The California Scholarship Federation exists to promote and recognize high standards of scholarship, service and citizenship on the part of students in California schools.

Membership is based on scholarship and citizenship only. Membership is held during the semester following when the qualifying grades were earned and is for one semester only. In order to become a member, the student must submit an application each semester the student is eligible. A point system specified in the CSF State By-Laws establishes the membership requirements. To secure eligibility for CSF membership, a student must earn sufficient points from pre-approved course lists. The majority of the required membership points must come from University of California accepted course work.

Life Membership (Sealbearer) is achieved by qualifying for chapter membership for four or more semesters in the last three years of high school, and earns the CSF gold Seal on diplomas and transcripts. Each year colleges and universities throughout the United States award scholarships to CSF Life (Sealbearer) Members. These students are also eligible to be nominated by the chapter adviser for the Seymour Memorial Awards.