Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities. Membership shall be known as active, honorary and graduate. Active members shall become graduate members at graduation. Graduate members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs. Honorary members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.
A National Honor Society member who transfers to another school and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter advisor to the new school advisor shall be accepted automatically as a member in the new school's chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter's standards within one semester in order to retain membership. Candidates must have been in attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester. Some candidates may be ineligible for induction because of the semester ruling. Many students, including students of military parents, are required to move with parents or guardians that have transferred in their work.