One Unified Voice

The SCMMA & CMA represent the voices of
more than 43,000 physicians state-wide

Frequently Asked Questions


What is the cost of membership in SCMMA/CMA?

2024 SCMMA Dues – $1,100.00
SCMMA portion – $458.00
CMA portion –  $642.00
Monthly payment option:  $92.00
Resident Member – free
Medical Student Member – free
Retired Physician Member - free

Current members residing or practicing in Monterey County will have no change in their membership dues in 2024 if dues renewal is processed by 12/31/23.
(If you have questions, contact donnao@cruzmed.org or call our office at 831-455-1008)

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Do I have to join both SCMMA and CMA?

All California County Medical Societies are chartered by the California Medical Association (CMA) and when physicians join CMA, they join their County Medical Association at the same time.

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Who can join SCMMA/CMA?

Resident physicians (M.D.s or D.O.s) in a recognized residency program.

Physicians (M.D.s or D.O.s) with a valid California medical license who live and/or work within Santa Cruz County and Monterey County.

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What is the membership year?

Membership is based on a calendar year:  January 1 – December 31.

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What are my dues payment options?

We accept payment by check or credit card.

You may pay annually or monthly.

For special circumstances, contact the Membership Director, at (831) 479-7226 or SCCMS@cruzmed.org.

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Are my dues tax deductible?

Association dues are not deductible as a charitable contribution for federal tax purposes but may be partially deductible as a business expense.  A portion of your dues is not deductible because of lobbying activities on behalf of its members.

For 2018, 34% of CMA dues cannot be deducted as a business expense for federal tax purposes because of lobbying activities on behalf of CMA members.

For 2017, 34% of CMA dues cannot be deducted as a business expense for federal tax purposes because of lobbying activities on behalf of CMA members.

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What are the different membership categories?

Regular Member:
A physician who is a regular, active member with no unusual membership type.

Resident Physician Member:
A physician who is a resident member.

Medical Student Member:
An individual who is a medical student.

Retired Member:
A physician who is retired.

Affiliate Member:
A physician who is a member of more than one County Medical Society (CMS). An affiliate member would have his or her primary CMS/CMA membership with another county in California and would also be a member of SCMMA.

Associate Member:
A physician with an out-of-state medical license who therefore qualifies for a special discount membership. An associate member cannot have a valid California medical license.

Government Member:
A physician who receives at least 50% of his or her salary from government.

Leave of Absence Member:
A physician who requests and is granted a special leave-of-absence membership due to illness, maternity, etc.

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Is one automatically a member of AMA if one is a member of SCMMA/CMA?

There is no formal relationship between the American Medical Association and SCMMA/CMA. 

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I am a member of a specialty association housed in the SCMMA building.  Does that make me a member of SCMMA/CMA?   As a member of a specialty association housed in the SCMMA building, am I entitled to benefits of membership in SCMMA/CMA?

Membership in a specialty association housed inside or outside of the SCMMA building does not automatically result in SCMMA/CMA membership.  SCMMA/CMA membership benefits are reserved for SCMMA/CMA members only. 

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What Board certifications does SCMMA recognize?

SCMMA recognizes the following ABMS, AOA, and MBC board certifications:

  • Addiction Psychiatry
  • Adolescent Medicine
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Blood Banking Transfusion Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Chemical Pathology
  • Child Abuse Pediatrics
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Clinical and Laboratory Dermatological Immunology
  • Clinical Biochemical Genetics
  • Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Clinical Genetics (MD)
  • Clinical Informatics
  • Clinical Molecular Genetics
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Colon and Rectal Surgery
  • Congenital Cardiac Surgery
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Cytopathology
  • Dermatology
  • Dermatopathology
  • Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
  • Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Family Medicine
  • Family Practice (and OMT)
  • Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Gastroenterology
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Geriatric Psychiatry
  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Hematology
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • Immunopathology
  • Infectious Disease
  • Internal Medicine
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Medical Biochemical Genetics
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Medical Oncology
  • Medical Toxicology
  • Molecular Genetic Pathology (Med Gen)
  • Molecular Genetic Pathology (Pathology)
  • Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Neuro-developmental Disabilities
  • Neurological Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology
  • Neuromuscular Medicine
  • Neuropathology
  • Neuroradiology
  • Neurotology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Nuclear Radiology
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Occupational Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopedic Sports Medicine
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Otolaryngology
  • Pain Medicine
  • Pathology — Anatomic
  • Pathology-Anatomic / Pathology-Clinical
  • Pathology — Clinical
  • Pathology — Hematology
  • Pathology Recertification
  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Pediatric Pathology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Pediatric Rheumatology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pediatric Urology
  • Pediatrics
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Public Health and General Preventive Medicine
  • Pulmonary Disease
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Radiation Oncology Recertification
  • Radiology
  • Reproductive Endocrinology / Infertility
  • Rheumatology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
  • Sports Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Surgery of the Hand
  • Surgical Critical Care
  • Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
  • Transplant Hepatology
  • Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
  • Urological Surgery
  • Urology
  • Vascular and Interventional Radiology
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Vascular Surgery

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