Membership Eligibility:
Membership in the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario shall be granted based on the following conditions;
- physician has an active membership with the Ontario Medical Association and is in good standing,
- physician is certified in ophthalmology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, OR
- physician is currently enrolled in an ophthalmology residency or fellowship program.
All members who have paid their memberships in full are deemed active and in good standing.
All active members in good standing will have full voting privileges. No voting by proxy or mailed ballots will be allowed for matters dealt with at annual business meetings or special meetings of members.
Membership Year:
EPSO’s professional membership year is January 1st to December 31st annually. All professional memberships expire on December 31st regardless of when they commenced. Members may be active however not in ‘good standing’ until their membership dues have been paid in full.
Renewal Deadline, Grace Period, and Termination:
Current professional memberships are due for renewal by January 1 – the start of the membership year. Those members who have not renewed by January 1st will be provided with a 90-day grace period to pay their dues in full to remain in good standing. Members who have not renewed their memberships by March 31st will no longer be considered to be in good standing and will no longer have access to member-only communications and benefits.
Membership Cancellation:
Members who are requesting cancellation of their membership are required to inform EPSO of their request by email to membership@epso.ca at least one month in advance of the requested cancellation date.
Refunds:
EPSO membership is voluntary and non-refundable.
Changes:
To change membership categories, please send an email to membership@epso.ca at least one month in advance of the change.
Membership Categories:
Regular Members:
EPSO members are categorized as Regular Members unless they are eligible for another membership category.
Postgraduate:
Individuals enrolled in an ophthalmology residency or fellowship program are eligible for the Postgraduate membership with EPSO. This membership is in effect until December 31st of the year the physician receives certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
New-in-Practice:
EPSO members are eligible for the New-in-Practice membership rate in the first year of practice following formal training which commences January 1.
Part-Time Practising:
Members who practise less than 20 hours per week or earn less than $80,000 per year in net professional income can be considered for this fee category. You may be required to provide details of your professional activity, your hours of work, and the expected net income after expenses, plus additional details.
Non-Clinical:
Physicians working outside of clinical ophthalmology (eg. administrators, teachers, and consultants) are eligible for the Non-Clinical category.
Non-Resident Physician:
Ophthalmologists who neither reside nor work in Ontario but wish to maintain all relevant benefits of membership are eligible for the Non-Resident Physician membership category.
NOTE: These members do not have voting rights.
Honorary:
Members who have received the EPSO Lifetime Achievement award are eligible for complimentary membership.
Retired:
Retired ophthalmologists that wish to stay abreast of EPSO and have access to relevant benefits of membership are eligible for the Retired membership category.
NOTE: These members do not have voting rights.