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Categories of Membership

The following categories of membership are offered to osteopathic physicians and allied health professionals:

Regular Members

An applicant for regular membership must be a graduate of an AOA accredited college of osteopathic medicine and licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery in the state of Ohio.

OOA regular members are automatically enrolled as members of their district at the time of application. Local dues vary by district but are collected by the OOA with the exceptions of District 7 (Cleveland). Get more information about districts.

Membership Benefits

Membership Application (PDF)

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Associate Members

Associate membership is open to graduates of accredited schools of medicine and surgery or podiatric medicine and surgery, who are licensed to practice in Ohio and support the OOA mission and subscribe to its code of ethics. Associate members receive the same benefits as regular members. Such members may serve on OOA Committees; however they shall not have the privilege of serving as a voting member of the OOA House of Delegate or the right to hold an office. Dues for associate members are the same as those for regular members. Complete the application form here.

Allied Members

Allied members receive the same communications as regular members and may register for the Ohio Osteopathic Convention at member fees. Categories of allied members and the fees applicable to each are as follows:

  • Ohio licensed Advance Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, Psychologists, and other non-physician clinicians who are currently employed with an active member of the OOA, contribute to the practice of that member, and support the goals and objectives of the OOA.
  • Medical Doctors (MDs), Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs), or Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs), who are licensed in Ohio and support the mission of the OOA and subscribe to its code of ethics. To receive discounts and benefits of the OOA Business Partners program, MDs and DPMs must become Associate members and pay dues required of Associate Members.
  • Doctoral and other non-doctoral personnel holding teaching, research or administrative positions in Ohio accredited hospitals and/or colleges.
  • Administrative employees of this association, accredited hospitals or colleges, affiliated organizations and district academies.
  • Any other professionals as determined by the Board of Trustees.

Complete the Allied Membership form here.

Postgraduate Training Members

Osteopathic residents in an ACGME-accredited Ohio postdoctoral training program are automatically enrolled as OOA members for the duration of their training. A DO who is in an approved out-of-state residency/internship program may petition for membership by applying as a postgraduate training member and certifying his/her intent to return to Ohio to establish a practice. The dues of any osteopathic physician in an approved postgraduate training program are waived as long as the physician remains in the program. If you are in an Ohio program and are not receiving OOA communications, contact the OOA membership department. DOs in out of state postgraduate training programs may complete the resident membership form here.

Student Members

Student membership is automatically granted on a dues-free status to each undergraduate student enrolled in the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Undergraduate students in other AOA accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine and surgery may apply for dues free membership here.

Retired/Disabled/Financial Hardship

The Board of Trustees may grant reduced dues to members who are retired, disabled or experience financial hardship. Physicians seeking reduced dues for retirement, disability or hardship must submit a Petition for Reduced Dues (PDF) for approval by the Board, which is then authenticated by the trustee of the member's district academy. Dues reductions granted for temporary disability or financial hardship are verified annually.

Life Members

Life membership may be granted by the Board of Trustees to any regular member who has reached the age of seventy, or who has completed fifty years of osteopathic medical practice, whichever comes first, and who has been in good standing for twenty-five consecutive years immediately preceding. When deemed appropriate, the board may combine years of continuous membership in another divisional society with years of OOA continuous membership to reach the 25-year requirement. Life members have the privileges and duties of regular members, but are not required to pay dues or assessments. Life membership, on recommendation of the local district academy, may also be granted by the Board of Trustees to any regular member who has become permanently totally disabled. Life Member Awards are presented each year at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium.

Out of State Members

Any DO residing in another state may apply for out of state membership, provided he/she is a member of their respective state divisional society. The OOA offers out of state membership to any OOA member who moves from Ohio, at the time of membership renewal. For secure online processing, complete the application form here.

Uniformed Services

Osteopathic physicians who are on active duty in the uniformed services of the federal government and stationed within the state of Ohio may apply in this category. Such members are considered first-year members for the duration of their active duty.

Honorary Members

The title of honorary member may be conferred upon any individual not eligible for regular membership who has made an outstanding contribution to the osteopathic profession. Such title requires approval of the Board of Trustees and a two-thirds vote of the OOA House of Delegates.

Individuals who have achieved honorary membership status are: Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, FACOFP, Dean, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine; Charles "Chip" Rogers, former administrator, OUHCOM;  Richard Sims, former OOA executive secretary; and Helen W. Palmer, OOA staff member.

For more information, contact Joanne Barnhart, OOA Director of Membership.