AOA Center for Independent Practice
Launched in fall 2022, the mission of the AOA Center for Independent Practice (CIP) is to fuel a passion for and create a foundational knowledge base to excel in the management of today’s independent practice of contemporary optometry. This center of excellence will help students and practitioners develop strong partnerships, optimize practice resources, create business strategy and utilize the fundamentals of professional practice advocacy.
Welcome Home, Independent Doctors
The AOA has long been the voice of independent doctors and we want to help you succeed. Independent practice is thriving—whether you are practicing independently, want to learn more about it or want to find opportunities, the Center for Independent Practice (CIP) is your home.
This is your one-stop hub for resources to help advance your professional skills. Revisit often to find more information and tools to help you grow as the AOA fights for broader scope, recognition and opportunities for doctors of optometry.
Partners
The AOA thanks the Southern College of Optometry, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, The Ohio State University College of Optometry, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry, and Western University College of Optometry for their visionary partnership and leadership in the CIP and independent practice of contemporary optometry.
More About CIP
Independent Practice Programs
New for 2025! Independent Practice Institute
The AOA CIP Independent Practice Institute is a 10-month member benefit program designed to engage and equip the upcoming generation of doctors with the business basics of running an independent practice. Through a combination of virtual and in-person training, focus groups, and networking opportunities, IPI participants will obtain the skillset and confidence necessary to start or step in to an independent practice leadership role.
Developed by the AOA Center for Independent Practice, the AOA CIP Independent Practice Institute is open to active AOA member students and doctors of optometry, particularly those who are early in their careers.
Applications have closed for the inaugural 2025-26 IPI.
Click on the button/link below to "CIP Programs" to access more details about the IPI program.
Also this year, the 2025 Center for Independent Practice Symposium will be held at Optometry’s Meeting in Minneapolis.
Independent Practice Resources
Doctors of optometry who formed practices or other businesses in the United States are no longer required to file Beneficial Ownership Information to the US government. Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in 2021 to crack down on shell companies used for money laundering, trafficking, terrorism or other illegal activity. Although optometry practices are not involved in such activities, many optometry practices would have been required to report information about their ownership to the U.S. Department of the Treasury under regulations that took effect in 2024, though deadlines were pushed back by court orders and agency delays, and were never enforced. On March 21, 2025 the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the federal agency overseeing the rule, issued new regulations exempting all domestic US companies from reporting. https://fincen.gov/boi
Practice Continuation Program
The AOA Center for Independent Practice has created this Practice Continuity Program to assist AOA members whose successful practices might not stay open if the doctor retires. The goal is to find a suitable doctor to lead the practice who will maintain access to eye health and visual welfare and AOA membership in the community, with the assistance of expert consultants.
MORE AOA INDEPENDENT PRACTICE RESOURCES
Committee spotlight: AOA’s State Government Relations Committee
Get to know the committee that serves as a comprehensive resource for state affiliates’ political activities.
Why you should fight for scope expansion
Two AOA members who have spent countless hours advocating for scope expansion in their home states share why—and how—they did it.
More courses, more uses, more impact: Why more AOA member doctors, staff are turning to AOA EyeLearn
Practices are saving time, money and effort on practice education and staff training with AOA members’ online learning platform, the AOA EyeLearn Professional Development Hub. See how the platform is changing the game.