National Optometric Association

What National Optometric Association does

The National Optometric Association (NOA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1969 in Richmond, Virginia, by 25 African American optometrists to provide a national voice for underrepresented providers in optometry and to address gaps in student recruitment and care for underserved communities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, NOA serves more than 800 members including practicing optometrists, optometry students, and supporting professionals across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, organized through a five-region trustee structure. The association operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: the National Optometric Foundation (NOF, established 1975) for philanthropy, scholarships, and ocular health education, and the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA, established 1979), which maintains 21 active chapters at accredited optometry schools.

NOA generates revenue through four primary streams: annual membership dues (tiered from $250 for new graduates to $550 for practitioners with 5+ years of experience, with early bird discounts), convention registration and continuing education fees (anchored by an annual national convention offering 12 hours of CE, with the 2026 event scheduled for St. Louis), a multi-tiered convention sponsorship program ranging from $2,500 (Vendor) to $35,000+ (Onyx) with major industry partners including VSP Vision, Johnson & Johnson Vision, EssilorLuxottica, and Alcon, and tax-deductible donations to the National Optometric Foundation supporting scholarships, community outreach, and fundraising events. Membership enrollment is conducted through direct online registration and renewed annually January 1 through December 31.

The organization does not sell technology products; its core offerings are member services (CE events, job listings platform, networking, mentorship via the Visioning the Future program), student programming through NOSA, and public health initiatives including the Three Silent Killers campaign (diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension education) and the ACHIEVE Campaign for children's vision health. Distribution runs through the annual convention, regional CE events at Vision Expo East/West, SECO, Academy, and AOA meetings, the NOA website and newsletter, and NOSA's campus chapter network. The organization employs a small core staff of six and is governed by an elected executive board.

Name

National Optometric Association

Legal name

National Optometric Association

Website

https://nationaloptometricassociation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Optometric Association is a 501(c)(3) professional membership association founded in 1969, serving 800+ underrepresented optometrists and students across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico through membership, an annual convention, continuing education, scholarships, and student chapter programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometric Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Professional optometry association
• Continuing education optometry
• Optometric diversity advocacy
• Optometry scholarship programs
• Student optometry chapters

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

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 Dues: Annual membership dues ranging from $250 for new graduates to $550 for established practitioners with 5+ years experience. Dues run January 1st through December 31st. Early bird discounts available.
2. Convention Registration: Full convention tickets and CE-only registration options. Full access includes all onsite events, meals, and programming.
3. Convention Sponsorship: Multi-tiered sponsorship levels from Supporter ($2,499 or below) to Onyx ($35,000+) with various benefits including exhibit tables, speaking slots, digital ads, and banquet tickets.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations to National Optometric Foundation (501(c)(3)) supporting scholarships, community outreach, mentorship programs, golf tournament, and fun run events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

The National Optometric Association is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers annual membership, continuing education, an annual national convention, regional CE events, scholarships, mentorship, advocacy, and community eye-health programs for underrepresented optometrists, optometry students, and under-supported patient populations across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Its operating arms include the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) for students and the National Optometric Foundation (NOF) for philanthropy, supplemented by targeted public-health initiatives such as the Three Silent Killers program and the ACHIEVE children's vision campaign.

