Ending your RCN membership made easy

What is RCN?

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the United Kingdom's largest professional union and membership organisation for nurses and nursing staff. Established in 1916, the RCN represents over 465,000 members across the UK, providing professional support, workplace representation, and advocacy for nursing professionals at every stage of their careers.

Most importantly, the RCN operates as both a trade union and a professional body. This dual role means members receive industrial relations support including workplace representation, legal advice on employment matters, and collective bargaining power, whilst also accessing professional development resources, clinical guidance, and educational opportunities. The organisation campaigns on healthcare policy issues, sets professional standards, and works to improve working conditions for nursing staff throughout the NHS and private healthcare sectors.

The RCN membership extends to registered nurses, nursing students, healthcare assistants, and nursing associates working in various settings including hospitals, community care, general practice, care homes, and educational institutions. Additionally, the organisation provides specialist forums and networks covering over 50 different nursing specialisms, from mental health and paediatrics to emergency care and practice nursing.

Keep in mind that RCN membership operates on an annual subscription basis, with fees deducted monthly through various payment methods. Members can access benefits including professional indemnity insurance, 24/7 advice lines, CPD resources, library services, and representation in workplace disputes. The organisation also publishes research, clinical guidelines, and professional journals to support evidence-based nursing practice.

Plans, features and pricing

RCN membership pricing operates on a tiered structure based on your employment status and working hours. First, it's essential to understand that membership fees are tax-deductible for most members, which effectively reduces the actual cost you'll pay. The organisation has structured its pricing to ensure accessibility across different career stages and employment circumstances.

Standard membership categories

Next, let's look at what these membership fees actually cover. The RCN provides comprehensive professional indemnity insurance worth up to £6 million, which alone would cost considerably more if purchased independently. Members also receive access to employment rights advice, with specialist advisers available around the clock to handle workplace issues, disciplinary matters, and contractual disputes.

Core membership benefits

The professional development package includes unlimited access to the RCN's extensive library services, online learning modules, and CPD tracking tools. Members can attend conferences, study days, and networking events at discounted rates, with many regional events offered free of charge. The RCN Bulletin magazine and Nursing Standard journal provide regular updates on clinical practice, research findings, and policy developments.

Most importantly, workplace representation forms a crucial component of membership value. RCN representatives and officers provide support during capability procedures, grievance processes, and disciplinary hearings. The legal services team can advise on employment contracts, redundancy situations, and workplace injuries, with representation available at employment tribunals when necessary.

Additionally, members gain access to specialist forums covering specific clinical areas, enabling networking with peers who share similar professional interests. The counselling service provides confidential support for work-related stress and personal difficulties, recognising the demanding nature of nursing roles.

Payment methods and collection

RCN typically collects membership fees through direct debit, though some employers operate check-off systems where subscriptions are deducted directly from salary. Keep in mind that the payment method you've chosen affects how quickly your cancellation takes effect and whether you might be entitled to any refund of fees already paid.

Terms of service and cancellation policy

Understanding the RCN's membership terms and cancellation requirements is absolutely critical before you begin the cancellation process. The organisation operates under specific rules governing membership termination, notice periods, and fee obligations that you need to follow precisely to avoid continued charges or complications.

Membership contract fundamentals

First, recognise that RCN membership constitutes a continuing contract that automatically renews unless you actively cancel. This isn't a fixed-term subscription that expires after twelve months—it continues indefinitely until you provide formal notice of termination. Many members mistakenly assume their membership will simply lapse if they stop working in nursing or change jobs, but fees will continue to be collected until you formally resign.

The RCN requires written notice of resignation. Verbal notifications, whether by telephone or in person at events, do not constitute valid cancellation. This written notice requirement protects both parties by creating a clear record of your intention to leave and the date from which your resignation takes effect.

Notice periods and timing

Most importantly, the RCN operates specific notice period requirements that vary depending on your payment method. For members paying by direct debit, you typically need to provide notice before your next payment date to avoid being charged for an additional month. The organisation generally requires reasonable notice, which most former members report as being around one month, though this can vary based on individual circumstances.

Keep in mind that if you're paying through salary deduction (check-off), you may need to coordinate your cancellation with both the RCN and your employer's payroll department. The timing becomes more complex because payroll deadlines might not align with the RCN's administrative processes, potentially resulting in one additional month's deduction even after you've submitted cancellation notice.

