Membership Guidelines

Classes Of Members

There shall be eight classes of Members. The right to vote on any matter including resolutions and in elections be it in HO or SG events is restricted to being accorded to all Founder Members and LMs who are eligible to vote and are in good standing. The Executive Committee has the right to change or modify the rules of membership if and when deemed necessary, however, only Founder Board will have the power to modify the rules for Founder Members.

1. Founder Members (FM)

Persons who have taken part in the formation of the Society shall be the Founder Members. The founder members are by default Life Members and no membership charges, conference registration charges, convention registration charges, study group charges will be levied onto them by the TOPS. The founder members, once retired from their posts on the TOPS, shall form a committee called the TOPS Founder Board (FB) which will have the right to oversee the working of the TOPS, guide and advice the office bearers, but will not have the right to intervene, interfere, overrule, veto or change any decision taken by the TOPS office bearers. Founder members reserve the right to resign from the FB and can not be removed from this post by the office bearers of the TOPS. The FB will auto dissolve when the last FM resigns. No member has the right to reconstitute FB again.

2. Life Members (LM)

Any Indian citizen registered with the Dental Council of India, Medical Council of India, NMR or NDR, or any other medical or paramedical body recognised by the DCI, MCI, NMC, NDC, and in good standing with these organizations, can apply to be a part of TOPS as a life member

3. Student Members (SM)

Any person eligible to be a student member must provide a letter of admission in an Institution, University, or Program which is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI), Dental Council of India (DCI), National Medical Council (NMC), National Dental Council (NDC), any other Indian medical or paramedical councils or registration bodies recognised by the Government of India, or, ABOP (American Board of Orofacial Pain), (till such a time when an equivalent government recognised body is formed in India), and who shall fulfil the requirements for becoming a life member on completion of the said program and whose application is approved by the Executive Committee. This status will be retained for a period of maximum 5 years after gaining admission in the said program. Thereafter, the Student Membership shall auto dissolve and an entirely fresh application with needed fee will be required to become a life member

4.Associate Members

Any Indian or Foreign Citizen, with an interest in the field of OFP, TMD and DSM, with a basic degree equivalent or above to MBBS, BDS, MD/MS, MDS and who is not qualified to become a Life Member shall be eligible to apply. This shall include doctors with overseas qualifications recognised by the medical/dental councils or boards in their countries. The Associate members shall have no voting rights. This membership shall be renewed annually.

5.Affiliate Members

Any person, Indian or Foreign citizen, not being eligible to be enrolled as a Life Member, but who is a registered doctor in India or abroad, in field other than Medicine or Dentistry, shall be eligible to become an Affiliate Member. This membership shall be renewed annually.

6.Honorary Members

The Executive Committee, after the third year of the formation of the TOPS, may nominate any person to be an Honorary Member of the society. This shall need to be approved by the General Body. In the first three years, the Founder Members may nominate any person to be an Honorary Member of the society. This membership shall be renewed annually

7.International Student Members

Any student from another country undergoing studies to gain certificate, degree, diploma, fellowship, master’s degree etc recognized by ABOP (or an equivalent body), who is a member of good standing in their country, may apply to become an International Member. International members can attend the programmes like conferences and conventions by ISOP at applicable rates. This membership shall be renewed annually.

ENTRANCE AND SUBSCRIPTION FEES

The Entrance and Subscription Fee payable by different class of members shall be as follows:

  • Founder Members: Shall not be required to pay any renewal fee.
  • Life Members: Application Fee Rs.1000/- and Rs. 12000/- as subscription for life time, plus applicable taxes.
  • Student Members: Application Fee Rs.1000/- and Rs. 4000/- as subscription for life time, plus applicable taxes.
  • Associate Members: Application Fee Rs. 1,000/- and one time Subscription Fee Rs. 16,000/- plus applicable taxes.
  • Affiliate Members: Application Fee Rs. 1,000/- and one time Subscription Fee Rs. 16,000/- plus applicable taxes.
  • Honorary Members: No entrance fee or annual fee.
  • International Members: Application Fee shall be INR equivalent of US $ 25 and Subscription Fee equivalent to US $100/year (plus applicable government taxes). For SAARC countries, same fees as equivalent to Life Members in US $ (plus applicable taxes) shall be levied.
  • International student member: There is no application fee, and a Subscription Fee of INR equivalent to $ 55 for 2 years or $ 80 for 3 years, plus applicable government taxes For student members of SAARC, same fees as equivalent to student life members of ISOP in US $ (plus applicable taxes) shall be levied.
  • Once an application for any Class of Membership is approved and the Application and Subscription amounts will not be refunded even when the member resigns or withdraws from ISOP or is expelled by the ISOP.

Membership Rules

Application for Membership

Any individual seeking membership in the Association, under any of the defined categories, and meeting the requisite eligibility criteria, shall submit a duly completed application form to the Secretary of the Association. The application must include all required details and be accompanied by the applicable membership fee.

  1.   Review and Approval
    All membership applications shall be reviewed by the Executive Council. The Council holds absolute discretion in accepting or rejecting any application and is not obligated to provide reasons for its decision.
  2.   Refund Policy
    In the event that an application, either entirely or for a specific membership category, is not approved, the full membership fee—or the differential amount, as applicable—shall be refunded to the applicant.
  3.   Nature of Membership
    Membership in the Association is granted through formal application and approval by the Executive Council. Fulfilling the eligibility criteria alone does not entitle an applicant to automatic membership.

Revision of Fee Structure
The Executive Council reserves the right to revise the membership fee structure periodically, in alignment with the best interests and evolving needs of the Association.

Founder Member

Signatories of the Society’s founding documents.

Available only by invitation during the initial formation phase of the Society.

Open to clinicians, academicians, or professionals who have significantly contributed to the conceptual development or early growth of the Society.

Must have a demonstrated interest and commitment to orofacial pain and TMJ disorders.

Lifetime recognition as a founder, Voting rights, Eligible to serve on the Executive Council

Life Member

Must hold a recognized BDS/MDS degree registered with a State Dental Council in India.

OR

Must be a qualified dental or medical professional (BDS, MDS, MBBS, MD, MS, or equivalent)

Actively practicing or researching in orofacial pain, TMD, dental sleep medicine, headache, or related specialties required to have either:

Completed postgraduate training in orofacial pain/TMD/sleep medicine, or

Accumulated a minimum of 300/400 accredited education hours in these fields (includes postgraduate coursework).

Full rights: vote, contest in elections, attend events.

One-time membership fee applicable 

Associate Member

Must hold a recognized BDS/MDS degree registered in India.

Completed at least 150 hours of accredited training in orofacial pain/TMD/sleep medicine (post graduation or certificate courses).

Rights: vote and contest in elections except presidential/secretary/treasurer roles.

One-time fee

Affiliate Member

Registered dental or medical professional in India with no formal orofacial pain training or under 150 hours.

Rights: attend events and access resources; no voting or electoral eligibility.

One-time fee

Student Member

Full-time undergraduate/ postgraduate dental students in India (BDS/MDS).

Valid until course completion (including internship).

Rights: access learning resources.

One-time fee

International Member / International Student Member

Professionals or students in dental, medical, or allied fields outside India with interest or specialization in orofacial pain.

Rights: event access and resources; no voting or contesting.

One-time fee

Honorary Member

Awarded by nomination and Executive Council approval to individuals with distinguished service in the field.

No membership fee. no voting or electoral rights.

Upgrade & Fee Notes

Members can upgrade categories upon meeting advanced training criteria by paying the fee differential.

The Executive Council retains discretion to accept or reject applications without stating reasons; fee refunds may be issued if not accepted.

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