Students become members by joining the chapter at the school where they are enrolled. Psi Chi chapters are operated by student officers and faculty advisors. Together they select and induct the members and carry out the goals of the Society. Because te officers and faculty advisors are volunteers and their time is limited, anyone interested in joining Psi Chi should take the initiative and contact the Psychology Department, the faculty advisor, and/or the local officers. If there is no chapter, it is worthwhile for qualified students to start a Psi Chi chapter.

All chapters register their inductees at the Psi Chi National Office, where the membership records are preserved for reference purposes. The total number of members recorded at the National Office during the first sixty-four years is 252,000; many of these members have gone on to distinguished careers in psychology.