Membership Categories & Fees

Review the membership categories below to find the level that fits your needs and career goals. Members are approved on a monthly basis and dues are prorated.

Questions? Contact the Membership Department at membership@aofas.org or 800-235-4855 or +1-847-698-4654 (outside US).

Active Member
Candidate Member
Associate Member
International Member
Surgeon in Training Member
International Surgeon in Training Member
Allied Health/Associate - Basic Sciences Member
MD Affiliate Member
Emeritus Member
Honorary Member

Other opportunities to get involved with AOFAS:
Student Affiliate

Active Member – Annual Dues: $725 (US funds)

Active Member/Military* – Annual Dues: $350 (US funds)

Medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO) who have demonstrated their knowledge and training in orthopaedic surgery by obtaining certification by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS), the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

This category is right for you if you:

• Are a member in good standing of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) or the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) or the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA)

• Are certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle

• Are practicing orthopaedic surgery

Active Members shall have all the rights and privileges of the Society, including the right to vote at all meetings of the Society, to be eligible to hold office, and to serve on committees of the Society.

Download the Application

*Active Military Members may submit documentation showing they are on active military duty to receive discounted dues rates and retain all member benefits during their term(s) of service. The reduced rate will begin the year after the application is submitted. Following service, the member will be reinstated to their previous membership category and will return to paying full member dues.

Candidate Member – Annual Dues: $575 (US funds)

Candidate Member/Military* – Annual Dues: $350 (US funds)

Medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO) and graduates of orthopaedic residency programs who are board-eligible and intend to pursue certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

This category is right for you if you:

• Are a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) or the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA)

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle

• Are practicing orthopaedic surgery

Candidate Membership is limited to five (5) years following completion of training. Time spent in postgraduate fellowships is not counted as part of the five-year time limit. Upon obtaining certification by ABOS, AOBOS, or RCPSC, Candidate Members may elevate to to Active Membership.

Candidate Members shall have the right to serve on committees of the Society but shall not have the right to vote or be eligible to hold office.

*Candidate Military Members may submit documentation showing they are on active military duty to receive discounted dues rates and retain all member benefits during their term(s) of service. The reduced rate will begin the year after the application is submitted. Following service, the member will be reinstated to their previous membership category and will return to paying full member dues.

Associate Member – Annual Dues: $575 (US funds)

Medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO) and graduates of orthopaedic residency programs who are practicing in the United States or Canada and are either ineligible or do not intend to pursue certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

This category is right for you if you:

• Are a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO), or the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA)

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle

• Are practicing orthopaedic surgery in the United States or Canada

U.S., Canadian, and internationally trained orthopaedic surgeons are eligible for Associate membership. Upon obtaining certification by ABOS, AOBOS or RCPSC, Associate Members may request elevation to Active Membership.

Associate Members are eligible to serve on committees of the Society but may not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors.

International Member – Annual Dues: $450 (US funds)*

Fully trained, board-certified orthopaedic surgeons, where applicable, practicing outside the United States and Canada, who desire membership and educational opportunities within the AOFAS.

This category is right for you if you:

• Are an orthopaedic surgeon practicing outside the United States and Canada
  

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle.

International Members are eligible to serve on committees, but may not vote, hold office or serve on the Board of Directors.

Download the Application

*International Members from some countries may be eligible for discounted dues rates. Please contact membership@aofas.org for more information.

Surgeon in Training Membership – Annual Dues: $100 (US funds)

Medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO), residing in the United States or Canada, who are currently enrolled in an orthopaedic surgery residency training program or an orthopaedic fellowship program.

This category is right for you if you:

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle.

• Are a Resident or Fellow Member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO), or the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA).

Membership in this category will conclude after their last year of formal residency training or or foot and ankle fellowship is completed. At that time, Surgeon in Training Members must elevate their status to become a Candidate Member and fulfill the requirements of that category to continue membership in the Society. Surgeon in Training Members may serve as ex-officio members on selected committees of the Society, but shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.

