Association of Opticians of Alberta

What Association of Opticians of Alberta does

The Association of Opticians of Alberta (AOA) is a non-profit professional membership association established in 2022 to represent and serve licensed opticians in the province of Alberta. It was created following government-mandated changes to the Health Professions Act that split the former Alberta College and Association of Opticians (ACAO) into two entities: the College of Opticians of Alberta (COA), which assumed the regulatory role effective January 1, 2022, and the AOA, which took on the professional association function. The AOA is headquartered at 14843 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, and operates under an elected Board of Directors led by Chair Dean Thompson.

The AOA's offering is a portfolio of member services rather than a unified product. Core benefits include exclusive Errors and Omissions professional liability insurance through BMS Group (~$135/year), preferred home and auto insurance rates through TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, Privacy Impact Assessment services for Alberta Health Information Act compliance through Brightsquid ($150 discount), airport parking discounts through Park N Fly, and retirement benefits through the Alberta Retired Teachers Association (ARTA). The association also holds negotiated direct-billing contracts with government health programs — Alberta Blue Cross/Medavie Blue Cross, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), Veterans Affairs Canada, RCMP, the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), and Alberta Human Services — allowing members to bill for eye care services provided to eligible populations. Additional services include continuing education content, NACOR exam preparation resources, a member directory, a job board, student awards (Stan Souch, Cecil Oxenbury, Justin Holmes Memorial scholarships), and an annual Opticians Hall of Fame recognition program.

Revenue is generated through tiered annual membership subscriptions: $130/year for Alberta-licensed opticians, $65/year for students enrolled in accredited Western Canadian optical programs, and pricing not publicly stated for non-Alberta Affiliate members. Membership terms run June 1 through May 31. Distribution and acquisition rely on a community-led go-to-market model: the myaoa.ca website, social media (managed by Vice Chair Amanda Neal), the monthly "Eyes on AOA" newsletter, educational webinars, partnerships with optical training institutions (SAIT, NAIT), and word-of-mouth referrals within the Alberta optician community. No external funding, parent company, or technology platform is disclosed; the organization operates as an independent non-profit.

Name

Association of Opticians of Alberta

Legal name

Association of Opticians of Alberta

Website

https://myaoa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Opticians of Alberta (AOA) is a non-profit professional membership association, established in 2022, that represents licensed opticians in Alberta. It generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions ($130/year) and delivers member benefits including liability insurance, negotiated government health-program billing contracts, continuing education, and affinity programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAEAJAK

Union / Association / Affinity Vision Plans

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Health Insurance & Managed Care/Vision Insurance Plans

Keywords

• Professional membership association
• Optician advocacy services
• Continuing education opticians
• Professional liability insurance
• Health benefits billing contracts

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The AOA generates revenue through annual membership fees. Alberta membership costs $130.00 per year for registered opticians, providing access to educational content, value-added programs, ARTA benefits, and the AOA newsletter. Student membership is priced at $65.00 per year (50% reduction). Non-Alberta Affiliate membership provides access to educational content and value-added programs excluding TD Insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Association of Opticians of Alberta (AOA) is a non-profit professional membership association that sells annual membership subscriptions to licensed opticians in Alberta, providing access to exclusive member benefits including Errors and Omissions professional liability insurance, home and auto insurance affinity programs, retirement benefits, privacy compliance services, continuing education, and negotiated billing contracts with government health programs. Members gain the right to participate in a member directory, job board, awards programs, and Hall of Fame recognition, while the association represents optician interests to government and the public.

