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Copyright © 2002 - 2005
Active Full
Clinic
Educator/Faculty
Partial Practice
Federal/Military/Government
Individual/Non-Resident
Retired
Student
Dues Scales
New Practioner Ascending Dues Scale
Project Keep Program
Assessments & PACS
Non-Voluntary Full Member Assessments
Voluntary Contributions
Active Full
Organized optometry offers tripartite membership. When you apply for membership in the California Optometric Association, your application will also be processed for the American Optometric Association and a local society to ensure representation at all levels. Dues information for each entity is offered below. Active member who holds a current, license in good standing to practice optometry
under the laws of the State of California.
| AOA: $711.00 | COA: $705.00 | Local Society: Varies |
Clinic
California-licensed optometrists who are practicing optometry in a multipurpose
clinic, i.e., one which is not devoted solely to vision or eye care, are
in full time employment by this Clinic, are not engaged in any form of private
practice or optometry.
| AOA: $711.00 | COA: $352.50 | Local Society: Varies |
Educator/Faculty
Optometrists who satisfy the qualifications of Full Members with or without
the California state license requirement, and who are engaged in the full
time teaching of optometry in a school approved by the Board of Trustees
of COA and are not engaged in the practice of optometry.
| AOA: $355.50 | COA: $352.50 | Local Society: Varies |
Partial Practice
California-licensed optometrist who work twenty (20) or fewer hours per week in active practice or related optometric activities. To qualify for AOA partial practice status annual dues amounts will be fixed percentages of full active annual dues ranging from 20 to 60 percent, determined by the number of hours the member works per week.
| AOA: $142.20 - $426.60 | COA: $352.50 | Local Society: Varies |
Federal/Military/Government
Optometrists licensed to practice optometry who are employed in Civil, Public,
Governmental service, or active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States
who have elected to apply for active membership and are not in any form
of private practice of optometry.
| AOA: $711.00 | COA: $352.50 | Local Society: Varies |
Retired
Optometrists who are active COA members who have completely retired from the active practice of optometry and/or any vision care field. To qualify for AOA retired status you must be 55 years of age or older.
| AOA: $0 | COA: $70.50 | Local Society: Varies |
Student
Those persons enrolled full-time in a recognized school or college of optometry may apply for complimentary student membership.
| AOA: waived | COA: waived | direct membership |
Post-Graduate
Those persons licensed to practice optometry in the State of California
undergoing graduate study on a full-time basis, and/or who are engaged full-time
as residents or fellows in residency programs or post-doctoral studies approved
by this Association may apply for student member status.
| COA: Waived | direct membership |
New Practitioner Ascending Dues Scale
Newly licensed graduates are eligible for an ascending dues scale effective during their first through sixth years of licensure. New practitioners pay the percentage of full dues indicated.
| Dues Level | AOA | COA | Local Society |
| 1 - Original Year of Licensure |
Waived | Waived | Waived |
| 2 | 10% |
Waived* | Waived |
| 3 | 20% | 20% |
20% |
| 4 | 50% | 40% | 40% |
| 5 | 75% | 60% | 60% |
| 6 | 100% | 80% | 80% |
| 7 | 100% | 100% |
*Does not apply to Legislative Fund assessment.
Project Keep Program—Become a leader!
Become involved in the leadership of COA or your local society and be eligible for reduced dues if you are licensed between your first and tenth years of licensure.
Project Keep members must be continuously active as an officer or committee member in their local society or as a COA committee member in order to maintain their status in this category. Eligible members may be between their first and tenth year of licensure (first year of licensure being the year that the member is licensed, or level 1). Full dues obligation is from the eleventh year forward.
| Dues Level | AOA | COA | Local Society |
| 1 - Original Year of Licensure |
Waived | Waived | Varies |
| 2 | 10% |
Waived* | Varies |
| 3 | 20% | 20% |
Varies |
| 4 | 50% | 20% | Varies |
| 5 | 75% | 40% | Varies |
| 6 | 100% | 40% | Varies |
| 7 | 60% | Varies | |
| 8 | 60% | Varies | |
| 9 | 80% | Varies | |
| 10 | 80% | Varies | |
| 11 | 100% | Varies |
*Does not apply to Legislative Fund assessment.
Non-Voluntary Full Member
Assessments:
PVL-Lit
The Public Vision League-Litigation Fund provides the Association with legal
services and advice in the event of important legal challenges. Members
of the California Optometric Association have an annual assessment obligation
to the Public Litigation Fund of $50.00.
Legislative Fund
The Legislative Fund will provide support for COA's legislative team to
protect and advance the scope of practice for the optometric profession.
COA members have an annual legislative assessment obligation of $168.00.
Voluntary Contributions:
Cal-OPAC
The California Political Action Committee provides support to candidates
and officeholders who share the goals of the Association. The requested
annual contribution is $200.00.
LSCOA-PAC
The Local Societies of COA Action Committee provides support to candidates
and officeholders who share the goals of the Association. Not all Societies
participate in LSCOA-PAC: hence; not all COA members are requested to contribute.
For additional details about membership categories and dues information, contact the Membership Coordinator.
