WOA Classification of Membership

The Wisconsin Optometric Association has many classifications of membership.  Below you will find definitions and requirements for each type of membership.

Active Member
Associate Member
Honorary Member
Special Class Member
Life Member
Student Member
Affiliate Member
Retired Member

Active Member
Most members of the association fall under the Active Member classification.  There are sub categories within this  classification, which are based on the qualifications listed below.

(1) Ascending Dues: The Board of Directors may provide a sliding scale of WOA dues for Active Members during the first five years following licensure in the following manner: 

• First Year - 20 percent of full dues
• Second year - 40 percent of full dues
• Third year - 60 percent of full dues
• Fourth year - 80 percent of full dues
• Fifth year - 90 percent of full dues. 
  

(2)Economic Hardship: The Board of Directors may provide a reduction of dues for an active member when a local optometric society president has requested a reduction in dues for a member, and the Board agrees that a reduction is warranted.  Such a reduction may be approved annually for a maximum of 12 months.

(3) Descending Dues: Active Members may, by request, for the first calendar year after attaining the age of 62, pay a sum equivalent to 90 percent of full dues; at age 63 pay a sum equivalent to 80 percent of full  dues; at age 64 pay a sum equivalent to 60 percent of full  dues; at age 65 pay a sum equivalent to 40 percent of full dues;  and at age 66 and thereafter pay a sum equivalent to 20 percent of full WOA dues.  AOA dues will be billed at 100 percent.

(4) Partial Practice - This applies to an optometrist who works 24 or fewer hours per week in compensated optometric-related activities (including patient care and or administration), and whose status is certified annually by the Membership Committee as partial practice or equivalent member with full membership privileges subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.  The annual dues of a partial practice member shall be as follows:

• 8 hours or less – 25 percent of full dues 
• 8.1 hours to 16 hours – 40 percent of full dues
• 16.1 hours to 24 hours – 60 percent of full dues

(5) Federal Services  - An optometrist on active duty in the armed services of the United States, or on active duty in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service, or a full-time employee of the Veterans’ Administration, or other federal government entity who is a member in good standing of the appropriate AOA affiliate association for such optometrists, and is a member in good standing of the AOA shall be eligible to be a federal services member of this association and shall have all the rights and responsibilities of other active members.  Federal service members shall pay annual dues as established by the board.  Upon leaving active duty, the dues shall be as an Active Member computed according to his/her date of original licensure.

(7) Post-Graduate – The following individuals shall be eligible for membership in this association as post-graduate members:

1. An optometrist who is engaged full-time as a resident or a fellow in a residency program approved by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, or by a school or college of optometry which is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.  Application for such post-graduate membership shall be made directly to this association and shall contain a certification of the resident’s full time status by an appropriate official of the residency program.  Such post-graduate membership may continue until the end of the calendar year in which the resident’s participation in the program is completed.
   
2. A non-practicing optometrist who is a full-time student in an accredited institution of higher education.  Application for such post-graduate membership shall be made directly to this Association and shall contain a certification of the student’s full-time status by an appropriate official of the institution.  Such post-graduate membership may continue until the end of the calendar year in which the post-graduate member graduates and is licensed in any jurisdiction prior thereto.

Associate Member
An individual or entity not licensed to practice, and not engaged directly or indirectly in the practice of optometry in Wisconsin, but who has supplier or other relationships with optometrists which the Board of Directors determines are consistent with the purposes of the Association and whose application for membership has been approved by the board.  An Associate Member shall not have the right to vote or to hold office in the association.  Dues for Associate Members shall be set at the discretion of the Board of Directors and may be of two types and amounts - individual and corporate. 

Honorary Member
An individual who has rendered some singular service to this association, or who has distinguished himself/herself in some branch of the vision sciences, or who has made some significant contribution in the field of health care or to the advancement of professional optometry.  Honorary Members are not required to pay dues nor shall they be eligible to vote or hold office in this association.  Nominations for Honorary Membership shall be by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, and acceptance shall be by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at the annual business meeting.

Life Member
An Active Member may be elected to Life Member by the Board of Directors providing that:  The local society in which the Active Member holds membership has approved the proposal for Life Membership and the Active Member has held such membership for not less than 35 consecutive years, or not less than 40 years non-consecutively, and in either case is at least 70 years of age or fully retired.  Life Members shall not be required to pay dues or assessments to
this association but shall retain all the rights of Active membership.

Student Member
A student in good standing at a school or college of optometry accredited by the Council on Optometric Education may apply for Student Membership in this Association.  Student Members do not have the right to vote or hold office in this association, nor shall they be required to pay dues or assessments.   Such student membership may continue to the end of the calendar year in which the student member has been licensed to practice and in no event shall continue for more than eighteen (18) months after graduation.

Retired Member
An optometrist who has attained at least 55 years of age who has been an active, or special class member and is no longer engaged in compensated optometrically related activities subject to approval by the Board of Directors.  The annual state dues of a retired member shall be 20% of full active member dues of this Association.  
 

Membership Benefits

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