Product overview

The Association of Opticians of Alberta (AOA) is a professional membership association established in 2022 to advocate for and support licensed opticians in Alberta. Rather than a unified software platform, the AOA offers a portfolio of membership services including professional liability insurance through BMS, home and auto insurance via TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, privacy compliance tools through Brightsquid, airport parking discounts via Park N Fly, and retirement benefits through ARTA. The association also facilitates billing contracts with government health programs (Alberta Blue Cross, NIHB, Veterans Affairs, RCMP, IFHP, Alberta Human Services) enabling members to directly bill for services. Additional member services include continuing education programs, a member directory, job board, student awards, and Hall of Fame recognition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alberta Membership Full annual membership ($130/year) for registered opticians in Alberta, providing access to educational content, value-added programs, ARTA benefits, and the AOA newsletter.
• Student Membership Annual membership ($65/year, 50% reduction) for students enrolled in accredited optical programs in Western Canada, with access to educational content and value-added programs.
• Non-Alberta Affiliate Membership Affiliate membership for registered opticians in other Canadian provinces, providing access to educational content and select value-added programs excluding TD Insurance. Requires valid license number from a provincial College of Opticians.
• BMS Errors and Omissions Insurance Professional liability insurance ($135/year) for AOA members through BMS Insurance, with optional add-on coverage for cyber security, privacy liability, employment practices liability, legal services, and emergency medical travel.
• TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Affinity Program Preferred insurance rates on car, home, condo, and tenant coverage exclusively available to AOA Alberta members through the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Affinity Program.
• Brightsquid Privacy Impact Assessment Package Privacy compliance services including Privacy Impact Assessment (mandatory for opticians under Alberta's Health Information Act), staff training, Privacy Officer support hotline, and breach avoidance guidance. AOA members receive $150 off the package using coupon code ABOPTPRIV.
• Park N Fly Airport Parking Discount Discounted airport parking rates across Park N Fly's coast-to-coast network for AOA members, with corporate discount codes (875891 online, 1120055 Vancouver), the Park N Fly Rewards program, and Aeroplan points earning.
• ARTA Retirement Benefits Retiree Benefits Plan available to opticians through the Alberta Retired Teachers Association, offering different levels of coverage for members and their families.
• Health Services Billing Contracts Direct-billing contracts with Alberta Blue Cross (including Medavie Blue Cross for government partners), NIHB (First Nations and Inuit via Express Scripts Canada), Veterans Affairs Canada, RCMP national health benefits, IFHP (immigrants and refugees), and Alberta Human Services (Independence, AISH, Children's Services, Child Health Benefits).
• Continuing Education Program Educational resources and programs including webinars and NACOR exam preparation to help opticians maintain licensure and meet continuing competence requirements.
• Member Directory Online directory allowing AOA members to manage their professional profiles and be found by others in the optical industry.
• Job Board Platform for posting and managing optical industry job listings, including a public job board and member-only job board with posting and management capabilities.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Academy of Ophthalmic Education (AOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AOE was founded by the Khan Family in 1994 and provides high calibre and officially approved continuing education seminars to all eye health professionals including optometrists, opticians, and optometric assistants. The AOE faculty includes respected ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians, many teaching at the University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology. AOA members receive 3 tokens from The Academy of Ophthalmic Education A.O.E for the purchase of additional Con-Ed content.
• National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR)coreTechnology or IntegrationNACOR membership consists of ten regulatory agencies across Canada. NACOR establishes competencies for opticians, accredits continuing education, administers professional examinations, and handles Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition. The AOA provides access to NACOR exam information and national competency standards to members.
• Alberta Blue Cross / Medavie Blue CrosscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe AOA has contracts with Alberta Blue Cross to provide health services to various groups of people. Many groups receiving health benefits from the Government of Canada partner with Medavie Blue Cross to provide direct billing options. The contract allows members to bill directly for services provided to eligible groups.
• Veterans Affairs CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeterans Affairs Canada partners with Medavie Blue Cross to provide health benefits to Veterans. The AOA has a contract that allows members to bill directly for eye care services provided to eligible Veterans who have VAC health cards.
• Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe NIHB program provides eligible First Nations and Inuit clients with coverage for health benefits not covered through other social programs, private insurance, or provincial health insurance. The AOA contract allows members to bill for eye care services through Express Scripts Canada.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe RCMP has a national health benefits plan that may supplement provincial plans. The AOA contract allows members to bill qualifying RCMP members' eye care services through Medavie Blue Cross. The national health benefits plan also covers public service pensioners and some retired RCMP officers and their families.
• Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe AOA has a contract with Medavie Blue Cross for the Interim Federal Health Program, which provides temporary health coverage for some recent immigrants and refugees, including eye care services. Members must verify patient coverage each visit as eligibility may change.
• BMS InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBMS Insurance is the exclusive provider of Errors and Omissions (Professional Liability) insurance for AOA members at $135/year. Additional coverage includes Cyber Security & Privacy Liability, Personal & Family Cyber Protection, Employment Practices Liability, Legal Services, 24 Hour Accident Coverage, Critical Illness Insurance, and Emergency Medical Travel. Contact: [email protected] or 1-844-200-7159.
• TD Insurance Meloche MonnexcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTD Insurance Meloche Monnex Program offers preferred insurance rates on car, home, condo, and tenant coverage exclusively to AOA members. TD Insurance is the leading direct response insurance group in Canada. Savings can add up through bundling, insuring multiple vehicles, owning hybrid/electric vehicles, having security alarms, and living in newly built homes. Contact: 1-877-777-7136.
• BrightsquidminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrightsquid provides Privacy Impact Assessment packages required for Alberta Health Information Act compliance. AOA members save $150 off their Privacy Impact Assessment Package which includes full PIA, privacy compliance training, Privacy Officer support hotline, and breach avoidance guidance. Coupon code: ABOPTPRIV. Contact: 1-800-238-6503.
• Park N FlyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPark N Fly offers airport parking services with coast-to-coast network. AOA members can save through corporate discount codes (875891 for online reservations, 1120055 for Vancouver location), the Park N Fly Rewards program earning points for free parking and Aeroplan points, and the mobile app for touchless parking experiences.
• Alberta Retired Teachers Association (ARTA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorARTA provides retiree benefits plans available to AOA members. The plans offer different levels of coverage providing flexibility for members and their families to select appropriate coverage levels for their retirement needs.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Saskatchewan College of Opticians: Saskatchewan's optician regulator/association serving licensed opticians in that province. Comparable mandate and member services to AOA, but operating in a different geography with its own regulatory regime and benefit partners.
• Opticians of Manitoba: Manitoba's professional association for opticians, providing similar membership, education, and advocacy services. Comparable scale and provincial scope to AOA but operating in a separate jurisdiction.
• College of Opticians of British Columbia: British Columbia's optician regulator with associated member services. Comparable provincial professional body, but BC's opticianry scope and regulatory framework differ from Alberta's.

Others

• Canadian Association of Optometrists: National association for optometrists (a related but distinct eye-care profession). Adjacent professional association with similar membership, advocacy, and CE models, serving a comparable but non-overlapping professional constituency.
• National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR): National body of 10 provincial optician regulators that establishes competencies, accredits continuing education, and administers national exams. AOA is a NACOR stakeholder but NACOR plays a regulatory rather than advocacy/membership role.

Direct peers

• College of Opticians of Ontario: Ontario's optician regulator and association hybrid organization serving the largest population of licensed opticians in Canada. Comparable in mandate and member services but functions as regulator + association in one body, unlike Alberta's split structure.
• Opticians Association of Canada (OAC): National professional association for Canadian opticians, providing continuing education, advocacy, and member benefits. Directly comparable business model (membership-funded professional association) but operating at a national rather than provincial scope.
• College of Opticians of Alberta (COA): The Alberta optician regulator created from the same 2022 split of the former ACAO. Most directly comparable organization as the AOA's sister entity - collectively serving all licensed opticians in Alberta, though COA holds the regulatory mandate while AOA holds the association mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/myaoa.ca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-opticians-of-alberta

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Opticians of Alberta