Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) was established in 1918. It recognizes students' academic achievements as the official honor society for two-year colleges. PTK also affords members exclusive opportunities to grow as scholars and leaders.
In 1929, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recognized PTK as the official honor society for two-year colleges. Since then, it has established its presence in over 1,300 community colleges in 11 nations and inducted more than 3.8 million students. Phi Theta Kappa has close to 250,000 active members.
PTK membership is by invitation only. To join, one must receive an invitation from the honor society through their local chapter. Although eligibility varies by chapter, there are general legibility requirements for joining PTK. One must be enrolled in a college that has an active PTK chapter. A grade point average of 3.5 is required.
Students seeking an associate or bachelor's degree or one-year diploma or certificate are eligible for PTK membership. Students studying part-time, those dually enrolled in high school and college, international students, and students who have previously earned another degree are also eligible.
Associated and degree-seeking students must have completed 12 hours of college coursework. Certificate-seeking students must have completed at least 6 hours of coursework.
Invitations to Phi Theta Kappa are mailed once every semester, and interested students must register online and pay a membership fee of $90. From there, one can attend membership meetings to learn more about PTK. Induction follows soon after where new members are officially recognized. One must be recognized at the PTK headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, to receive all PTK membership privileges and rights.
There are several perks to being a PTK member. PTK members have access to over $90 million in member-only scholarships. Moreover, members who wish to transfer to four-year colleges have access to $46 million in scholarships offered by nearly 800 universities and four-year colleges.
Also, PTK members have access to PTK EDGE for transfer, an online resource exclusive to PTK members that streamlines students' transfer process. Members benefit from the expertise of admissions pros ready to walk them through the transfer process. Then there's PTK Connect, which links students with transfer-friendly universities and allows them to access scholarship information.
Alumni membership ensures even students who've transferred to a four-year college or university continue to enjoy the benefits of being PTK members. For instance, some university alum chapters provide a support network for transferring students.
Other student benefits of joining PTK include letters of recommendation citing one's involvement with PTK. Beyond offering active members letters of commendation for their academic achievement and community involvement, PTK also sets them up for success beyond campus.
PTK affords members volunteer opportunities through community service. Members receive leadership training through the society's Competitive Edge Program, allowing members to hone their leadership skills through various leadership on-campus roles. PTK members also get free access to the nationally accredited Leadership Development Studies.
In addition to the commendation and recommendation letters, members receive membership certificates, The Golden Key Membership Pin, and a Membership ID Card. This way, they can take advantage of PTK affiliates and partners. DELL, Lenovo, and National Enterprise are notable brands and institutions that partner with PTK.
