Advance your surgical technique knowledge to improve and expand exceptional patient care with a vast array of musculoskeletal health resources across practice specialties, available and accessible online in multiple formats to meet your learning needs and maintain skill growth.
With an AAOS Associate Orthopaedics Membership, you can enhance your clinical decision-making, refine your surgical specialty skills at your pace, gain international recognition, and expand your orthopaedic network.
Fuel your passion for excellence as an Associate Member.
Associate Member Orthopaedic applications close May 31, 2023.
How to Apply
Advance Your Orthopaedic Surgical Knowledge and Apply Today.
Deadline to apply: May 31, 2023
If interested in becoming an Associate Orthopaedic Member, please select "Associate Member Orthopaedic" in the application system.
Eligibility for Associate Membership
To be eligible for AAOS Associate Membership, you must meet the following requirements:
- Devote your medical practice exclusively to orthopaedic surgery or engage in the teaching of orthopaedic surgery or research related to the musculoskeletal system
- Maintain a full, unrestricted, and unlimited license to practice medicine in either the United States or Canada (the country in which you practice), or provide evidence of full-time medical service in the federal government which does not require a medical license
- U.S. trained orthopaedic surgeons who were eligible but did not sit for the ABOS, AOBOS, or RCPSC examination or who failed the examination are explicitly excluded from this membership classification
- Internationally trained orthopaedic surgeons are eligible for this membership classification
- Comply with the AAOS Standards of Professionalism
Application Quick Facts
Application Period
October 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023
Application Fee
$350 one-time processing fee is due at the time of application
Membership Dues
2023 dues for Associate Members are $1,076
Notification Date
October 2023
What You Need To Know When Applying for Associate Membership
All applications are reviewed and approved first by the Membership Council and then by the AAOS Board of Directors each September. Applicants are approved and accepted as an election class each year in October.
The full application process can take 10 to 12 months, so we encourage you to apply early.
It will take approximately 60 minutes to complete your application. You can also save your progress and finish at a later time.
Applications not completed within 30 days of the start of the application will be deleted.
Before you begin your application, have the following information and documents gathered:
- Sponsor names (sponsors must be Active AAOS Fellow Members)
- Certification and practice information
- Medical education, residency, and fellowship information
- Hospital and teaching affiliation(s)
- License(s) and practice history
- Medical society memberships
- Curriculum vitae (PDF to upload)
Realize Your Potential With Associate Membership
JAAOS Collection
Hear from experts worldwide and stay up to date with high-quality original research, clinical trials, case reports, and monthly articles with JAAOS Research & Reviews; additionally, listen to authors from highlighted articles in the yellow journal with JAAOS Unplugged Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
AAOS Annual Meeting
Gain International exposure, expand your network, and learn new skills by attending Instructional Course Lectures (ICLs), viewing papers and posters, TechTalks, Symposia, OVT, and more from experts around the world to further your practice at the AAOS Annual Meeting.
Orthopaedic Video Theater (OVT)
Advance your surgical specialty skills and enhance patient care with access to over 1,400 exclusive Member-only videos, where you can watch and save at your own pace while gaining international recognition for your own procedures with the newest feature, OVT Now.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR)
Stay informed with the latest peer-reviewed clinical and basic research and informed opinions via commentaries and author reviews that shape today's orthopaedic practice across all aspects of musculoskeletal health.
Patient Toolkits
Improve clinical decision-making, patient discussions, and patient safety by providing education and resources like the Pain Alleviation Toolkit, Surgical Risk Reduction Toolkit, Clinical Checklists, and more with additional resources on Orthoinfo.org.
Techniques Journals
Learn the latest techniques and best practices for patient safety and procedures with Technique Journals, free to Members, free digital play-by-play, self-directed online programs that provide real-world applications from actual patient cases and complications.
What Is Your Associate Membership Worth?
Associate Membership offers incredible value. Membership will provide you with a range of exclusive products, programs, services, and discounts that will help improve your patient care and support the success of your practice.
Membership Dues for the AAOS Associate Class of 2024
AAOS Membership runs on the calendar year, January 1 to December 31. If accepted, your dues for the 2024 membership year will be due January 1, 2024. Associate Membership is a continuous membership, meaning dues are automatically billed every October for the upcoming membership cycle.
Do You Have Questions or Need Assistance?
Please contact our Customer and Member Service Team or call us at 800-626-6726 today.