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Types of Membership

Welcome! When you join the POA, you not only join your colleagues in Pennsylvania, but also you join more than 40,000 AOA members dedicated to advancing optometry across the nation.

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Active Member A Doctor of Optometry who is practicing or living in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and who is a member of an affiliated society and the American Optometric Association. The annual dues for Active members shall be established by the House of Delegates during its annual meeting.

Partial Practice Member A Doctor of Optometry who practices or lives in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania three (3) days or less per week in compensated optometrically-related activities. AOA eligibility for Partial Practice membership is practicing an average of 16 or fewer hours per week.) The annual dues for Partial Practice members shall be fifty percent (50%) of the dues of Active members.

Educator Member A Doctor of Optometry who holds a full-time faculty or administrative position at an accredited school or college. The annual dues for Educator members shall be fifty percent (50%) of the dues of an Active member.

Retired Member A Doctor of Optometry who is no longer engaged in compensated optometrically-related activities, is at least fifty-five (55) years of age, not eligible for Life membership and whose status is certified annually by the member. An individual applying for Retired membership must currently be an Active, Partial Practice, Federal Services or Educator member. The annual dues for Retired members shall be twenty percent (20%) of the dues of an Active member. (AOA’s Retired members pays $100 to receive benefits or pays no dues and receives no benefits.)

Life Member A Doctor of Optometry who has been a member for forty-five (45) or more years or who is permanently incapacitated. Eligibility for Life membership must be documented by the affiliated local society and conferred by the Board of Directors.

Student Member An optometric student who is a member of the Pennsylvania Optometric Student Association. The annual dues for Student members shall be established by the Board of Directors in consultation with the Student society. (AOA also has a student membership program available directly through AOA.)

Other Membership Types

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Pennsylvania Optometric Association Benefits

POA Member Benefits for Prospective Members

What do you really get as a POA member?

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Upcoming Education and Events

2025-05-05

2025 Lobby Day

Harrisburg, PA

2025-09-12

POA's End of Summer Education Event

Hyatt Chesapeake Resort

Event Calendar

Types of Membership