How to Become a Member of Tau Beta Pi
You must meet both the scholastic and exemplary character requirements, be elected by members of a collegiate chapter and attend an initiation ceremony to become a member. Please review the scholastic requirements listed below. If you feel you qualify, please contact the president or chief advisor of the Tau Beta Pi chapter on your campus or at the school nearest you. We have chapters on 244 campuses (list) across the country and in Puerto Rico.
The second requirement of exemplary character is detailed in our Eligibility Code. Each chapter has its own method for determining whether a candidate meets this requirement. Usually requires an interview or some activity such as participating in a project. Exemplary character is determined prior to election. Please note that membership into Tau Beta Pi is by invitation from one of our collegiate chapters. There are no applications available from Headquarters.
Scholastic Requirements
- Undergraduate students:
- You must be in the top 1/8th of your junior class or top 1/5th of your senior class.
- Graduate students:
- You must be in the top 1/5th of your class or, if class rank can not be determined, obtain a letter of recommendation from your primary academic advisor.
- In either case, you must have completed at least 50% of your coursework including research.
- Alumni:
- You must have graduated in the top 1/5th of your class.
- This applies even if your school did not have a chapter at the time you graduated.
- Practicing engineers:
- You must have achieved eminence in engineering as determined by Headquarters.
- If you graduated from a recognized engineering college, you must have practiced engineering for at least 10 years.
- If you graduated from a non-recognized engineering colleges or do not hold an engineering degree, you must have practiced engineering for at least 15 years.
- Candidates are usually recommended by members who know them.