IRTA Membership Categories

IRTA Member

Every member of IRTA is required to renew their
commitment to the IRTA Code of Ethics annually.
By doing so, IRTA members also agree to be held
accountable by fellow members in a peer-to-peer
regulatory process. This means that they agree to participate in a forum
of industry professionals – the IRTA Ethics Committee – to resolve any
disputes brought against them by another industry professional or industry
participant.

IRTA Members are leaders because they follow in a long line of
successful exchange owners who believe and participate in efforts to
raise the perception and value of reciprocal trade through barter
worldwide. They are involved in educating and sharing best practices
through the IRTA and support needed efforts to represent barter trade
accurately and effectively to media and governments.

Applicant IRTA Member Exchange:

This category is reserved for exchanges that are in
their first three years of operation and intend to be
leaders in their field. Exchanges that join IRTA at
this critical time in their development are required to provide the
IRTA Membership Committee with evidence of reputable exchange
practices over a 12-18 month time frame. After successful completion,
Applicant Member Exchanges are asked to stay on as an IRTA
Member Exchange.

Applicant members are praised for their efforts to reach higher standards
and are rewarded by receiving guidance and input from long-time industry
leaders.

IRTA Certified Member

IRTA Certified members are exchanges or barter
companies who choose to provide additional
verification to IRTA regarding their impeccable
level of conduct, service and commitment to ethics.
Not only do Certified Exchanges meet the already prestigious regular
IRTA Membership criteria, they also meet additional criteria regarding their
track record as a successful exchange and voluntarily provide information
regarding their compliant operations and how they protect their clearing system
from the negative effects of uncontrolled deficit spending.

To qualify as an IRTA Certified Trade Exchange:

• The exchange must be a Regular Member of IRTA for 12 months before
  being able to apply.
• The exchange must also meet Regular IRTA Member renewal requirements.
• The exchange must have at least 5 years of successful ownership of an
  exchange network. This means no ethics complaints on file with IRTA
  (that were found to be valid), no record of bankruptcy, etc.

To become an IRTA Certified Trade Exchange:

• If you are an exchange operating in the United States, you must provide
  supporting evidence (via a letter from qualified CPA or local tax
  professional) that you have filed 1099B’s on time for the prior tax year.
• You must provide a copy of your exchange membership agreement along
  with a brief explanation of how your membership agreement handles deficits
  in your exchange system. In other words, what assurances/protection do
  you have for ensuring the value of the trade credit you issue.

To maintain membership as an IRTA Certified Trade Exchange

• The above requirements must be provided every year to renew membership
  as an IRTA Certified Trade Exchange.
  

Industry Service Provider

IRTA is proud to have among its membership
valuable individuals, partnerships, corporations
and firms that provide services, support or
counseling to the barter industry as their primary business.
Software providers, exchange training and coaching and trade
publications are among these members. Some of which have supported reciprocal
trading for many years. Without their contributions, the barter industry could not
have evolved to where it is today.

Associate Member                                                                                

It is not uncommon for individuals, partnerships,
corporations or firms to subscribe to the objectives
of IRTA, but not be operating a primary business
that deals with barter. Many of whom want to
contribute and participate in the development of this exciting industry.
Associate Members are able to join and support IRTA through this category.

Non Industry Member                                                                         

There are a select group of companies who have
a barter and media division but choose not to
utilize a retail trade exchange. This category allows
these companies to join and support IRTA and
also participate in Universal Currency. This member
category is not available to any company who is
currently a member of a corporate or retail trade
exchange, or whom IRTA classifies a prospect
for our members.