Any Wisconsin specialty cheesemaker and any person or company interested in furthering the success of the Wisconsin specialty cheese industry is eligible to become a WSCI member. The definition of "specialty cheese" developed by the founding WSCI Board of Directors is used to determine the proper category for new member applications. Following are the Institute's primary membership categories:

Specialty Cheesemakers – Individuals, companies or cooperatives involved in the hands-on production of specialty cheese in Wisconsin.

Marketers/Processors – Individuals representing companies who meet one or more of the following criteria:

•   Primary business is marketing and/or distributing Wisconsin specialty cheese
•   Purchases Wisconsin specialty cheese for further processing, packaging and sale
•   Produces Wisconsin specialty cheese derived from natural cheese (e.g., pasteurized process cheese, cheese spreads, cold pack cheeses)

Associate Members – Individuals or companies who do not currently make, process or market Wisconsin specialty cheese, but who may be members of industry associations or media outlets, or who may provide supplies and/or services to Wisconsin specialty cheesemakers. Associate members may also include "candidates" to become Wisconsin specialty cheese producers.