Frequently Asked Questions – Bylaws

1. How are members of the previous WASM and WSF included in the new society?
2. How are board members elected for the new society?
3. After the 2016-2019 transitional period, what process will be followed for electing governing council members and officers?
4. What is the new logo of the World Sleep Society?
5. Are there committees?
6. Where is the organizational office?
7. How do I get involved/volunteer?
8. Do all committee volunteers need to be members?
9. What type of sleep societies and associations can join?
10. How does a society or association join?
11. What type of individual members can join?
12. What are the benefits of becoming a member?


1. How are members of the previous WASM and WSF included in the new society?

WASM and WSF individual members will automatically become a member of the new World Sleep Society. WASM and WSF societies will automatically become members of the new World Sleep Society.


2. How are board members elected for the new society?

During the first four years (2016-2019) of transition, the governing council and officers will be appointed by the existing boards of WASM and WSF. WASM’s Executive Committee will appoint five individual council members who represent different regions of the world including: Europe, North America, South or Central America, Asia or Australia, and Africa.

Also during the first four years, the WSF will appoint five society council members who represent the five WSF society members. The five Societies’ Council Delegates will be the presidents or their designees from the Sleep Research Society, the European Sleep Research Society, the Canadian Sleep Society, the Australasian Sleep Association, and the Asian Sleep Research Society. During the first four years, the officers will be appointed by the ten governing council members. The four officers appointed can be individuals who are not one of the ten governing council members.

At the 2019 World Sleep Congress, all officers and five of the council members will be elected by individual, due-paying members. In 2019 before the 2019 World Sleep Congress, the Societies House of Delegates (comprised of all society members) will elect the five individuals who represent the societies. A governing council will be elected by due-paying, individual members (50%) and by due-paying societies (50%). The new World Sleep Society will be open, democratic, and — after the transition — the governing council will be entirely membership elected.


3. After the 2016-2019 transitional period, what process will be followed for electing governing council members and officers?

Governing Council individual member elections will be held approximately every two years in coordination with the biennial World Sleep Society Congress. The Nominating Committee will determine names and eligibility of individuals placed on the ballot. Individual delegates may vote at the meeting or in advance by ballot. Council members will be elected by a simple majority of paid-up individual members in good standing.

Governing Council society member elections will be held approximately every two years with results known before the biennial World Sleep Society Congress. The Societies’ Council Delegates will be elected by the representatives of paid-up societies to the Society’s House of Delegates. Each member society will have one (1) delegate and one (1) vote in the Societies House of Delegates. The Societies House of Delegates will select and elect (by simple majority) the individuals to serve as Societies’ Council Delegates.


4. What is the new logo of the World Sleep Society?

WSS-logo-968x175


5. Are there committees?

The World Sleep Society has two types of committees: Permanent Standing Committees and Presidential Committees.

  1. Permanent Standing Committees serve at the pleasure of the Officers and Governing Council and perform continuing functions and services required by the society. Currently, Permanent Standing Committees include:

Nominating Committee – Determine names and eligibility of individuals placed on the ballot for election as Officers and Elected Council Members and are responsible for the following:

  • Announce upcoming elections no less than four months prior to voting.
  • Prepare ballots for elections.

Congress Program Committee – Responsible for all aspects of organizing and conducting the World Sleep Society Congress.

World Sleep Day Committee/Public Relations Committee –  Organize, support, and coordinate activities to inform the general public about the importance of healthy sleep, sleep disorders, and help promote sleep health worldwide.

Examination Committee – Oversee the International Sleep Specialist Board Examination content development, preparation, proctoring, results analysis, and question bank maintenance.

Education Committee –  Committee members prepare, solicit, and appraise materials submitted as part of the World Sleep Society’s global sleep education initiative.

  • Develop and review sleep health and sleep medicine educational materials for posting on official website.
  • Maintain and update the World Sleep Society Sleep Medicine curriculum.
  • Develop and post FAQ materials on specific topics addressing issues of public interest related to sleep health and sleep disorders.

Membership Committee – Establish individual membership categories and review all applications for individual memberships.

  • Maintain records of individual and society memberships.
  • Maintain dues status of individual and society memberships.
  • Send renewal notices.

Publication and Website Committee – Provide the World Sleep Society with a liaison to its affiliated journal.

  • Develop, review, and update World Sleep Society information booklet and website materials.

Awards Committee – Recommend names of individuals to be  nominated to receive official World Sleep Society awards created by the governing council.

2. Presidential Committees are appointed by the president on an as-needed basis and commissioned for a maximum of two years to perform specific functions.


6. Where is the organizational office?

World Sleep Society Organizational Office
3270 19th St NW
Suite 109
Rochester, MN 55901 USA
phone: +1-507-316-0084
[email protected]


7. How do I get involved/volunteer?

Contact WSS office via [email protected] and provide:

  • Committee or area which you are interested in,
  • Current CV and/or resume,
  • Reason interested in becoming involved.

Your information will be forwarded to the committee co-chairs for consideration.


8. Do all committee volunteers need to be members?

Yes, all committee volunteers need to be members.


9. What type of sleep societies and associations can join?

Clinical and Scientific Societies with relevance to sleep can become members of the World Sleep Society house of society delegates.


10. How does a society or association join?

The president or chairperson of the society must submit a completed societal membership application. Societies must provide contact information, description of organization, logo, society member information and agree to advertise/promote the World Sleep Congress.


11. What type of individual members can join?

World Sleep Society membership is open to scientists, physicians, dentists, psychologists, physiologists, anatomists, pathologists, nurses, physician assistants, technologists, other allied health personnel, and other medical and research personnel interested in sleep.

World Sleep Society also offers Association Society Membership that is open to the public health officials, government representatives, health organization administrators, patient support group members, and the general public as affiliated non-voting members.

Student memberships and special dispensation for individuals from economically underprivileged countries are also available.


12. What are the benefits of becoming a member?

*All World Sleep Society (WSS) members receive a complimentary World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) membership during transition period.

– Access to international standards, best practices and current research in the field of Sleep Medicine
– Access to Sleep Medicine journal (all memberships receive online and app access; full membership also includes printed journal)
– Discount pricing for the World Sleep Congress
– Inclusion in and access to the World Sleep online directory of sleep medicine professionals around the globe
– Eligibility to serve on WSS/WASM committees
– Eligibility to participate and vote in WSS/WASM general assembly meetings
– Search for job openings or post an open position at your institution.
– Use the “Sleep Specialist Certification” designee after successfully passing the WASM or WSF exam

Benefits of becoming an  Associate Society Member include the following:

– Membership cost to a society is free!
– Each member society will have one (1) delegate and one (1) vote in the Societies House of Delegates.
– Discount of US$10 for your members to join World Sleep Society. (A code will be given to your members with an invitation to join WSS.)
– Online access to Sleep Medicine. (Separate email instructions will be sent to your members providing an access code.)
– Complimentary meeting space and final program acknowledgement at World Sleep 2017 held in Prague, Czech Republic. (Reserving meeting space requires advance request per congress policy and depends on available space.)
– One complimentary WSS regular individual membership for a society representative.
– Use of the World Sleep Society logo for website and print material to publicize your WSS Associate Society Membership. (Approval is needed from World Sleep Society prior to logo use.)