Paraoptometric Member Benefits

Recognition

When you join the Paraoptometric Section, you will receive a membership certificate suitable to frame and display in your doctor's office, a membership lapel pin, and a membership card. These will serve as a constant reminder of your professional pride, involvement and commitment to your profession. A gold seal for your certificate will be provided to you upon your annual membership renewal.

Education

Members can access an online continuing education program, offering 6 free opportunities to earn continuing education credits available through the AOA website.

Also included with a Paraoptometric Section membership is free access to our Paraoptometric Skill Builder^®. Designed for beginner staff, Paraoptometric Skill Builder^® allows members to watch fourteen automated presentations on vital topics such as "Basic Terminology" and "Routine Pre-Testing Procedures."  Paraoptometric Skill Builder^® Interemediate Level is available for purchase on CD-ROM.  Four hours of continuing education credits are optional upon completion of all 13 units.  Advanced Level 3 content is currently being developed and will be available on CD-ROM in 2013.

Paraoptometric Section members may also access the Webinar Rewind page to access "on demand" learning 24/7 from the convenience of your home or office. Currently, Billing and Coding: Foundations for Beginners webinar series is available. Continuing education credits are available for each unit.  Contact PS@aoa.org for information.

Education Products

Members receive significant discounts on the various education products available for purchase from the AOA Paraoptometric Section. Products include study guides for certification testing and home-study education modules.

Career Assistance

Members have FREE access to Optometry’s Career Center®, the AOA‘s online career-matching site, which helps them find job opportunities in optometric practices nationwide. Members are able to post their resume for providers to view and to contact them directly, and they may also search detailed listings of available paraoptometric/optometric staff opportunities.

Publications

The sections' quarterly publication, Paraoptometric Section News Online will keep you up to date on what is happening in the paraoptometric/optometric staff field. Each issue has educational articles, news on section activities and announcements of continuing education opportunities.

The AOA News, a bi-monthly news publication, gives you all of the latest news that affects the optometric profession and ophthalmic industry.

Reduced Fees and Discounts

Paraoptometric Section members enjoy reduced fees for Optometry's Meeting^®, which offers a complete paraoptometric/optometric staff education program, exciting social activities and a chance to renew old acquaintances and make new friends in the field.

Additional Discounts and Savings

Paraoptometric Section members can also take advantage of special discounts on car rentals, package delivery service, and long distance telephone service. Plus, Section members can apply for a “Gold” Mastercard, through an AOA-sponsored program.