A Technology Student Association (TSA) chapter – which affiliates on the state and national level – is an organized middle school or high school group comprised of students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Members must be enrolled in or have taken a technology-related course in school, and an advisor (teacher or administrator) must guide the chapter. Membership in TSA provides an opportunity for students to compete in STEM competitions at the local, state, and national level; participate in leadership and community-oriented activities and programs; and earn recognition for their achievements.
Any student who is benefiting from TSA services and materials must be an active member of TSA. For example, if TSA materials are being used in a classroom, then all students in that class must be rostered TSA members. Alternatively, all students who participate in a before or after school TSA chapter must be rostered TSA members.
Once a TSA chapter’s affiliation is complete, the chapter advisor will receive an automated email with instructions to access the chapter site. Competitive event guides are housed under the Total TSA tab on the chapter advisor dashboard. TSA chapter affiliation is complete when payment or an approved purchase order is received by the national TSA office.
Credit card payment is preferred and will ensure immediate chapter affiliation. Paying by check through a purchase order may take up to several weeks to process. To expedite chapter affiliation if paying by check, send a scanned copy of the check to register@tsaweb.org prior to mailing it to national TSA.
Red CAP is TSA’s minimum level of membership and allows for up to 10 members. TSA chapters may affiliate as a Red CAP with fewer than 10 members and add members to reach that total during the year at no additional cost.
If a TSA chapter is unsure of the number of members it will have for the school year, it should affiliate with the minimum number of interested students. Students may be added throughout the year, and an invoice will be generated at the time they are added. Please note, once a student member is added to the TSA chapter roster, they are a TSA member for the year, and their name may not be removed or replaced with another student's name.
TSA chapter advisors can add members at any time throughout the year by logging into their chapter site, and selecting Add Members on the dashboard page. When a Red CAP chapter adds members beyond 10, it is automatically converted to a White CAP chapter, and an invoice will be generated for the additional members. Blue CAP chapters may add members at any time at no additional cost.
Once a student name is added to the chapter roster, that student is a TSA member for the year. Substitutions or refunds for membership are not permitted.
When a TSA chapter affiliates, there is a national $10 advisor fee for all registered advisors, plus any applicable state advisor fees. If an advisor serves at more than one school, the advisor fee will be charged per chapter. The TSA chapter advisor must be a registered state-certified educator (typically, the school technology and engineering teacher).
Membership in TSA is for each school year, starting when the TSA chapter affiliates for the current school year, and ending at the conclusion of the annual National TSA Conference.
If TSA chapters experience a large growth in membership numbers, they may convert to a Blue CAP membership at any time throughout the year by emailing their request to register@tsaweb.org.
Schools may have more than one TSA chapter provided that the chapters represent different levels—middle school and high school. Separate membership dues must be paid for each TSA chapter. Once affiliated, TSA chapters only have access to the competitive events guide for their level.
TSA does not exclude homeschooled students from becoming TSA members. However, membership in TSA is strictly through school-affiliated chapters in a local, state-registered education district. Home-schooled students may join one TSA chapter in their community with the approval of the school’s administration.
TSA chapters qualify for priority membership when they affiliate by the priority membership date posted on the national TSA website. Priority membership TSA chapters receive a gold seal affiliation certificate, a small gift as a token of appreciation, and uninterrupted membership service.
TSA chapters may affiliate at any time throughout the school year. Affiliated chapters may add members at any time during the year. However, many states have affiliation deadlines in order to compete at state TSA conferences.
The 2022-2023 national TSA officer team created a series of 101 videos to provide information to members about TSA’s programs, activities, and resources.
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