International Surgeon in Training Membership – Annual Dues: $100 (US funds)

Medical doctors (MD), doctors of osteopathy (DO), or orthopaedic surgeons residing outside the United States and Canada, who are currently enrolled in an orthopaedic surgery residency training program or an orthopaedic fellowship program.

This category is right for you if you:

• Are enrolled in an orthopaedic surgery residency training program or orthopaedic fellowship program
  

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle

Membership in this category shall be for no more than six (6) years and will conclude when the surgeon is board certified by their country or when their training is completed. At that time, International Surgeon in Training Members must elevate their status to become an International Member and fulfill the requirements of that category to continue membership in the Society. International Surgeon in Training Members may serve as ex-officio members on selected committees of the Society, but shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.

Allied Health/Associate – Basic Science Membership – Annual Dues: $250 (US funds)

Non-surgeon professionals involved in foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery or research.

This category is right for you if you:

• Are an allied health professional (nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, orthopaedic technician, physical therapist, athletic trainer, orthotist/pedorthist, and prosthetist) or PhD (researcher, engineer, or scientist)

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of the treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle.

Allied Health/Associate – Basic Science Members may serve as ex-officio members on selected committees of the Society, but shall not be eligible to vote or hold an elected office in the Society

MD Affiliate Membership – Annual Dues: $250 (US funds)

Non-surgeon medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO) involved in foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery or research.

This category is right for you if you:

• Are a non-surgeon medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO)

• Reside in the United States or Canada

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of the treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle

MD Affiliate Members may serve as ex-officio members on selected committees of the Society, but shall not be eligible to vote or hold an elected office in the Society.

Emeritus Member – No Annual Dues

The Board of Directors may confer Emeritus Membership upon Active or International Members who have fully retired from the practice of medicine and who request this change in membership status.

Under special circumstances and at its discretion, the Board of Directors may confer Emeritus Membership upon Active or International Members who no longer perform surgery for remuneration but who have not fully retired from active practice. Eligibility for Emeritus Membership shall lapse upon the Emeritus Member’s return to the active practice of medicine or upon change in the circumstances qualifying the member for Emeritus status. The Emeritus Member shall have the affirmative obligation to notify the Secretary of the Society of any such change in status. Upon such notice, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, reconvert the Emeritus Member to Active or International Membership.

Requests for Emeritus Membership shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Society. Following confirmation of eligibility by the Membership Committee, action by the Board of Directors on requests for Emeritus Membership shall take place. Emeritus Members shall not pay dues, hold office, or vote. Emeritus Members may serve on select committees of the Society. Applicants for Emeritus Membership shall continue to pay dues for Active or International Membership privileges until their application for change in status is approved by the Board of Directors.

Honorary Member – No Annual Dues

Honorary Members shall be physicians, educators, and researchers who have made special contributions in the field of foot and ankle care, and are ineligible for Active Membership. The Board of Directors shall consider proposals for Honorary Membership, and if approved, the individual shall be recommended to the membership for invitation for Honorary Membership. Honorary members shall be ineligible to vote or hold office, and shall not pay dues.

Student Affiliate – No Annual Dues

Medical students and allied heath students with an interest in foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery or research.

This category is right for you if you:

• Are enrolled in an accredited medical school to become an MD or DO, or are enrolled in an accredited allied health program

• Have an interest in the advancement of orthopaedic knowledge of the treatment and conditions of the foot and ankle

Student Affiliates will be granted access to the AOFAS OnDemand Education Center (ONE). AOFAS online benefits will be granted for four (4) years and end at the completion of medical school. At that time, interested Student Affiliates should join AOFAS as either a Surgeon in Training Member, International Surgeon in Training Member, or an Allied Health/Associate Member, and must fulfill the requirements of that category to continue their benefits with the Society. Please note that Student Affiliates are not AOFAS members, will not receive Foot & Ankle International, and will not be eligible to vote or serve on committees.