Mortar Board's Membership in ACHS
Mortar Board is a certified member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).
Why Joining a Credible Honor Society Matters
We know you receive a lot of invitations to join honor societies—and it’s not always clear which ones are worth your time, energy, or money. That’s real, and it’s fair to be skeptical.
A credible, certified honor society does more than recognize strong grades. It connects you to a community of high-achieving peers, offers meaningful leadership and service opportunities, and carries long-term value on résumés, graduate school applications, and fellowship materials. Membership in a legitimate honor society signals that your achievements were earned through a selective, values-based process, not simply obtained by paying a fee.
Mortar Board has been certified by the Association of College Honor Societies since 1939 and has met ACHS’s rigorous standards for over 85 years. The Society continues to maintain this certification through a comprehensive recertification process every five years, reinforcing Mortar Board’s commitment to academic integrity, transparency, and meaningful member engagement.
How to Tell If an Honor Society Is Credible?
When evaluating an honor society invitation, look for these key indicators:
- Does the organization require a minimum scholastic criterion?
- Does the organization provide transparent governance?
- Does the organization have campus chapters?
- Are they a recognized 501(c) non-profit organization?
- Does the organization have a website that includes: membership criteria, fees, benefits, Bylaws, headquarters staff with contact info, and national elected officers?
Students who want to learn more can review ACHS’s detailed resource on evaluating honor society credibility. This guide outlines what to look for and what to question when considering an invitation.
About ACHS
Honor societies represent a rich tradition in the history of higher education. True honor societies exist to recognize and promote excellence in academic accomplishment.
Whether individual societies service multiple academic disciplines or only a single, specific academic major, their overall purpose is to encourage and recognize students who have achieved a high level of academic competence and promote excellence in the academic community.
ACHS is the organization honor societies join when they want their society certified by a neutral body, want to collaborate with other honor societies to promote best practices in recognizing and promoting excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and research, and seek to continually maintain the highest standards by providing annual reports and undergoing regular re-certification.
