In April 2021, the AAO House of Delegates passed two resolutions that will restructure the membership dues of many current and future AAO International Members. The changes are the result of extensive research, deliberation and recommendations from the International Study Task Force (formed by the AAO Board of Trustees in 2019) along with guidance from an outside consultant. The following changes will be made effective on June 1, 2021:

  1. A graduated dues scale will be applied to International Members when they join the AAO. New members will pay 10% of the full international dues amount in year 1, followed by 25% in year 2, 50% in year 3, 75% in year 4 and 100% in year five. This scale will be applied to International Student Members who transition to full International Member, as well as those who join for the first time as full International Members. Current International Members who have been members for less than five years will also be able to take advantage.
  2. A tiered dues structure will be applied to International Members who practice in countries classified by the World Bank as “low income”, “lower middle income” and “upper middle income”. Members in low and lower middle-income countries will pay 40% of the full international dues amount, while members in upper middle-income countries will pay 70% of the full international dues amount.

Click here for additional information on AAO International Member tiers & dues information.

International Members who fall into both above groups will be eligible for a combined reduction of their dues. For example, a new International Member from Brazil (classified by the World Bank as “upper middle income”) will pay $27.76 USD for the 2021-22 membership year, which accounts for the year 1 dues rate of 10% of full international dues ($39.65), as well as an additional 30% reduction as a “Tier 2” country.

The full international dues amount for the period of June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022 is $396.50 USD, which is a 50% reduction of the full dues amount for domestic AAO members. Additionally, International Members and International Student Members are expected to maintain membership in the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO), with exception of those who successfully completed their orthodontic training at an accredited program in the U.S. or Canada.

For current AAO members, no further action is required to take advantage of the newly adopted international dues structure. 2021-22 renewal invoices will reflect the adjusted and correct amounts. For questions, please contact AAO’s Director of Membership, Brandon Hackworth, at [email protected].