The British Dental Association (BDA) has launched a new membership scheme, replacing the current 'one size fits all' package with three different options, offering a range of benefits and with no fixed 'membership year'.

Following extensive research and analysis, from 1 June 2013 the BDA will offer three tiers of membership: Essential, Extra and Expert. The Essential package (£295) covers trade union support, access to online support, the British Dental Journal and BDA News, and access to a brand new continuing professional development (CPD) 'Hub'. The Extra membership package (£795) offers the same plus personal, tailored support and advice via phone or email and a VIP three-day ticket to the British Dental Conference and Exhibition. Expert membership (£1,095) covers everything that the Essential and Extra packages do plus access to BDA Expert (which includes over 170 model policies and protocols), two three-day dental care professional (DCP) tickets to the British Dental Conference and Exhibition, and a BDJ Clinical Guide.

Dr Martin Fallowfield, Chair of the BDA's Principal Executive Committee, said: 'Our members are individuals managing increasingly complex healthcare businesses and have different needs, but we know they want flexibility and choice and expect value at all times. [...] After two years of surveys, focus groups and discussion with our members we have reached a solution that is in all of our interests, individually and collectively.'

The membership changes are being introduced at a time when regulation of the profession has increased and the BDA has expanded to accommodate the growth in demand for specialist advisory services and readily available information.

In a briefing to the dental media, the BDA showed how its new member offering reflects the Association's evolution over 133 years from an elite group of bearded men to the eclectic group of professionals working in numerous fields that exists today.

New concessionary membership rates are also being launched for dental students, dentists over the age of 65, overseas dentists and the newly qualified.