AAO member categories, and basic eligibility requirements* are as follows:
- Active – An orthodontist who
has completed the full curriculum of an ADA/CDA-accredited orthodontic
program in the U.S. or Canada (includes full-time academicians in the U.S.
and Canada).
- Life
Active –
An Active member who has 30 or more years of cumulative membership in the
AAO (excluding student membership) and is 65 years of age or higher.
- Academic
(non-U.S./Canada graduates) – An orthodontist who has completed a graduate
orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada, and is employed full-time
at an ADA/CDA-accredited dental or orthodontic program in the U.S. or
Canada.
- Student – A student who
has been accepted, and/or enrolled as a full-time student in an
ADA/CDA-accredited orthodontic program in the U.S. or Canada; or has
completed the full curriculum of an orthodontic program, and been
accepted, and/or enrolled as a full-time student in an advanced
educational program at an ADA/CDA-accredited educational institution
(includes formal fellowship training).
- Service – A military
service member or civilian employee of the U.S. or Canadian government who
is a practicing orthodontist or commander, and has completed the full
curriculum of an ADA/CDA-accredited orthodontic program in the U.S. or
Canada.
- Retired – A retired
orthodontist who has been an active, service or international AAO member
for at least 15 cumulative years (excluding student membership) and was a
member in good standing at the time of retirement.
- International – An orthodontist
who has completed an accredited orthodontic program, practices outside the
U.S. and Canada, and is a member in good standing of the World Federation
of Orthodontists (WFO). WFO membership is not required for graduates of an
ADA/CDA-accredited orthodontic program in the U.S. or Canada.
- International
Student –
A student who has been accepted, and/or enrolled as a full-time student in
an orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada, and is a student
member in good standing of the WFO.