Membership grades
Discover our great membership grades and rates for 2024
Choose your AOP membership package from our range of grades, and definitions. Please read them in conjunction with our membership terms and conditions.
Our membership year runs from 1 January until 31 December. If you join during the year your membership rate will be pro-rated depending on the month you join. If you join online, this is done automatically.
Optometrist (in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Channel Islands)
Grades:
Full UK
£72/month for 10 months or £720/year
Qualified optometrists who work in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland. This grade includes cover for volunteer work overseas for up to four weeks per calendar year with selected charities and countries, on the condition that AOP is informed and confirms the cover in writing at least two weeks in advance of travel. The Full UK grade requires ongoing GOC registration. Any work outside of the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland prior to joining is excluded.
Note: If you are a practice owner who is relying on the vicarious liability insurance for your practice, the full UK grade is the appropriate grade for your requirements
Join online todayFull concessionary
£50.70/month for 10 months or £507/year
Qualified optometrists in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland who work less than 100 days in a calendar year (any work carried out on a day equates to one day). For clarity, all work conducted either in a self-employed or employed capacity within the calendar year is included in the 100 day total.
As an additional benefit of the grade, optometrists who teach and supervise optometry students in a university setting need not include these days within the 100 day limit.
This grade includes cover for volunteer work overseas for up to four weeks per calendar year with selected charities and countries, on the condition that the AOP is informed and confirms the cover in writing at least two weeks in advance of travel. The four weeks must be accounted for in the 100 day limit. The Full concessionary grade requires ongoing GOC registration. Any work outside of the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland prior to joining is excluded.
Note: If you are a practice owner who is relying on the vicarious liability insurance for your practice, you need to select the full UK grade
Join online todayOptometrist newly-qualified
£44.70/month for 10 months or £447/year
Newly-qualified optometrists who work in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland. This grade includes cover for volunteer work overseas for up to four weeks per calendar year with selected charities and countries, on the condition that AOP is informed and confirms the cover in writing at least two weeks in advance of travel. This category is available on a pro-rata basis within their year of qualification and for the calendar year following qualification. The Newly-qualified grade requires ongoing GOC registration. The date of qualifying as an optometrist, in any country should be used to determine eligibility.
See Information for pre-registration optometrists who have recently qualified to find out how to upgrade your membership to newly-qualified.
Join online todayOptometrist career break
£24/month for 10 months or £240/year
Optometrists in the UK, Channel Islands, the Republic of Ireland or those residing overseas, who have stopped practising and intend to practise in the future.
No paid optometry or optometry related work can be carried out during a calendar year in any country whilst on this grade.
Parental leave
Payment freeze during the period of leave only, for a minimum of one month and a maximum of 12 months
This grade is available to any qualified optometrist or dispensing optician residing in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland, who has been a member for a minimum continuous 12-month period, and will not be practising for a period due to parental leave (including maternity, paternity and adoption leave).
Admission to this grade is subject to provision of a copy of a standard MATB1 Certificate, Birth or Adoption Certificate, and adherence to the provisions of the grade. Medical malpractice insurance cover is given for up to ten working days during the period of leave. All other member benefits will continue during the period of leave.
This grade cannot be applied retrospectively. Members can remain on this grade whilst on leave only, for a minimum of one month and a maximum of 12 months. This grade is available to only one parent per child. The Parental leave grade requires ongoing GOC registration.
This grade is available from January 2017.
This grade is not available online or for new members. Contact [email protected] for more information
Newly retired
Free of charge
This grade is available to members who have retired from all work (optometry and other) and do not intend to resume and who are no longer involved in ownership or management of a practice in such a manner that they will be responsible as an optometrist or dispensing optician for the work undertaken by the practice. The grade requires confirmation that the member is no longer on the GOC register.
Cover is provided for acts committed whilst a member. After a year on the Newly-retired grade, members will be classified as Lifetime members.
Lifetime members will continue to have access to Optometry Today content online and those residing in the UK will continue to receive the journal in print subject to annual confirmation that it is required.
This grade is not available online or for new members. Contact [email protected] for more information
Dispensing optician (in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Channel Islands)
Grades:
Dispensing optician
£48.20/month for 10 months or £482/year
Qualified dispensing opticians who work in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland. This grade includes cover for volunteer work overseas for up to four weeks per calendar year with selected charities and countries, on the condition that the AOP is informed and confirms the cover in writing at least two weeks in advance of travel. The Dispensing optician grade requires ongoing GOC registration.
