is it?

Why do the ESC and its subspecialty communities have membership schemes for individuals?

The ESC is a member-driven organisation, welcoming more than 100,000 healthcare professionals within its global community. Cardiologists and other healthcare professionals become members of the ESC to be part of a society that gives them opportunities to network; access the latest science; use a broad array of services that support their ongoing professional development and represent their interests within the health sector. Many of the ESC’s subspecialty communities also provide membership opportunities to support cardiologists within specific fields of cardiology.

What is a combined membership?

The ESC covers the full spectrum of cardiology and Healthcare professionals can enhance their knowledge in more than one field of expertise by subscribing to either:

• ESC Professional Membership combined with a Subspecialty Association Silver Membership

or

• by combining two Subspecialty Association Silver Memberships at a reduced rate

How long does the membership last?

ESC Professional Membership and subspecialty association memberships follow a twelve-month rolling basis.  

FESC, FEACVI, FEHRA and FHFA: memberships follow a calendar basis running to 31 December.

Membership of ESC Working Groups is free and valid for 12 months after your application is accepted by the Working Group Chairperson.

Council memberships follow a twelve-month rolling basis with an option to automatically renew.

How do I check my membership status?

Your membership status can be checked in your "My ESC" account under "My Membership".

How to join & who can join

I am not a cardiologist, can I join?

Yes, Individual membership is open to all healthcare professionals eager to more fully participate in the ESC community and all it offers.

I am not yet a board-certified cardiologist, can I join?

Yes, if you are still in training to become a board-certified cardiologist, you can join and benefit from a preferential rate.

I am not a member of an ESC National Cardiac Society, can I join?

Due to the special relationship the ESC has with its founding member societies, if you are a cardiologist working in an ESC Member Country, you must first be a member of ESC National Cardiac Society before becoming an ESC Professional Member. This requirement does not apply to non-cardiologists, or cardiologists working in a non-ESC Member Country. Neither does it apply to join a subspecialty association.

How do I become an ESC Professional Member?

Join online at www.escardio.org/membership

I wish to purchase a membership on behalf of someone else (Third Party)

Please contact us (Category: Membership), email us or call +33 (0)4 89 87 20 60, before payment to ensure correct invoicing and to avoid unnecessary additional administrative fees.

Please see below for more information.

I am a Fellow of the ESC, can I also join a subspecialty Association?

Yes, you can sign up to any membership offer. Note that some of the ESC Associations also offer a Fellowship which may also be of interest if you wish to be recognised as a Fellow in your specialty.

Why do I have to pay for access to certain resources - shouldn’t they be free?

ESC is a not-for-profit organisation. Many of the resources are produced with the help of ESC volunteers, who give their time free of charge, but there is a cost to producing and maintaining resources. Whilst it would be great if all resources could be provided for free, these costs must be covered. ESC designs membership packages to be good value for money and often individual benefits included in the package are more expensive when purchased outside of membership. Preferential rates on membership are available for cardiologists in training to ensure that the price to access resources is not prohibitive.

I want to upgrade my Membership

Should you wish to upgrade your membership level before your current membership expires, please contact us (Category: membership) before purchase. A pro-rata rate may be applied depending on the use of the privileges and the duration of the previous membership. Pro-rata rates are not available for upgrades to Fellowships (FESC, FHFA, FEACVI, FEHRA, FACVC)

Payment

Information on Membership prices

Prices for Membership fees are quoted in euros (€) and include 20% French VAT for individuals. Payment in any other currency is not accepted.

I would like to renew my membership automatically, how can I set this up?

During the joining or renewal process, you have the option to opt-in to automatically renew your membership by credit or debit card.

Before charging a card, The ESC will make best efforts to contact you via the email address held in your My ESC account.

Automatic renewal cannot be guaranteed (for example if a card transaction is rejected by a card provider, membership will not be renewed), and as such choosing “automatic renewal” is not a guarantee that you will remain in good standing as a member. As a member, you remain responsible for ensuring that payment of the membership fee is received in due time. To this end, you may check your membership status via your My ESC account at any time.

How can I get my invoice?

Invoices are available after payment under "My Orders" in your My ESC account. Should you require an invoice before payment, please contact us (Category: Membership) and you will be issued a proforma invoice. 

Changes cannot be made to an invoice following a purchase through the My ESC account. An invoice to an individual cannot be transferred to an organisation after payment. To avoid disappointment, please check the Billing details carefully before payment. If in doubt, contact us before payment.

Can I pay my membership by bank transfer?

The most efficient way to pay your fees is by credit or debit card via your My ESC account. However, we can accept payment by bank transfer upon request. If you need to make payment by bank transfer, contact us (Category: Membership) before payment.

I represent an Institution, Agency or Company (Third Party), how can I pay a membership for a doctor?

Please contact us (Category: Membership), email us or call +33 (0)4 89 87 20 60, before payment to ensure correct invoicing.

Third Parties must not create a “My ESC account” on behalf of an individual.

Changes cannot be made to an invoice following a purchase through the My ESC account. An invoice to an individual cannot be transferred to an organisation after payment. To avoid disappointment, please check the billing details carefully before payment. If in doubt, contact us (Category: Membership).

Any invoicing addresses within the European Union should be provided along with a registered VAT Number. The invoicing address and VAT number must be sent to the Membership Department to ensure the correct VAT rate and VAT Number appear on the invoice.

Compliance Obligation for Healthcare companies worldwide and medical institutions in France

The ESC operates in full respect of the French Anti-Gift regime (article L. 1453-11 of the French Public Health Code). Orders by Healthcare Companies (worldwide), and agencies representing Healthcare Companies (worldwide) and hospitals in France must be declared to the French Regional Health Agency.

Orders with a combined value of less than €2,000* must be declared to the French Regional Health Agency but no authorisation is required. It is the responsibility of the healthcare company to process a declaration to the French Regional Health Agency at least 8 days before the membership start date.

Orders with a combined value of over €2,000* must be declared and approved by the French Regional Health Agency. This process can take up to 2 months from when the initial application file is complete. Hence, it must be completed before the membership start date.

*Based on the current thresholds referred to in article L. 1453-11 of the French Public Health Code.

Refer to the information note for further details.

Upon requesting your order, we will send you an order form with details of how to complete this process.

I want to be a Member but I can’t afford it. Do you offer any financial support?

Special rates are available if you are under 40 years of age or in training.

Where can I find the Sales Conditions?

You will find the paragraph on Membership-specific conditions here.

Benefits

What are my membership benefits?

You can find the list of your membership benefits in your My ESC account. For an overview of all membership benefits please visit www.escardio.org/membership

How can I access my membership benefits?

You can access your membership benefits in your My ESC account.

How can I get my membership card?

All your digital Membership cards are available in your My ESC account under the "My Membership", My Membership Cards section.

How can I get my membership certificate?

Digital Membership certificates are available for Silver, Gold, Professional and Professional Plus membership levels. They can be found under "My Membership" in your My ESC account.

Don't hesitate to contact us (Category: Membership) if your certificate is missing.

The ESC does not issue printed membership certificates.

Last updated on 30 September 2022