There are three types of CAP senior membership: full, sponsor and patron. 

Most join as full members, to have the greatest opportunities to participate and contribute.

Sponsor membership is limited to parents or guardians, aunts/uncles, or grandparents of cadets. Sponsors do not wear uniforms and pay only $20 per year in dues. They go through the Cadet Protection Program Training (CPPT-described below), and are available to participate on a limited level depending upon their own schedules to support the cadet program.

Patrons are those who choose to join as a measure of support, but do not wear uniforms, participate in routine activities or hold unit staff positions.

Senior members are screened to ensure that members are those who will be an asset to CAP.  Nationally, all senior members are given a background screening by the FBI, which takes about 45 days.  Areas of special importance are evidence of sex-related crimes and felonies.  If the review turns up any questionable information, the applicant will be asked for further information to enable a final determination on membership eligibility by National Headquarters.  The final approval decision is made by National Headquarters CAP and cannot be overturned.  Additionally, if a senior member would like to participate in Emergency Services outside of Civil Air Patrol, the Yamhill County Sheriff requires a background check and seperate application to join either the Yamhill County Search and Rescue Team or the Yamhill County Sheriff's Air Posse.