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Membership Types, Rates & DiscountsYour membership with the AOA, NYSOA, and your local optometric society is assessed annually on a calendar basis. New and reinstated members are eligible for proration of their dues on a monthly basis. Dues are assessed for the month in which the member joins and for all remaining months. Active MembersThose optometrists, duly licensed and registered by the State of New York, who maintain an active practice of optometry over sixteen (16) hours per week.
Optometric Educator MembersOptometrists and other individuals who are full-time educators primarily engaged in school-related activities such as teaching, research and administration.
Partial Practice MembersAn optometrist who works sixteen (16) or fewer hours per week in compensated optometrically-related activities is considered partial practice and is eligible to receive a 40% discount off AOA and NYSOA dues (Local Society dues remain at the full rate).
Life MembersLifetime membership is awarded through a nomination application process and carries $0 in annual dues. In order to be considered for Lifetime Membership, a member:
Federal Service MembersOptometrists on active duty in the armed services of the United States or on active duty in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or a full time employee of the Veterans’ Administration or other federal governmental entity. Federal Services members must be in good standing with the American Optometric Association and shall pay local society dues only. Retired Members: With Benefits and Without BenefitsAn optometrist who has been an active, partial practice, or federal services member and is no longer engaged in compensated optometrically-related activities and has not been approved for life membership.
Retired members who elect not to pay annual dues and are not eligible for Life Membership are considered Retired without Benefits members.
Post-graduate MembersA resident or intern in any program accredited or pre-accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education or by an accrediting body that the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, determines to be equivalent, and/or a full time enrollee in a graduate program.
Student MembersStudents who are regularly enrolled in courses leading to the O.D. degree at an accredited school or college of optometry or non-practicing optometrists who are full-time students at an accredited institution of higher education. There is no annual dues fee for student members.
Local Society 2025 Dues Rates
DiscountsSpousal DiscountMarried members are eligible for one spouse to receive a 50% reduction of the NYSOA portion of his or her dues. Ascending Dues Schedule for Recent GradsNewly licensed graduates are eligible for an ascending dues schedule effective during their first through fifth years of membership. New practitioners pay the percentage of full dues indicated.
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