Voting membership in USOA is open to an incumbent public sector ombudsman, staff members of an ombudsman office, or a public official who performs the ombudsman function. Any person committed to promoting and encouraging the association's purpose may become an associate member.

USOA awards honorary membership to individuals or organizations on the basis of outstanding contribution to the ombudsman movement. Honorees have:

• engaged in research which has significantly furthered the understanding of the ombudsman institution or fostered the growth of the ombudsman institution in America
  
  
• assumed a leadership role in proposing, promoting or implementing the establishment of an ombudsman's office or ombudsman's offices
  
  
• provided extraordinary financial support for the benefit of the ombudsman movement or activities of USOA

Of the specialty offices, those members who work with children/youth issues comprised about 13% of our membership, with 7% representing public school systems. Remaining members work in a wide variety of area including long term care, colleges and universities, corrections, law enforcement, cities and states, and tax departments