What Michigan Optometric Association does

The Michigan Optometric Association (MOA) is a 501(c)-style non-profit professional membership association founded in 1896 and headquartered at 530 W. Ionia Street in Lansing, Michigan. It serves over 1,000 doctors of optometry, optometric students at the Michigan College of Optometry and University of Detroit Mercy School of Optometry, and paraoptometric professionals across the state, organized through eight regional local societies (Metro Detroit, West Michigan, Southwest Michigan, Saginaw Valley, Upper Peninsula, Central Michigan, and Northwestern Lower Michigan). The association's mission is to provide leadership for the development of optometrists delivering comprehensive eye care to Michigan patients, with its current strategic plan centered on advocacy, professional development, and member benefits.

The MOA's core product is its tiered membership program, which is bundled with American Optometric Association (AOA) membership and priced on a year-of-practice schedule from $179.60 (1st-year practitioners) to $1,796 (full practice), with complimentary student membership. Supporting service modules include COPE-accredited continuing education delivered live (Fall Seminar, Winter Seminar, Great Lakes Eyecare Conference) and asynchronously (On Demand Courses covering state-required Controlled Substance Awareness, Human Trafficking, and Implicit Bias), a five-year Low Vision Certification program administered with the Michigan College of Optometry, an awards program, a classifieds/career center, the MOAPAC political action committee, and the Grassroots Optometry (GO!) lobbying program. Technology is built on the YourMembership.com association management platform. Revenue is generated primarily through annual member dues and a tiered industry sponsorship program (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) with approximately 20 optical industry partners including Cherry Optical Lab, VSP Vision, Cincinnati Insurance, Johnson & Johnson Vision, EssilorLuxottica, Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Zeiss; secondary revenue comes from event registrations, on-demand CE course fees, and PAC donations. The association is governed by an elected Board of Trustees (2026-27 term led by President Erica Johnson Carder, OD, MS, FAAO) and operated by a small staff of approximately four under Executive Director Jeff Towns.

Name

Michigan Optometric Association

Legal name

Michigan Optometric Association

Website

https://themoa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Michigan Optometric Association is a 130-year-old Lansing-based non-profit professional association serving over 1,000 optometrists, students, and paraoptometrics across Michigan with bundled state/AOA membership, COPE-accredited continuing education, scope-of-practice advocacy, and industry partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)

Keywords

• Optometric professional association
• Continuing education optometry
• Low vision certification
• Optometry advocacy services
• Member benefits association

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from optometrists at various practice stages. Dues range from $179.60 (1st year) to $1,796.00 (full practice) for combined MOA and AOA membership. Student membership is free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Michigan Optometric Association is a non-profit professional membership association that provides Doctors of Optometry in Michigan with advocacy, tiered membership services, COPE-accredited continuing education (live and on-demand), a Low Vision Certification program, networking events, and member benefits such as insurance, credit card processing, and legal service discounts. Its primary product is the MOA Membership program, priced on a tiered subscription model based on years in practice, with supporting educational events, certification, and advocacy programs.

Product overview

The Michigan Optometric Association operates as a professional membership organization offering a unified membership program supported by multiple service modules. The core offering is MOA Membership, which provides advocacy, CE access, and member benefits. Supporting modules include: On Demand Courses for asynchronous CE; Fall Seminar and Winter Seminar for live CE events; Great Lakes Eyecare Conference for regional education; Golf Classic for networking; Low Vision Certification Program for specialty credentialing; MOA Awards Program for member recognition; MOAPAC for political advocacy; MOA Partner Program for industry sponsorships; and Career Center/Classifieds for employment services. The organization leverages the YourMembership software platform for member management, event registration, and website functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MOA Membership Services Professional membership program providing advocacy, continuing education access, networking, member benefits, and resource access for optometrists in Michigan. Includes tiered annual dues based on years in practice (1st year $179.60 through full practice $1,796.00 combined MOA+AOA), member benefits portal, magazine subscription, and access to MOA events and publications. Complimentary for optometry students.
• MOA On Demand Courses Asynchronous continuing education platform offering MOA-accredited courses for licensed Michigan optometrists, including state-required training (Controlled Substance Awareness, Human Trafficking, Implicit Bias). Courses cover clinical optometry, practice management, and pharmaceutical management topics. Accessible to members and affiliate members.
• MOA Fall Seminar Annual two-day continuing education conference offering up to 16 COPE-accredited CE hours for optometrists and 14 AOA CPC CE hours for paraoptometric professionals. Features exhibit hall with approximately 75 booths, evening reception, and OD dinner lecture.
• MOA Winter Seminar Annual winter continuing education conference providing CE hours for optometrists and paraoptometric professionals with clinical and practice management content.
• Great Lakes Eyecare Conference Regional eyecare conference featuring continuing education, exhibitor showcase, and networking opportunities for optometry professionals in the Great Lakes region.
• Low Vision Certification Program Certification process for licensed optometrists to demonstrate competency in low vision care, involving application, case reports, interview, and written examination administered by the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University. Valid for five-year periods with recertification requirements.
• MOA Awards Program Annual recognition program honoring optometrists and supporters for contributions to the profession, including Optometrist of the Year, Young Optometrist of the Year, Roger R. Seelye Distinguished Service Award, Keyperson, Educator of the Year, Student of the Year, and Friend of Optometry awards.
• MOA Career Center / Classifieds Online job board and classifieds system enabling members to post and search employment opportunities, equipment for sale, practices for sale, and other professional listings. Free for members; fee-based for non-members.
• MOAPAC Advocacy Program Political action committee enabling members to contribute to advocacy efforts supporting optometry legislation, scope of practice protection, and regulatory initiatives in Michigan. Includes the Grassroots Optometry (GO!) network for grassroots lobbying.
• Golf Classic Event Annual charitable golf event at Hawk Hollow Golf Course featuring 18 holes, driving range, Bloody Mary/Mimosa bar, boxed lunch, and post-golf Low & Slow BBQ buffet with networking for optometry professionals.
• MOA Partner Program Sponsorship tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) offering year-round brand exposure, exhibit opportunities, and advertising across MOA events and website for optical industry vendors.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 platinum sponsor, gold sponsor, silver sponsor, bronze sponsor and core.

