What is AOSA
"The purpose of the American Optometric Student Association is to improve the visual welfare and health of the public, to promote the profession of optometry, and to enhance the education and welfare of optometry students." -AOSA
AOSA is also the liaison between students of optometry and other affiliated national optometric organizations including: NBEO, ARBO, AFOS, AOA-PAC, COVD, APHA, FRC, OEPF, AAO, and ASCO.
AOSA is also the liaison between students of optometry and other affiliated national optometric organizations including: NBEO, ARBO, AFOS, AOA-PAC, COVD, APHA, FRC, OEPF, AAO, and ASCO.
Why should I join AOSA?
AOSA represents nearly 6,000 students from all 22 schools and colleges of optometry, and strength in numbers establishes credibility. AOSA is the national student affiliate of the AOA. When you become a member of AOSA, you automatically become a member of the AOA as well. AOA is the voice of optometry as a whole and speaks as your advocate before the government. Optometry is a legislated profession and both AOSA and AOA work hard to protect and expand the scope of practice to ensure you can utilize all of the tools you learned in school to the fullest extent possible when you graduate and start practicing.
In addition 98% of UMSL students are members of AOSA!
In addition 98% of UMSL students are members of AOSA!
Benefits of being an AOSA Member
Benefits & Discounts All Members
First Year Students
- Biannual copy of the AOSA newsletter Foresight
- Student Health Insurance through United Healthcare
- Insurance Coverage by AGIA – Term Life, Disability, Temporary, Accident (Phone: 800-245-4454)
- Free AOA membership including the Contact Lens and Cornea and Sports Vision Sections
- Opportunity to apply for an AOSA-Allergan or an AOSA-TVCI Travel Grant to Optometry’s Meeting®
- Reduced registration fees to Optometry’s Meeting®
- Access to the Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association web site. This includes access to the archives of hundreds of other scholarly periodicals in the Elsevier network.
- Full access to the Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association web site requires registration. Part of the required registration is your AOA member ID number. Please contact AOA to request your member ID if you do not have it.
- AOA's Career Advocate Program
- Discounted admission to Eyeball
- Leadership opportunities
First Year Students
- AOSA T-shirt (1 per student) (sponsored by VSP)
- Clipboards (sponsored by Optical Laboratories Association)
- Flash Drive (sponsored by the AOA)
- Lens Cloth (sponsored by Varilux / Essilor)
- Academic Planner (sponsored by the AOA)
- AOSA lapel pin (sponsored by AOSA)
- Speedy PD Ruler (sponsored by Amcon)
- Optometric Reference Guide – (sponsored by HOYA Optical)
- NEW Efron Grading Scales (sponsored by The Vision Care Institute)
- Lens Cloth (sponsored by Varilux / Essilor)
- Academic Planner (sponsored by the AOA)
- Speedy PD Ruler (sponsored by Amcon)
- Binocular Vision Kit and Finger Puppet (sponsored by OEP and COVD)
- Ocular Disease Vision Simulator Cards (sponsored by Enhanced Vision)
- Optometric Drug Guide (sponsored by TheraTears)
- Lens Cloth (sponsored by Varilux)
- Free Personalized Business Cards
- Access to AOA’s Optometry Career Center
- Pediatric Exam CD (sponsored by the AOSA)
- Speedy PD Ruler (sponsored by Amcon)
- Progressive Identifier Book (sponsored by Optical Laboratories Association)
- Optometry Drug Guide (sponsored by TheraTears)
- Lens Cloth (sponsored by Varilux / Essilor)
- Free Personalized Business Cards