BIOS offers a range of membership options to suit all prospective members.
If you are qualified to be a member of BIOS, then we want you to be a member: it’s as simple as that.
The BIOS membership year runs from 1 January – 31 December. Student membership, which is free of charge, is a one-off and runs until you graduate. In the year that an orthoptist graduates, we offer Full membership at no charge until 31 December of that year. You will need to tell us that this applies to you, as the unversities do not always tell us.
Orthoptists in their first full year of practice are eligible for a substantial discount on the price: if you think this may apply to you, please contact the office for more information.
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Full
£345 / year
Insurance
Employment / TU representation
Employment advice
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
BOS TU Voting rights
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
This level carries all membership and voting privileges, and is for all qualified orthoptists who do not qualify for one of the other membership levels.
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Full (RoI only)
£237 / year
Insurance
Employment advice
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
This level is open to members who work in the Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar only.
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Academics
£237 / year
Insurance
Employment / TU representation
Employment advice
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
BOS TU Voting rights
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
This level is for two groups: those who are academic orthoptists; and those whose employment as orthoptists generates earnings below the UK personal tax-free allowance. It has all the benefits of Full membership. Please note insurance and BOSTU is only covered when practicing as an orthoptist in the employment of a health care organisation or when participating in BIOS CAGs and committees.
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First Full Year
£230
Insurance
Employment / TU representation
Employment advice
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
BOS TU Voting rights
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
First Full Year of Practice. This level is for a first full year of practice post graduation and is valid for one year only.
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Overseas
£165 / year
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
Overseas membership is for qualified members who live and practice outside the British Isles and Gibraltar
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Non-practising
£124 / year
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
For qualified orthoptists who are currently not practising or members on maternity leave for a minimum of 6 months in any one membership year for the period they are on leave. Insurance is maintained to provide cover for orthoptists taking KIT (keeping in touch days) during their maternity leave. You must tell us if this applies to you.
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Associate
£96 / year
Insurance
Employment / TU representation
Employment advice
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
This level is for assistants/technicians who are accountable to and/or managed by an orthoptist. Please note Associate membership have insurance and employment / trade union cover only if they are undertaking activities in the scope of orthoptic practice which have been delegated by a registered orthoptist
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Retired
£62 / year
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
BIOS private website
BIOS Union Line
Retired membership is for those orthoptists who have retired and no longer practise in any capacity.
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Orthoptic Graduates
FREE
Insurance
Employment / TU representation
Employment advice
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
BIOS Voting rights
BOS TU Voting rights
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS private website
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
From graduation to the end of the current membership year (31 December) new graduates are entitled to full free membership
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Student
FREE
Insurance
Clinical meetings, Conferences, AGM
IOA membership
OCE membership
BIOS CPD system
BIOS Union Line
All students are members of BIOS during their undergraduate studies. Students are insured if they are undertaking activities in the scope of orthoptic practice and they are being supervised by a registered orthoptist or health care professional.