Product overview

The National Optometric Association is a professional membership organization (not a product company) offering a unified portfolio of member services centered on advancing visual health in under-supported populations. The core offerings include: NOA Membership providing CE access, networking, and career resources; the annual NOA Convention delivering continuing education and professional development; NOSA (student arm) with 21 campus chapters; and the National Optometric Foundation (NOF) for scholarships and outreach. These are complemented by targeted programs including the Three Silent Killers Initiative (diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension education), the ACHIEVE Campaign for children's eye health, and the Visioning The Future Mentorship Program. The organization does not operate as a technology product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NOA Membership
• NOA Annual Convention
• NOSA Student Membership (National Optometric Student Association)
• National Optometric Foundation (NOF) Scholarship Program
• Three Silent Killers Initiative
• ACHIEVE Campaign (All Children's Health Initiative for Eye and Vision Excellence)
• Visioning The Future Mentorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Black student representation at U.S. schools and colleges of optometry increased 17-fold since NOA founding
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• VSP Vision CarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor convention sponsor (Onyx level) and partner for the Marvin R. Poston Leadership Awards program. VSP Vision sponsors the NOA & NOSA Social Event at conventions and provides sponsorship for the Visioning the Future Mentorship Program including equipment grants for first-year students upon enrollment.
• Johnson & Johnson VisioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnyx level convention sponsor providing significant financial support for NOA annual conventions and programs.
• EssilorLuxotticacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnyx level convention sponsor and supporter of diversity in optometry. Provides sponsor presentations during convention education sessions.
• AlconcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnyx level convention sponsor supporting NOA events and education programs with sponsor presentations.
• CooperVisioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond level sponsor with booth presence at conventions and sponsorship of education sessions.
• HoyacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond level sponsor supporting NOA conventions and education programs.
• Bausch+LombsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor level sponsor with product presentations and family breakfast sponsorship during conventions.
• WalmartsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerGold level sponsor supporting NOA conventions and diversity initiatives in eye care.
• AbbViesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerGold level sponsor supporting NOA programs and events.
• American Optometric Association (AOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing professional partnership including NOA & Friends Reception at AOA annual meetings, collaboration on student recruitment, and joint efforts to advance optometry profession. AOA president has addressed NOA conventions historically.
• National Children's Center for Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent BlindnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ACHIEVE Campaign (All Children's Health Initiative for Eye and Vision Excellence) providing resources, education, and support to empower families and increase access to children's eye care services.
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation supporting student recruitment into optometry schools and diversity initiatives. ASCO representatives participate in convention programming.
• Warby ParkerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor level sponsor at NOA conventions.
• American Academy of OptometrysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation with fellow optometric organizations including joint recognition events and collaboration on advancing the profession.
• American Public Health AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation supporting public health initiatives related to eye care and health disparities.
• National Eye Institute (NEI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership including appointment of Dr. C. Clayton Powell to NEI National Advisory Eye Council. Collaboration on vision health research and policies.
• PECAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor sponsor at conventions with advertising presence on convention materials.
• ApellisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor sponsor with sponsor presentations during convention education sessions.
• Modern OpticalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor level supporter providing product discounts to NOA members.
• Evolve Vision Fund (EVF)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Changing Life Through Lenses program providing free lenses, frames, and lab services for eye doctors and charities to serve patients in need.
• VersantHealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor level supporter of NOA conventions.
• BiogenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor sponsor at NOA conventions.
• TarsusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor sponsor at NOA conventions.
• Eye Care PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor sponsor at NOA conventions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Dental Association: The NDA is the premier association for underrepresented dental professionals, structurally parallel to NOA in mission, history (founded in 1913), student arm, foundation, and convention model. It is the dental-sector analog that mirrors NOA's optometric focus.
• National Hispanic Medical Association: NHMA represents Hispanic physicians and health professionals with a similar mission of advancing representation, advocacy, and pipeline development. Comparable in structure, scope, and target demographic to NOA, even though the health profession focus is broader.
• National Medical Association: The NMA is the largest organization representing African American physicians and is structurally and historically analogous to NOA: founded to advance underrepresented medical professionals, providing CE, advocacy, scholarships, and a student arm. It is the cleanest structural parallel outside of optometry.
• National Black Nurses Association: NBNA represents African American nurses with chapters, conventions, scholarships, and advocacy similar to NOA's structure. It mirrors NOA's combination of professional development, student engagement, and community health programs.

Emerging players

• Optometric Society Areas (SECO International): SECO International is a major optometric education organization producing one of the largest annual CE events. NOA members attend SECO and AOA events, making SECO a structural peer in CE delivery and an event-based competitor for member attention and sponsorship dollars.
• Prevent Blindness: Prevent Blindness (and its National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health) is a public health partner of NOA on the ACHIEVE campaign. It is a peer in the eye-care advocacy space with overlapping patient-education and screening missions, but operates as a public health nonprofit rather than a practitioner association.
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry: ASCO represents the 23 accredited optometry schools and is a strategic partner of NOA on student recruitment and diversity initiatives. While not a membership association for practitioners, its role in the optometric pipeline makes it a meaningful ecosystem peer.

Broad incumbents

• American Optometric Association: The AOA is the largest national professional association for optometrists, representing the full profession rather than a demographic subset. It is the closest comparable in mission and member services (CE, advocacy, conventions) and is explicitly named as a long-standing partner of NOA, making it a direct functional analog with broader scope.
• American Pharmacists Association: APhA is the largest national professional association for pharmacists, providing advocacy, CE, and member services. Comparable in member-service structure to NOA but serving the broader pharmacist profession rather than a demographic subset.
• American Academy of Optometry: The American Academy of Optometry is a premier optometric organization focused on fellowship, continuing education, and clinical excellence. NOA explicitly partners with it, and it serves a partially overlapping optometrist member base with similar convention and CE programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NatOptAssoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-optometric-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationaloptometricassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Optometric Association