Tau Alpha Pi is the national honor society for engineering technology. Founded in 1953 and managed for more than 30 years by engineering technology educator Frederick J. Berger, Tau Alpha Pi is open to both associate-degree and baccalaureate candidates.

Tau Alpha Pi membership is open to top-performing associate-degree and baccalaureate students in engineering technology programs. Induction requires nomination by a local chapter and, to be eligible, students must meet the requirements of their local chapter. These are designed such that every inductee is academically in at least the upper twenty five percent of their class.

The purpose of Tau Alpha Pi is two-fold:

• to recognize high standards of scholarship among students in engineering technology programs;
• to promote and encourage scholastic achievement by offering outstanding engineering technology students membership in the society.

The society rewards selected scholars for past achievements and accomplishments, while encouraging a lifetime of commitment to learning and scholarship. Tau Alpha Pi members are truly interested in furthering and improving the academic life for all engineering technology students and in promoting the engineering/engineering technology departments at their own institutions.

Since 1993, Tau Alpha Pi has been administered by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Tau Alpha Pi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.