Pre-registration optometrists who have recently qualified

Newly-qualified AOP membership

Once you’ve passed your OSCEs, the insurance provided as part of the AOP’s free student membership is no longer valid. The GOC requires you to have adequate insurance cover in place and, by upgrading your membership to the newly-qualified grade, you will meet these requirements.

AOP membership is designed to support you and your career. By continuing your membership, you will have access to:

• Full AOP member benefits, including employment and regulatory advice*, CPD and free education
• Professional insurance cover
• Discounted membership rates for the remainder of the year in which you qualify, and the following year. After this period, the Full or concessionary membership fees will apply.

*If you’re joining for the first time and require assistance you must inform us during the declaration step of your application as pre-existing issues may not be covered.

Eligibility

To bo be eligible for newly-qualified membership, you must:

• Have qualified as an optometrist for the first time and be within your year of qualification or the calendar year following qualification
• Not have previously qualified as an optometrist outside the UK.

If you have previously qualified outside the UK, full or concessionary membership rates will apply.

Discounted rate for newly-qualified optometrists 

As a newly-qualified optometrist, you can access AOP membership at a discounted rate immediately after qualifying.

For a full year’s membership, you’ll pay £46.70/month over 10 months or a one-off payment of £467.

Your qualification date determines the amount you’ll pay for the remainder of the year, as your membership is pro-rated based on when you join or change grade. All memberships run from the first day of your selected month until 31 December. Renewal notices for the following year are sent in November.

You can pay by credit/debit card or set up a Direct Debit.

How to join or upgrade your membership

Already an AOP student member?

Contact our team using the details below to upgrade your membership to a qualified status.

Re-joining?

Log into your MyAOP account to apply for the relevant qualified grade of membership.

New to AOP membership?

You can join online.

Need help?

If you have any questions our membership team is here to help.

Call 0207 549 2010 or email [email protected].