Updated AO Spine membership requirements for waived APCs in Global Spine Journal

AO Spine is continuously refining its membership program to ensure that benefits remain valuable, equitable, and aligned with the needs of an active global community. As part of this effort, changes to the waived Article Processing Charge (APC) benefit for Global Spine Journal (GSJ) will be introduced to retain the value of membership and maintain long-term sustainability.

As part of AO Spine’s broader membership strategy and commitment to aligning benefits with active member engagement, AO Spine will be updating the eligibility requirements for waived APCs in GSJ as follows:

Effective January 5, 2026, a submitted manuscript will qualify for a waived APC when the following criteria is met:

• First Author and one additional author are both active AO Spine members, or
• Last Author and one additional author are both active AO Spine members

These updated criteria ensure that the APC waiver remains a dedicated benefit for engaged AO Spine members and reflects the evolving needs of a rapidly growing research community. This ensures that the benefit continues to serve our members effectively while supporting long-term sustainability.

To facilitate this process and ensure transparency from the beginning of editorial review, AO Spine membership status will now be verified at the time of manuscript submission. Authors must provide their AO Spine membership ID and clearly indicate author order during submission to confirm eligibility.

Manuscripts submitted before January 5, 2026, will be fully grandfathered under the previous policy. Any submission on or after the effective date will fall under the updated requirements.

Update ensures long-term membership value and continued growth

AO Spine is committed to strengthening the value of membership and ensuring that benefits continue to support the highest standards of scientific contribution. These updates are part of the ongoing membership strategy, designed to enhance member value, support publication excellence, and strengthen the link between AO Spine membership and its meaningful benefits. 

GSJ and AO Spine will collaborate closely to ensure a smooth transition and a clear submission process for authors.

GSJ has rapidly expanded its reach and impact, becoming one of the leading platforms for multidisciplinary spine research worldwide. Submissions continue to rise year after year, reflecting the trust that scientists and clinicians place in the journal’s quality, visibility, and global relevance.

GSJ remains committed to a rigorous peer review process, high editorial standards, and an exceptional publication experience. Much of the journal’s success is driven by the AO Spine community of authors, reviewers, and readers who contribute their expertise and dedication.