The principal requirement for membership is an active interest in research and collaboration relevant to the transplantation of vascularized peripheral tissues as a functional unit (a.k.a. composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) or vascularized composite allografts (VCA)).

There are three categories of membership: Full Members, Honorary Members, and Trainee Members.

• Full Members sshall be physicians, surgeons, scientists, immunologists, or other specialists, who are actively engaged in the science or clinical practice of VCA or CTA transplant. Full Members are eligible to vote in ISVCA affairs and policy decisions. Full membership shall be gained by submission of a membership application sponsored by one Full Member in good standing of the Society to the Council, and approved by the Council of the Society.


• Honorary Members will be proposed by the Council and elected by a majority vote of the Full Members of the Society at the Business Meeting of the Society. Honorary Members shall be persons who have made major contributions in the field of VCA or CTA, and need not necessarily be members of the Society. The shall have the rights of Full Members, but shall not be required to pay dues to the Society and will not be eligible for election as an Officer or Councilor.


• Trainee Members shall include individuals who have an interest in cellular transplantation and are actively working in this field. Their status must be confirmed by their professional association card or designation. This membership category can include: nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, social workers and physicians assistants and coordinators, but is not restricted to these positions. Allied Heath Members shall have the same voting rights as a Full Member, and are eligible to be an Officer or Councilor of the Society.


• Honorary Membership shall include individuals enrolled in pre- or postdoctoral training programs relevant to the science or clinical practice of VCA, who have completed training but are not yet qualified for full membership. No individual can stay in this category for more than six years. Trainee members shall have no voting rights and shall be ineligible to be an Officer or Councilor of the Society. Trainee membership shall be gained by submission of a membership application sponsored by one Full Member in good standing of the Society and the submission of a letter from the Program Director confirming the candidate’s status as a trainee, the nature of the training program and estimated year of completion, followed by approval by the Council.

Full Members as well as Trainee Members shall pay membership fees. The fees shall be annual and established by the Council after consideration of reports by the Secretary and the Treasurer. Membership may be forfeited if fees are not paid for two consecutive years. Honorary Members shall be exempt from the membership fee. Every member shall have the right to attend and participate in Business Meeting of the Society.

Written resignation addressed to the Council, death or default of payment of membership fees for two consecutive years may cause membership of the Society to be terminated. Membership may also be terminated by the Council on the basis of ethical misbehavior or action against the principles of the Society.