Student Membership
Welcome to the American Academy of Optometry Student Page. Because the Academy recognizes that you are the future of optometry, this resource has been created. It does not matter if you are already a student member, or just starting to learn about the Academy. This page is your one stop resource.
Membership in the American Academy of Optometry
Student Membership
Student membership may be granted to students who are in good academic standing at an accredited school or college of optometry, to full-time students in vision sciences and related sciences, and to residents in accredited optometric residency programs.
To apply to become a student member, download the Student Membership Application Form (PDF).
New! Student Fellow Program
The Academy has launched an exciting new Student Fellowship program to encourage students to experience the entire meeting, hoping that it will stimulate improved integration of all of the opportunities offered at the meeting, encourage future involvement, and persuade students to become Fellows upon graduation.
The Student Fellowship program is a great opportunity for students to engage in cutting edge knowledge and technology through lectures, workshops, posters and much more! The program is geared to guide students to develop their skills as an optometric or vision science professional.
The entire process of obtaining Student Fellowship takes place during the annual meeting:
1. Be a current Student Member
2. Attend ONE orientation breakfast
3. Attend 6 hours of continuing education
4. Attend 1 hour of scientific talks
5. Attend 1 hour of posters
6. Attend one Plenary Session or one Monroe J. Hirsch Symposium
7. Attend one Business Meeting
8. Attend one Section Symposium
9. Attend one Awards Symposium
10. You may substitute a Merton Flom Leadership course for Requirement 5, 7, or 8
This must be completed prior to graduation from optometry school. Upon completion, the students will receive a Student Fellow lapel pin, Candidacy for Fellowship application dues waived during the year of graduation and free student registration to the next Academy meeting.
Students, begin your career in the optometric field before you even graduate!
For more information, please contact the Chair of the Student/Faculty Liaison Committee, Jeffrey J. Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO at walline.1@osu.edu.
The Conversion of Students to Candidates Program
The Membership Committee is implementing a new program to attract graduating students at all U.S. schools and colleges of optometry. This spring, at each school and college, graduating students will attend a short presentation by the local Faculty Liaison. Printed materials describing the Academy and Fellowship along with an invitation to become a Candidate for Fellowship will be distributed. Graduating students will be encouraged to become Candidates immediately upon graduation so that they can hone their clinical skills through the process of becoming a Fellow. While Fellowship will never appeal to everyone, the purpose of this program is to make sure that the Academy is not the best-kept secret in optometry!
The Membership Committee is also advertising this new program on the Academy’s Facebook page. We are looking for Fellows who would be willing to send us short descriptions of why Fellowship has benefitted them in private practice. These quotes will be included on the Academy’s Facebook page with information about the Conversion of Students to Candidates Program. In addition, we are looking for enthusiastic Fellows in private practice to assist Faculty Liaisons with the presentations at the various schools and colleges by briefly speaking about how the Academy and Fellowship has benefitted them in their private practice. If you can send a quote for the Facebook page or if you can help us out at your local school or college of optometry, please contact the Chair of the Membership Committee, Dr. Melissa Bailey, at mbailey@optometry.osu.edu.
Fellow Application
Upon completion of your optometric degree, you may apply to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Recent graduates pay reduced dues and the application fee is waived for student members who apply for Fellowship immediately after graduation.
To apply to become a Fellow, please visit the Application page in the Becoming a Fellow section.