Refund policy considerations

The RCN typically does not offer refunds for partial months of membership. If you cancel mid-month, you'll usually remain a member until the end of that payment period but won't receive a pro-rata refund for unused days. This makes timing your cancellation strategically important—submitting notice just after a payment date means you're effectively paying for a full month you might not use.

Additionally, if you've paid annually in advance rather than monthly, the refund situation becomes more complicated. Former members report varying experiences, with some receiving pro-rata refunds for unused months whilst others were told their annual payment was non-refundable. The specific terms applicable to your membership may depend on when you joined and which payment option you selected.

Automatic renewal and continuous membership

Here's a common pitfall: many members don't realise that changing jobs, reducing hours, or even retiring doesn't automatically cancel their membership. The RCN will continue collecting fees at whatever rate applied when you last updated your membership category. If you move from full-time to part-time work, you need to actively update your membership status—it won't adjust automatically based on employment changes.

Similarly, student nurses who enjoyed free membership during their training will automatically transition to paid membership once they qualify and register with the NMC. Unless you actively cancel, fees will begin being collected, often catching newly qualified nurses by surprise when they're managing new financial commitments.

Why members choose to cancel

Before diving into the cancellation process, it's worth understanding why nursing professionals decide to leave the RCN. This context helps you evaluate whether cancellation is genuinely your best option or whether alternative solutions might better address your concerns.

Career changes and retirement

The most straightforward reason for cancellation involves leaving the nursing profession entirely. When members transition to non-nursing roles, move abroad, or retire from practice, continuing membership often provides limited value. Keep in mind that retired members can access significantly reduced subscription rates, so if you're retiring but want to maintain professional connections, downgrading rather than cancelling might be worth considering.

Financial pressures and value perception

Many members cancel due to financial constraints, particularly during periods of unemployment, reduced hours, or when managing other financial pressures. Student nurses transitioning to paid membership after qualification sometimes find the monthly fee challenging when managing student debt and new living expenses. Additionally, some members feel they're not utilising sufficient benefits to justify the ongoing cost, especially if they've never needed workplace representation or don't regularly access professional development resources.

Workplace representation concerns

A significant proportion of cancellations relate to dissatisfaction with workplace representation or support during disputes. Some members report feeling their concerns weren't adequately addressed during grievance procedures or that RCN representatives didn't provide the level of advocacy they expected. Others cancel after resolving a specific workplace issue, having joined primarily for that support rather than ongoing membership.

Alternative union membership

Some nursing professionals switch to alternative unions or professional organisations offering different benefits, representation approaches, or lower fees. Unison, GMB, and other unions also represent healthcare workers, and some nurses prefer their broader public sector focus or different industrial relations strategies.

Cancelling by post—the complete guide

Now let's get into the practical process of cancelling your RCN membership by post. This method provides the most reliable, legally sound approach to terminating your subscription whilst creating documented proof of your cancellation request.

Why postal cancellation is your best option

First, understand why sending your cancellation by post—specifically by Royal Mail Signed For or Recorded Delivery—offers significant advantages over other methods. Postal cancellation creates an indisputable paper trail proving exactly when you submitted your resignation notice. You'll receive a certificate of posting and tracking information showing when the RCN received your letter.

Most importantly, this documentation protects you if any disputes arise about whether you cancelled, when you cancelled, or what you said in your cancellation request. Former members consistently report that having postal proof prevented continued fee collection and resolved disputes about notice periods. Without this evidence, you're relying entirely on the organisation's internal record-keeping, which can occasionally fail or become disputed.

Additionally, written cancellation allows you to carefully compose your resignation, include all necessary information, and keep a copy for your records. You're not rushed, you won't forget crucial details, and you can ensure your message is clear and professional. This becomes particularly important if you're cancelling under specific circumstances that require explanation or if you want to request confirmation of particular details.

Preparing your cancellation letter

Keep in mind that your cancellation letter needs to include specific information to be processed efficiently. Start by clearly stating your intention to resign from RCN membership. Include your full name exactly as it appears on your membership records, your membership number (found on correspondence from the RCN or your membership card), and your date of birth for identification purposes.

Next, specify the date from which you want your cancellation to take effect. Many former members recommend stating \