Any work outside of the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland prior to joining is excluded.
Join online todayDispensing optician concessionary
£30.40/month for 10 months or £304/year
Qualified dispensing opticians (DOs) in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland who work less than 100 days in a calendar year (any work carried out on a day equates to one day). For clarity, all work conducted either in a self-employed or employed capacity within the calendar year is included in the 100 day total.
As an additional benefit of the grade, DOs who teach and supervise optometry students in a university setting need not include these days within the 100 day limit. This grade includes cover for volunteer work overseas for up to four weeks per calendar year with selected charities and countries, on the condition that AOP is informed and confirms the cover in writing at least two weeks in advance of travel. The four weeks must be accounted for in the 100 day limit. The Dispensing optician concessionary grade requires ongoing GOC registration.
Any work outside of the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland prior to joining is excluded.
Join online todayDispensing optician newly-qualified
£26.90/month for 10 months or £269/year
Newly qualified dispensing opticians who work in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland. This grade includes cover for volunteer work overseas for up to four weeks per calendar year with selected charities and countries, on the condition that the AOP is informed and confirms the cover in writing at least two weeks in advance of travel. This category is available on a pro-rata basis within their year of qualification and for the calendar year following qualification. The Dispensing optician newly-qualified grade requires ongoing GOC registration. The date of qualifying as a dispensing optician, in any country should be used to determine eligibility.
Join online todayParental leave
Payment freeze during the period of leave only, for a minimum of one month and a maximum of 12 months
This grade is available to any qualified optometrist or dispensing optician residing in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland, who has been a member for a minimum continuous 12-month period, and will not be practising for a period due to parental leave (including maternity, paternity and adoption leave).
Admission to this grade is subject to provision of the standard MATB1 Certificate or Adoption Certificate, and when necessary a letter from the employer, and adherence to the provisions as will be outlined prior to acceptance into the grade. Medical malpractice insurance cover is given for up to ten working days during the period of leave. All other member benefits will continue during the period of leave.
This grade cannot be applied retrospectively. Members can remain on this grade whilst on leave only, for a minimum of one month and a maximum of 12 months. This grade is available to only one parent per child. This grade requires ongoing GOC membership.
This grade is available from January 2017.
This grade is not available online or for new members. Contact [email protected] for more information
Student (in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Channel Islands)
Grades:
Undergraduate student
Free of charge
Students on a recognised UK course leading to a degree in optometry and registered as an optometry student with the General Optical Council. Student members must confirm their details with AOP on an annual basis through a renewals process. Failure to do so may result in membership being withdrawn.
Qualified dispensing opticians (DOs) who are on a recognised UK course leading to a degree in optometry are covered under this grade for their optometry work only. Any work carried out as a DO is excluded.
To join please download our student and pre-registration membership form, complete and send to:
Membership
Association of Optometrists
2 Woodbridge Street
London
EC1R 0DG
Pre-registration student
Free of charge
UK optometry students during their pre-registration period before qualification, those taking an adaption period at a university to correct deficiencies in their skills agreed with the GOC in accordance with the EC Directive 89/48 to qualify in the UK, and non-EEA students on a recognised UK pre-registration course.
Qualified dispensing opticians (DOs) who are on a recognised UK course leading to a degree in optometry are covered under this grade for their optometry work only. Any work carried out as a DO is excluded.
To join please download our student and pre-registration membership form, complete and send to:
Membership
Association of Optometrists
2 Woodbridge Street
London
EC1R 0DG
Overseas not insured abroad
£48.20/month for 10 months £482/ year (Direct Debit not available for overseas members)
Optometrists who are on the GOC register, or who have qualified in the UK and are eligible to be on the GOC register, and wish to remain members of the AOP, but are not insured for any work abroad. This category includes medical malpractice cover for up to 100 days optometry work in the UK each year. Legal and clinical support is provided in relation to any work undertaken in the UK.
Join online todayLay practice owner
£72/month for 10 months or £720/year
Available to lay practice owners in the UK, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland, to insure the practice, should it be sued because of an act of omission by one of its staff. Only available on the condition that all employed and engaged optometrists are members. Lay Practice Owners are able to access the AOP and OT website but are otherwise not eligible for any membership benefits aside from medical malpractice insurance.
Join online todayAs practice partner and optometrist, it’s vital that I’m up to speed on the latest clinical, legal and regulatory guidance. With the AOP I know I’m in expert hands.
