If you are a member of the American Optometric Association and have moved to another state, you may need to transfer your membership to a different state or affiliate association.

AOA membership for doctors of optometry practicing in the United States is a joint membership with an AOA-affiliated association. Depending on where you live and work, a move may change the affiliate through which you maintain your AOA membership.

Do I need to transfer my membership?

Not every change of address requires a membership transfer.

An AOA member may maintain membership through an eligible affiliate based on factors such as:

• Where you reside
• Where your principal optometric-related employment is located
• Where you are employed as an optometric educator, if applicable
• Eligibility for membership through the Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services (AFOS), if applicable

If you have moved but are unsure whether your affiliate needs to change, contact AOA Member Services for assistance.

How do I transfer to a new state or affiliate?

Contact AOA Member Services and let us know that you have moved and need assistance with your membership.

To help us determine the appropriate next steps, please provide:

• Your full name
• Your previous state or affiliate
• Your new home address
• Your new practice or employment address, if applicable
• The state or affiliate through which you would like to maintain membership, if known

AOA can review your membership information and help coordinate the transition with the appropriate affiliate.

Depending on your circumstances, an AOA membership application may be required for the new affiliate.

What happens to my membership while it is being transferred?

When a member is no longer eligible for membership through their previous affiliate because of a move, the member may be placed in pending status while transitioning to the appropriate new affiliate.

While in pending status:

• You retain the same AOA membership benefits you held before the transfer.
• You have up to three months to establish membership with the new affiliate.
• AOA works with the member and appropriate affiliate to assist with the transition.

If membership with an eligible new affiliate is not established within the three-month pending period, AOA membership may be terminated.

For this reason, we recommend contacting AOA as soon as possible after a move that may affect your affiliate membership.

Will my dues change?

Possibly.

AOA dues are nationwide and remain the same across all affiliates. However, state affiliate dues vary, with each affiliate setting its own dues rates. Therefore, your total dues obligation may change depending on your new affiliate's dues.

The new affiliate can provide information about any dues that may be required as part of your transfer.

I moved, but I still work in my previous state. Do I have to transfer?

Not necessarily.

Eligibility for affiliate membership can depend on both where you reside and where your principal optometric-related employment is located.

If you live in one state but practice in another, you may choose which eligible state affiliate you would like to maintain your membership through.

Do I also need to update my address?

Yes. A membership transfer and an address or profile update are not necessarily the same thing.

You can review and update your personal and practice information through MyAOA to make sure AOA has your current contact and practice information.

To locate MyAOA on AOA.org:

1. Mouse over the Member Center tab.
2. Click Access MyAOA.
3. Review and update your personal and practice information as needed.

Need help?

If you recently moved or changed where you practice and are unsure which affiliate is appropriate, AOA Member Services can help review your situation and explain the next steps.

AOA Member Resource Center
Phone: 800.365.2219
Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. CT

You may also send us a message or use the live chat available in the lower-right corner of the Member Services Help Center during normal business hours.