What Is the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Website and What Can You Access There?

The official AAOS website is aaos.org, the online home of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. It is built primarily for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, and it bundles continuing medical education (CME), journals and podcasts, clinical practice resources, patient education, and membership services in one place. If you are a member looking to claim CME, renew your membership, or find a course, start at the homepage and use the "Quick Access" and "Featured" areas to jump directly to those tools.

What the Site Is For

AAOS describes itself as an education provider for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, and as an authoritative source of information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related issues. In practice, that means the site serves two audiences at once:

• Professionals who need CME, journals, exam preparation, clinical guidelines, and career resources.
• Patients and the public who want plain-language information on bone and joint conditions through OrthoInfo.

The homepage is organized around a learning prompt ("What Will You Master Next?") with sections for Quick Access, Featured, What's New, Journals/Podcasts/News, and CME Courses & Webinars.

Main Sections and What You Can Reach

Quick Access: the fastest route to common tasks

The Quick Access block is the most efficient starting point for members. It links to:

• Claim CME or Access Transcript — for recording completed continuing education.
• My Online Learning — your personal learning dashboard.
• JAAOS — the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
• The Bone Beat Orthopaedic Podcast Channel.
• Examination Center & ResStudy — exam preparation, including OITE-related review.
• Orthopaedic Video Theater — surgical and educational video content.
• OrthoInfo — patient education.
• Biologics Dashboard and Clinical Practice Guidelines — clinical reference material.
• Career Center and Orthopaedic Calendar — job listings and event dates.

CME Courses & Webinars

The CME section lists scheduled and on-demand learning. Examples visible on the site include:

The site also points to AAOS Access Plus, described as "One Subscription. Limitless Learning" with access to 200+ orthopaedic resources. Because this is a subscription product, check the subscription detail page for current terms rather than assuming free access.

Journals, Podcasts & News

• JAAOS publishes clinical review articles; a listed example is a review of fluoroscopy in direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty.
• AAOS Now carries academy news and features.
• The Bone Beat podcast covers topics such as musculoskeletal occupational injuries in orthopaedic surgeons.

Clinical and Patient Resources

• Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Biologics Dashboard support evidence-based decision-making.
• OrthoInfo translates bone and joint conditions and treatments into patient-facing explanations.
• Code-X offers an enhanced ICD-10 diagnosis code search with a new index search.

Membership and Career Services

Members can renew through the AAOS Membership App, and the site highlights Member Advantage Program perks such as rental car discounts. Early-career surgeons have dedicated programs, including AAOS Launchpad, a free 20-month career development opportunity for PGY5s. ACCELERATE adds a lifestyle layer covering schools and locations for job moves.

How to Use the Site Efficiently

1. Go to aaos.org and scan the Quick Access row first — most member tasks (CME transcript, JAAOS, exam center) are one click away.
2. For learning, open CME Courses & Webinars to see upcoming virtual sessions and OnDemand options; confirm whether an item requires a subscription or separate registration on its detail page.
3. For clinical reference, use Clinical Practice Guidelines, the Biologics Dashboard, or Code-X depending on whether you need guidance, biologics information, or diagnosis codes.
4. For patients, send them to OrthoInfo rather than the professional sections.
5. For membership, use the membership app for renewal and check the Member Advantage Program for current perks.

Common Stumbling Points

• Mixing audiences: OrthoInfo is patient education, not a clinical guideline source; professionals should use the guidelines and dashboard sections instead.
• Assuming everything is free: Some learning is subscription-based (AAOS Access Plus) and some events require registration. Verify on the specific course or subscription page.
• Missing time-sensitive items: The homepage surfaces deadlines and advocacy alerts (for example, CMS payment rule updates), so check "What's New" if you rely on the site for policy news.

In short, aaos.org is a single portal where orthopaedic professionals can manage CME, read journals, prepare for exams, consult guidelines, and renew membership, while patients can find condition information through OrthoInfo.