Become a student member of the AOA.

When you’re a member of the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), you’re automatically a member of the AOA. Learn more about why you should join today, and get access to scholarship information, discounts and national board exam support.

Become a member

Student resources

Financial Aid

The AOA offers students and doctors of optometry tools for obtaining financial aid and also paying back loans, managing finances, finding scholarship opportunities and creating a budget so you can focus on what matters.

Residency Programs

The AOA provides members with a list of accredited optometric residency programs from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). Openings also include technician programs and optometric degree programs at schools and colleges of optometry.

Academic Checklist

Your education calendar must be firm but flexible when it comes to your optometry education requirements. Through it all—applying to a program, meeting optometry school prerequisites, going to grad school, taking the board exams and graduating—members of the AOA and its affiliate the AOSA are supported as students, recent graduates, optometric residents and, finally, as new doctors of optometry.

Leadership Society

The AOA+ Leadership Society is a program for students who want to build leadership skills, advance their careers through networking, personal and professional development and gain specialized education outside of the classroom. Enhance your resume by adding this academic achievement!

Ecucation Opportunities

Local Meetings

Connect with doctors of optometry, optometric students and optometric staff and expand your knowledge and gain new certifications at these upcoming events.

EyeLearn

AOA’s member-exclusive centralized education portal, EyeLearn, offers an expanding online catalog of educational modules, webinars and resources to help advance clinical proficiencies, the practice of contemporary optometry, and practice management for doctors of optometry, future doctors of optometry, and paraoptometric staff. In an effort to support professional development for the field of optometry, select courses may be available to all individuals in the profession.

Related News

Most asked coding questions: dilation

The AOA’s experts provide answers to the questions your colleagues are asking.

AOA makes robust rebuttal to FTC over proposed changes to Eyeglass Rule

During the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recent comment period on the proposed changes, the AOA recommends updating the Eyeglass Rule to better serve and protect consumers and seeks to meet with agency officials.

Congratulations to the AOA’s 2023 award winners

The winners will be honored at a ceremony during the 2023 Optometry’s Meeting®.

;