ACHS “Certified” Member Societies (List of 68) | What “Certified” Means

This page lists the 68 college honor societies that the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) publicly identifies as “certified,” and explains what that label does—and does not—mean for students.

The purpose of this page is transparency. It is designed to help students understand how “certification” is commonly interpreted in the honor society space so they can make informed decisions without pressure or confusion.

What ACHS “certification” means

ACHS is a private membership association composed of honor societies. In general terms, ACHS “certification” indicates that an organization participates in that association and aligns with standards defined within its internal governance structure.

Because ACHS is member-governed, its standards, criteria, and public messaging operate inside the honor society marketplace it represents. For students, this is best understood as an industry affiliation, not a universal credential.

ACHS is not a government body, not an educational accreditor, and not an external regulator of higher education.

What ACHS “certification” does not mean

Students often assume the word “certified” carries the same meaning everywhere. In the context of ACHS, it does not mean:

• —Government approval or government oversight
• —College or university accreditation
• —Academic program accreditation
• —A guarantee of scholarships, internships, jobs, or outcomes
• —A universal definition of legitimacy for all honor societies
• —That students should only join one organization

In short, ACHS certification is not a substitute for understanding what an honor society actually offers and how it aligns with your personal goals.

Why interpretation matters for students

Because ACHS operates as a private trade association, its certification framework primarily reflects the interests and standards of its participating members. This structure is common across many industries, but it also means the label itself should not be treated as an objective or final judgment.

Students benefit most when they focus on clear, verifiable information rather than labels—such as what benefits are included, what opportunities are competitive, eligibility criteria, and how the organization supports its members.

Grade inflation and changing academic signals

Academic signals change over time. Grading norms and average GPAs vary by institution, discipline, and era, and grade inflation has been widely discussed across U.S. higher education.

As a result, GPA thresholds that once implied rare academic distinction may now represent a broader portion of students at some schools. This does not reflect misconduct by students or honor societies—grades are assigned by institutions—but it does mean that academic labels can be misunderstood without context.

Transparency helps students understand what an invitation represents today, rather than assuming it carries the same meaning it may have decades ago.

Context: prestige exists outside ACHS

Participation in ACHS is voluntary. Importantly, several of the most historically significant and widely respected honor societies in the United States operate entirely outside of ACHS membership.

This includes societies affiliated with the Honor Society Caucus, such as Phi Beta Kappa and others that have long histories, strong academic reputations, and independent governance models.

This reality reinforces an important point: no single private organization defines legitimacy for all honor societies.

ACHS “certified” member societies (as listed by ACHS)

Below is the list of honor societies that ACHS publicly identifies as “certified.” For student convenience, each name links to a reference page:

Honor Societies

— Alpha Beta Gamma

— Alpha Chi National College Honor Society

— Alpha Epsilon

— Alpha Epsilon Delta

— Alpha Epsilon Rho

— Alpha Eta Mu Beta

— Alpha Iota Delta

— Alpha Kappa Delta

— Alpha Kappa Mu

— Alpha Lambda Delta

— Alpha Phi Sigma

— Alpha Pi Mu

— Alpha Sigma Lambda

— Alpha Sigma Mu

— Alpha Sigma Nu

— Beta Gamma Sigma

— Beta Kappa Chi

— Beta Phi Mu

— Chi Alpha Sigma

— Chi Epsilon

— Chi Sigma Iota

— Delta Epsilon Sigma

— Delta Mu Delta

— Epsilon Mu Eta

— Epsilon Pi Phi

— Epsilon Pi Tau

— Gamma Theta Upsilon

— Kappa Mu Epsilon

— Kappa Omicron Nu

— Kappa Tau Alpha

— Lambda Pi Eta

— Lambda Sigma

— Mortar Board

— Mu Kappa Tau

— National Society of Collegiate Scholars

— Omega Chi Epsilon

— Omega Rho

— Omicron Delta Epsilon

— Phi Alpha

— Phi Alpha Theta

— Phi Beta Delta

— Phi Eta Sigma

— Phi Sigma

— Phi Sigma Iota

— Phi Sigma Tau

— Phi Upsilon Omicron

— Pi Delta Phi

— Pi Gamma Mu

— Pi Kappa Lambda

— Pi Sigma Alpha

— Pi Tau Sigma

— Pi Theta Epsilon

— Psi Beta

— Psi Chi

— Rho Chi

— Sigma Beta Delta

— Sigma Delta Pi

— Sigma Lambda Alpha

— Sigma Lambda Chi

— Sigma Pi Sigma

— Sigma Tau Delta

— Sigma Theta Tau

— Tau Alpha Pi

— Tau Beta Pi

— Tau Sigma Delta

— Theta Alpha Kappa

— Upsilon Pi Epsilon

— Xi Sigma Pi

Disclaimer

This page is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. It reproduces publicly available information and does not make claims about the quality, value, legitimacy, or academic standing of any organization or individual.

Honor Society® is not affiliated with the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) and does not speak on behalf of ACHS or any listed organization. References to third-party organizations are for identification and transparency only.

Nothing on this page is intended to interfere with any organization’s operations, relationships, or reputation. Students should verify details directly with the organization in question and make decisions based on complete disclosures and personal goals.