• Cherry Optical Labplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor and partner. Family-owned, independent wholesale optical laboratory with 300+ employees producing lenses 24/5, offering accelerated turnaround and high quality standards.
• Cincinnati Insuranceplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing Property, Casualty & Professional Liability insurance tailored for optometrists. Covers all optometric procedures including surgical procedures.
• VSP Visionplatinum sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing integrated eye care services, eyewear solutions, and practice solutions. Access for 80+ million members through 41,000+ doctor network.
• EyelidPros.com (Consultants in Ophthalmic and Facial Plastic Surgery)platinum sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerMichigan-based oculofacial surgery practice providing expert care for eye area conditions. Specializes in cosmetic and functional eyelid surgery.
• Johnson & Johnson Visiongold sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor with deep legacy in developing transformational products improving eye health. Aiming to improve sight for 40+ million people annually through innovation.
• EssilorLuxotticasilver sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor, global leader in design, manufacture and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames and sunglasses. Includes brands Ray-Ban, Oakley, Varilux, Transitions.
• Interstate Lab Groupsilver sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerFull-service production laboratory with locations in Ontario, Ohio and Indianapolis, utilizing fully-digital production with advanced finishing capabilities.
• Michigan Retailers Associationsilver sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides discounted credit card transaction fees for members through partnership with MOA.
• Alconbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, global leader in eye care with products touching lives of 260+ million people in 140+ countries for cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases.
• Apellis Pharmaceuticalsbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, global biopharmaceutical company committed to unmet needs of patients and eye care professionals.
• Bausch + Lombbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, one of world's largest suppliers of contact lenses, lens care products, prescription pharmaceuticals, intraocular lenses.
• CooperVisionbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, leading manufacturer of soft contact lenses including daily disposable, two-week and monthly options with advanced materials.
• Dompébronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, Italian biopharmaceutical company with US office in San Francisco Bay Area committed to innovation in ophthalmology.
• MacuHealthbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, dedicated to nutritional supplement industry with premium products supporting eye health.
• LKC Technologiesbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, 45+ years making functional eye testing simple with RET*eval* handheld ERG/VEP device.
• Sun Ophthalmicsbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, US division of Sun Pharma (global specialty pharmaceutical in 150+ countries) reenergizing eye care.
• Tarsus Pharmaceuticalsbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, advancing development of therapeutic candidates for Demodex blepharitis treatment and ocular disease.
• Topcon Healthcarebronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, reimagining healthcare through eye care with robotic diagnostics delivering oculomics in connected care system.
• Viatrisbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, global healthcare company providing access to medicines in 165+ countries through Global Healthcare Gateway.
• Zeissbronze sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor, offering complete solutions to diagnose, manage and treat ophthalmic disease across glaucoma, retina, cataract and refractive specialties.
• American Optometric Association (AOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization. MOA membership includes AOA membership. Partnership includes Vision Rehabilitation Advocacy Network, Find a Doctor locator, and national advocacy programs.
• Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind PersonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for vision rehabilitation services. MOA certified low vision specialists serve as consultants to this agency.
• Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers written examinations for MOA Low Vision Certification. Home institution for many MOA student members.
• University of Detroit Mercy School of OptometrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution for optometric education. Student awards nominations received from this school.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Optometric Association: A state optometric association offering continuing education, advocacy, and member benefits. Directly comparable to MOA in mission and structure, representing a peer state-level professional association for optometrists.
• Ohio Optometric Association: A neighboring state optometric association with a similar structure: bundled AOA membership, district societies, CE events, advocacy, and member benefits. Highly comparable to MOA in scope, scale, and operating model.
• American Optometric Association (AOA): The national parent organization of MOA. AOA is the direct upstream counterpart — MOA membership is bundled with AOA membership — and the two operate a federated advocacy, education, and member-benefits model across all 50 states.
• New York State Optometric Association: Another state-level optometric association delivering CE, advocacy, and member services. Comparable to MOA as a peer organization operating in a different state with the same bundled-AOA membership model.
• California Optometric Association: A larger state optometric association with a similar mission of advocacy, CE, and member services. Comparable to MOA in functional model but larger in membership and scope, making it a useful benchmark for scaling MOA's programs.

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association (ADA): The national professional association for dentists — structurally analogous to AOA in MOA's world. Operates as a broader incumbent in healthcare professional associations, making it a comparable reference point for governance, advocacy, and education delivery at scale.
• American Medical Association (AMA): The largest U.S. healthcare professional association. While serving physicians rather than optometrists, AMA's federated structure with state societies and its advocacy/CE/credentialing model is broadly comparable to MOA's organizational archetype.

Regional players

• Michigan State Medical Society: Michigan's statewide medical professional association. Operates in the same geography with comparable advocacy, CE, and member-benefit functions, making it a regional structural peer for MOA's organizational model.
• Michigan Dental Association: A Michigan-based healthcare professional association with a similar advocacy, CE, and member-services model. Operates in the same geography as MOA but serves dentists rather than optometrists, providing a useful structural benchmark.

Others

• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO): The national optometry testing and credentialing body. While not a membership association, NBEO is an adjacent ecosystem player that interacts with MOA's member pipeline and continuing education ecosystem, making it a thematically related peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookws.yourmembership.com/Ams/SocialOAuth/facebook
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-optometric-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Michigan Optometric Association