[1][2][3] Alpha Psi Omega was founded after Opp was denied charter petitions by both Theta Alpha Phi, the National Theatre Honors Fraternity, and the National Collegiate Players/Pi Epsilon Delta, which were unwilling to charter a chapter at Fairmont State College, then primarily known as a "teacher's college."

[1] Membership is open to students (primarily undergraduate) who are active in collegiate/university theatre at four-year institutions (full colleges and universities).

The International Thespian Society has since been assimilated into the Educational Theatre Association, but the influences can be seen in the similarities of both organizations' colors and induction ceremonies.

[citation needed] In 1997, under pressure from anti-fraternity sentiments nationwide, the national officers decided to update the public titles of the organization.

"[citation needed] As was common practice in naming honor societies during that time, at the founding, Alpha Psi Omega was called "Alpha Psi Omega National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity" and used theatre-related terminology to refer to the honor society's officers and workings.

Examples include: The open motto of Alpha Psi Omega, written in ancient Greek upon their coat-of-arms, is αιτειτε ψύχην ωφελιμον or "seek a life useful".

[3] The Alpha Psi Omega coat of arms is designed to represent a Greek theater's stage.