There are five categories of membership to the OPTN:

• Institutional Members: Organ Procurement Organizations, Transplant Centers and Histocompatibility Laboratories. Required by law. Membership term: indefinite.
• Medical/ Scientific Members: Professional Scientific or Medical Organizations or Institutions whose membership includes those involved in organ transplantation. Membership term: two years.
• Public Organization Members: Organizations or institutions engaged in organ donation activities or representing or providing direct support or services to transplant recipients, transplant candidates, or their families; or hospitals that have an interest in the fields of organ donation or transplantation, defined by the referral of at least one potential organ or tissue donor per year for donation. Membership term: two years.
• Business Members: established organizations or institutions with an interest in the fields of organ donation or transplantation, engaging in commercial activities with two or more active Institutional Members. Membership term: two years.
• Individual Members: a person with an interest and/or expertise in the fields of organ donation or transplantation. Membership term: two years.

For further details on membership categories and the criteria that must be met to qualify, see Sections 1.1-1.8 of the OPTN Bylaws.