Ending your CSP membership made easy

About the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) constitutes the professional, educational, and trade union body representing physiotherapists, physiotherapy students, and support workers throughout the United Kingdom. Established in 1894, the organisation operates under a Royal Charter and functions as both a professional association and a certified trade union under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. The CSP maintains its principal administrative offices at Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ, where formal correspondence and contractual communications must be directed in accordance with their governance structure.

Furthermore, the CSP provides representation for approximately 64,000 members across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, offering professional indemnity insurance, continuing professional development resources, employment advocacy, and regulatory guidance aligned with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards. The organisation's dual function as both professional body and trade union creates specific contractual obligations that members must understand when considering membership termination.

In accordance with its constitutional framework, the CSP operates through a democratic structure with elected regional stewards and national representatives. Consequently, membership agreements constitute legally binding contracts that incorporate elements of both professional subscription services and trade union affiliation, thereby engaging multiple regulatory frameworks including consumer protection legislation and trade union law.

Regulatory framework and professional obligations

The CSP's operations are governed by several interconnected legal frameworks. As a trade union, it must comply with certification requirements under the Certification Officer's jurisdiction, maintaining transparency in financial reporting and democratic processes. Simultaneously, as a professional body providing services to members, the organisation falls within the scope of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which establishes fundamental protections regarding service quality, contract terms, and cancellation rights.

Nevertheless, members should recognise that CSP membership, whilst voluntary, carries professional implications beyond simple subscription services. Many healthcare employers expect or require physiotherapists to maintain professional body membership, and the professional indemnity insurance provided through CSP membership often constitutes a contractual employment requirement. Therefore, cancellation decisions should be made with full consideration of professional and employment obligations.

Membership categories and eligibility criteria

The CSP administers multiple membership categories, each subject to distinct eligibility requirements and contractual terms. Qualified physiotherapists registered with the HCPC comprise the primary membership category, whilst physiotherapy students, support workers, and recently qualified practitioners access modified membership structures with adjusted rights and obligations. Each category operates under specific terms and conditions that govern the contractual relationship, notice periods, and termination procedures.

Furthermore, the organisation offers international membership options for physiotherapists practising outside the United Kingdom, creating additional jurisdictional considerations regarding contract law applicability and cancellation procedures. Members transitioning between categories—such as students becoming qualified practitioners or employed members moving to retirement status—must navigate contractual variations that affect their cancellation rights and obligations.

Membership options and associated costs

The CSP employs a tiered membership fee structure that reflects both the member's professional status and their employment circumstances. In accordance with the organisation's constitutional commitment to accessibility, membership fees are calculated using a proportional system based on members' earnings, thereby creating variable contractual obligations across the membership base.

Standard membership categories and fee structure

The fee structure operates on a calendar year basis, with membership renewal occurring annually on 1st January. Consequently, members joining mid-year receive pro-rata adjustments to their initial subscription, though this creates specific implications for notice periods and cancellation timing that members must carefully consider when planning membership termination.

Payment methods and contractual implications

The CSP accepts membership fees through two primary mechanisms: monthly direct debit instalments and single annual payments. Each payment method creates distinct contractual arrangements with different implications for cancellation procedures and financial obligations. Direct debit arrangements, governed by the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme, provide specific consumer protections but require formal cancellation procedures to terminate the payment authority properly.

Furthermore, members paying via monthly direct debit enter into a continuous payment agreement that renews automatically unless terminated through proper notice. This arrangement, whilst offering financial flexibility, requires members to provide adequate notice—typically one full membership period or calendar month—to avoid contractual liability for subsequent payment periods. Annual payment members face different considerations, as their membership constitutes a fixed-term contract for the specified period.

Additional services and bundled benefits

CSP membership fees encompass multiple bundled services beyond basic professional representation. The subscription includes professional indemnity insurance underwritten to £10 million coverage, access to clinical guidance databases, employment law advisory services, and continuing professional development resources. These bundled elements create a complex service contract where members cannot typically separate individual components or obtain partial refunds for unused services.

Nevertheless, the comprehensive nature of CSP membership means that cancellation results in the simultaneous termination of all associated benefits, including the professional indemnity insurance coverage. This carries significant professional implications, as physiotherapists must maintain continuous insurance coverage to practice legally and meet employer requirements. Consequently, members planning cancellation must arrange alternative insurance provision before their CSP coverage terminates.

Understanding your cancellation rights under UK law

Membership cancellation rights derive from multiple legal sources, creating a layered framework of protections and obligations. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 establishes baseline protections for service contracts, whilst trade union legislation provides specific rights regarding union membership termination. Furthermore, the CSP's own constitutional rules and membership terms create contractual obligations that operate alongside statutory protections.

Statutory cancellation rights and cooling-off periods

In accordance with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, members who join the CSP through distance selling methods—including online registration or telephone enrolment—benefit from a statutory 14-day cooling-off period. During this period, members possess an unconditional right to cancel their membership without providing justification and to receive a full refund of any fees paid.

The cooling-off period commences on the date the membership contract is concluded, not the date when services begin or when payment is processed. Consequently, members wishing to exercise this statutory right must communicate their cancellation decision within 14 days of joining, using any clear statement of their intention to cancel. Whilst the regulations permit cancellation via any communication method, postal notification sent via Recorded Delivery provides indisputable evidence of timely cancellation should any dispute arise.

Notice periods and contractual termination requirements

Beyond the initial cooling-off period, membership cancellation becomes subject to the notice requirements specified in the CSP's membership terms and conditions. These contractual provisions typically require members to provide written notice of their intention to terminate membership, with notice periods varying depending on the membership category and payment method selected.

For members paying via monthly direct debit, the standard notice period requires one full calendar month's notice prior to the next payment date. Therefore, a member providing cancellation notice on 15th March would remain contractually obligated through 30th April, with their final payment processed on 1st April. Annual payment members face different considerations, as their membership constitutes a fixed-term contract that expires naturally at the end of the paid period without requiring formal cancellation notice unless they wish to prevent automatic renewal.

Trade union membership rights and protections

The CSP's status as a certified trade union engages specific statutory protections under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Section 69 of this legislation establishes that no member shall be excluded or expelled from a trade union except in accordance with the union's rules, and members possess statutory rights to resign from union membership at any time by providing reasonable notice.

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