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Membership is based on a calendar year. Dues are prorated based on the month you join. Membership with both the NCOS and AOA is required (with the exception of those that are Retired without AOA Benefits). Rates are based on good standing with the NCOS and AOA and are subject to change if you have any outstanding dues. Total dues are paid to the NCOS on an annual or monthly basis via credit card (to pay by check contact our office). The NCOS submits payment to the AOA on the member's behalf. A portion of dues may be tax deductible.*

2025 Membership Dues Rates - Full Year

Membership Type NCOS AOA Total
Student $0.00 $35.00 (through AOSA) $35.00
Post-Graduate $0.00 $0.00 1st year / $35.00 2nd year $0.00 / $35.00
Year of Graduation $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
1st Full Year Following Graduation $80.75 $99.60 $180.35
2nd Full Year Following Graduation $161.50 $199.20 $360.70
3rd Full Year Following Graduation $403.75 $498.00 $901.75
4th Full Year Following Graduation $605.63 $747.00 $1,352.63
Active (5th Full Year and Thereafter) $807.50 $996.00 $1,803.50
Partial Practice $484.50 $597.60 $1,082.10
Optometric Educator $403.75 $498.00 $901.75
Associate $100.00 $0.00 $100.00
AFOS $100.00 $0.00 $100.00
Retired with AOA Benefits $0.00 $100.00 $100.00
Retired without AOA Benefits $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Life $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

*Contributions or gifts to the North Carolina State Optometric Society, Inc. ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses, subject to restrictions imposed as a result of association lobbying activities. The North Carolina State Optometric Society, Inc. estimates that the non-deductible portion of your State Society 2025 dues, the portion that is allocable to lobbying and political activities, is 15%.

Contributions or gifts to the AOA ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses, subject to restrictions imposed as a result of association lobbying activities. The AOA estimates that the non-deductible portion of your AOA 2025 dues, the portion that is allocable to lobbying and political activities, is 12%.

Membership Types

Student Membership
A full-time optometry student. Student members are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to vote at NCOS business meetings.

Post-Graduate Membership
An optometrist who is in a post-graduate program at an optometry school. Post-Graduate members are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to vote at NCOS business meetings.

Regular Membership (Year of Graduation - 5th Full Year after Graduation and Thereafter)
An optometrist who has been duly licensed and is engaged in the practice of optometry within the state of North Carolina. Regular members in good standing are entitled to the privileges of the floor and to vote at NCOS business meetings.

Partial Practice Membership
An optometrist who has been duly licensed and is engaged in the practice of optometry within the State of North Carolina, who works sixteen (16) or fewer hours per week in compensated optometrically related activities. Partial Practice members in good standing are entitled to the privileges of the floor and to vote at NCOS business meetings.

Optometric Educator Membership
An optometrist who is a full-time educator primarily engaged in school-related activities such as teaching, research, and administration at an optometry school in North Carolina, who is directly compensated by the school and works sixteen (16) or fewer hours per week in the practice of optometry. Optometric Educator members in good standing are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to vote at NCOS business meetings.

Associate Membership
An optometrist who is an AOA member via another association and does not practice or is not licensed in North Carolina may become an associate member. AFOS members in good standing are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to vote at NCOS business meetings.

AFOS Membership
An optometrist who is an AOA member via the Armed Forces Optometric Society may become an AFOS member without the stipulation of practicing or being licensed in North Carolina. Associate members in good standing are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to vote at NCOS business meetings.

Retired Membership
An optometrist who has been an active, partial practice, or optometric educator member, is at least 55 years old on January 1 of any membership year, and is no longer engaged in compensated optometrically related activities may become a retired member provided that the optometrist is a member in good standing at the time they become eligible for retired membership. Retired members are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to vote at NCOS business meetings.

Life Membership
Any member of the Society who has been a member for 45 years may become a life member upon vote by the Executive Council. All applications for life membership are reported to the Executive Council before the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken. Members who provide medical certification of terminal or other serious debilitative illness may request that years of membership requirements be waived for life membership. All such requests for waiver must be approved by the Executive Council. Life members are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to vote at NCOS business meetings.