1. Determine your local society by finding your county below.

You will need this during the application process. Per the FOA bylaws, you may choose the local society that covers the county where you live or work.

2. determine your membership category from the list below and click here to apply online.

Graduate
An optometrist who received the degree of optometry in 2016 and plans to practice in Florida, but is not yet licensed.

Active Member, New Licensee*
An optometrist licensed to practice optometry in Florida and who graduated from optometry school in 2016.

Active Member, 1st Year Following Graduation*
An optometrist licensed to practice optometry in Florida and who graduated from optometry school in 2015.

Active Member, 2nd Year Following Graduation*
An optometrist licensed to practice optometry in Florida and who graduated from optometry school in 2014.

Active Member, 3rd Year Following Graduation*
An optometrist licensed to practice optometry in Florida and who graduated from optometry school in 2013.

Active Member, 4th Year Following Graduation*
An optometrist licensed to practice optometry in Florida and who graduated from optometry school in 2012.

Active Member, 5th+ Year Following Graduation*
An optometrist licensed to practice optometry in Florida and who graduated from optometry school in 2011 or prior.

Partial Practice
An optometrist licensed to practice optometry in Florida who works sixteen (16) or fewer hours per week in compensated activities related to optometry. The optometrist's status must be certified annually by the optometrist and approved by the association. Click here to download the Partial Practice Membership Certification Affidavit.

Optometric Educator
An optometrist who is a full-time educator primarily engaged in school related activities such as teaching, research, and administration at a school or college in the United States, accredited or pre-accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, and who is directly compensated by such school or college. An optometric educator member is permitted to engage in the practice of optometry for no more than sixteen (16) hours per week.

Associate
An optometrist who is licensed in Florida but practices and resides in another state. The member must also be a member of the state optometric association where he/she resides as well as the American Optometric Association.

Student
A student of optometry in a program at a school or college accredited or pre-accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. Student membership may continue until the end of the calendar year in which an eligible student member has received the degree of Doctor of Optometry.

Post-Graduate

1. A non-practicing optometrist who is a full-time student in an accredited institution of higher learning.
2. An optometrist who is engaged full-time as a resident or fellow in a residency program approved by the Council on Optometric Education.

Federal Service

1. Any Florida licensed optometrist on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or any licensed optometrist who is unlicensed in Florida and is an American Optometric Association Armed Services Member stationed on active duty in Florida.
2. Any Florida licensed optometrist on active duty in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service, or any licensed optometrist who is unlicensed in Florida and stationed on active duty in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service in Florida.
3. Any Florida licensed optometrist who is a full-time employee of the Veterans’ Administration or other Federal government entity, or any licensed optometrist who is unlicensed in Florida and is a full-time employee of the Veterans’ Administration, or other Federal government entity, stationed in Florida.

Additional membership categories include retired, life and corporate membership and have additional eligibility requirements.

*If you completed a residency after graduating from optometry school and are applying for active membership, this may affect your active ascending dues category.