Membership Types

Student Membership (includes Post-Graduate/Resident)
Any full-time optometry student or post-grad/resident. Student members are not entitled to a vote.

Regular Membership (Year of Graduation - 5th Full Year after Graduation and Thereafter)
Any optometrist who has been duly licensed and is engaged in the practice of optometry within the state of North Carolina. Regular members are entitled to a vote at any meeting of the society. 

Partial Practice Membership
An optometrist who has been an active member and works 16 or fewer hours per week on monthly average in compensated optometrically-related activities. Partial Practice members are entitled to a vote at any meeting of the society.  

Associate Membership
An optometrist who is an AOA member via another state association and does not practice in North Carolina. Associate members are not entitled to a vote.

AFOS Membership
An optometrist who is an AFOS member may become an Associate Member of the Society without the stipulation against practicing in North Carolina. AFOS members are not entitled to a vote.

Retired Membership
An optometrist who has been a regular or partial practice member and is no longer engaged in compensated optometrically-related activities. Retired members are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to a vote.

Life Membership
Any member of the society who has been a member for more than 45 years and has rendered distinguished service to the profession. Members must submit an application and be approved for life membership upon a vote by the society at each February/March Executive Council meeting. Life members are entitled to the privileges of the floor, but are not entitled to a vote.



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Students and New Licensees